Child Care Regulations: Outdoor Play Area

Planning the outdoor areas of your facility is very challenging for new child care providers especially when combining the desires of the owner versus the child care regulations of the state. The below information will help you on preparing and get ideas for the initial inspection and will guide you on planning your outdoor activity area for your facility.

• Fence must be secured to the ground and do not have any vertical or horizontal openings that exceed four inches.


• Shaded areas are required for children occupying the area at any given time.


• Most facilities will have equipment at the outdoor activity area for enrolled children to play on. – these equipment can range from riding toys, balls, to climbing equipment, swings and slides. If you have climbing equipment, there’s a mandatory falls on requirement – a minimum depth of six inches of a non hazardous material can be used or a shock absorbing unitary surfacing material manufactured for outdoor use.


• Water should be accessible to enrolled children at all times on the outdoor activity area.


• The facility should put together an inspection to make sure that all equipment are free from hazard and make sure that everything is secured and safe for the children to play on.

For your state’s child care rules and regulations please contact your state child care licensing agency.

The above video was produced by Arizona Department of Health Services.