Wisconsin Department of Children and Families - Division of Early Care and Education
Bureau of Early Care Regulation
Child Care Licensing Procedure Manual
A licensee may move the center from one location to another location on a temporary basis with the intent to relocate back to the original location. DCF 250.11(6)(c) requires at least a 30-day notice to the Department to move the center to a new location. There are situations, such as emergencies or unexpected circumstances, in which the provider will not be able to provide a 30-day notice. The Department will be reasonable to accommodate these circumstances. The department will provide the Initial Licensing Checklist to the licensee to complete prior to the on-site visit.
Licensing specialists must make at least one (1) on-site visit to a center prior to the approval of a temporary change in location. In some cases, the licensing specialist may complete at least two (2) on-site visits during to provide technical assistance and to verify compliance with all applicable rules on the Initial Licensing Checklist that can be reviewed and documented as met prior to approval of the temporary change in location.
At the licensing specialist’s on-site temporary change in location licensing study, s/he reviews the licensee’s completed Initial Licensing Checklist to determine whether each item is met, not met or not applicable. The licensing specialist reviews the equipment and materials available at the center.
Updated documents may need to be collected prior to the approval of the temporary location. These may include:
Building Inspection Report by a qualified building inspector if the family child care center will be located in a building that is not a one- or two-family dwelling;
Current certificate of general liability insurance indicating the address of the temporary location.
A copy of the required policies and procedures indicating changes.
A copy of the results of the water test for lead and bacteria if the water source is a private well and a nitrate test if caring for infants under six months of age.
A request for an exemption for off-premises play space if the center does not have any available on-premises play space.
If all applicable rules have been verified as met at the temporary change in location licensing study visit(s) and all necessary documents have been collected, the licensing specialist can approve the temporary change in location. The licensing specialist issues a letter permitting the licensee to operate temporarily at the new location under the conditions of their current license. This change should be noted in the comments tab in WISCCRS.
This page last updated 10/2020.