ECE Launch Kit — Surrey, Langley & Fraser Valley BC · DaycaresInBC.com
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Fraser Valley · BC · 2025

You're an ECE.
It's time to own
your classroom.

You've spent years building other people's daycares. You know the routines, the ratios, the curriculum. The only thing standing between you and running your own licensed 8-kid home daycare is paperwork. We've solved the paperwork — for Surrey, Langley, Chilliwack, Abbotsford, Mission, and the whole Fraser region.

8 Max kids (home)
$8K+ Monthly potential
$1,000+ Startup grants available
~12wk Typical time to licence
Step 1 of 8

Your licensing checklist

Every item you need to get from "thinking about it" to licensed and open. Check things off as you go — your progress saves automatically in your browser.

Overall progress
0%
Your ECE certificate is a superpower here.
✓
8 children instead of 7 — In-Home Multi-Age licence (vs Family Child Care)
✓
$6/hour wage enhancement from the province, on top of all parent fees
✓
$2,000–$3,000/year Specialized Certification Grant if you have Infant Toddler or Special Needs endorsement
✓
No 20-hour child development course required — your ECE credential covers it
🏛️

Step A — Fraser Health Application

Your licence is issued by Fraser Health, not the City. Fraser Health numbers: Surrey/White Rock: 604-930-5405 · Langley: 604-514-6121 · Chilliwack: 604-702-4950 · Abbotsford: 604-870-6000 · Mission: 604-814-5515 · Central intake: 604-587-3936

  • Start criminal record checks — everyone 12+ ordinarily present
    Required for you and every person over age 12 ordinarily present while children are in care [s.20(1), Schedule B s.4]. This includes teenage children in your household. Vulnerable Sector check from RCMP takes 4–8 weeks. Do this first — it's always the bottleneck.
    Required
  • Purchase the Fraser Health application package
    Chilliwack: 604-702-4950 · Abbotsford: 604-870-6000 · Mission: 604-814-5515. Purchasing this officially starts your application and lets you care for 2 unrelated children while you wait.
    Required
  • Draw your floor plan with labeled room dimensions
    Show all rooms children will use, sleep area, outdoor access route, and dimensions of each space. Include proposed furniture layout. This is what the licensing officer reviews first.
    Required
  • Complete your medical / health check
    TB test or signed declaration of no TB symptoms, current immunization records. Your family doctor can provide this.
    Required
🎓

Step B — Qualifications

As an ECE, you're already ahead here — most of this is covered by your certificate.

  • Childcare First Aid + CPR (current)
    Must be childcare-specific — standard First Aid is not accepted. Includes infant/child CPR. Must be renewed regularly. Book through St. John Ambulance or Red Cross.
    Required
  • Confirm your ECE certificate is registered with the ECE Registry
    Your ECE credential must be active in the BC ECE Registry. If it's expired or not registered, renew before applying. Check at eceregistry.gov.bc.ca.
    ECE Required
  • Food Safe certification (if serving meals)
    Required if you prepare and serve food. Level 1 is sufficient. 1-day course available through FOODSAFE BC or online. ~$40.
    Recommended
🏡

Step C — Your Home

A licensing officer will inspect these in person. Use the Space Calculator (Step 3) to check your room sizes first.

  • Confirm your home zoning allows a licensed daycare
    Call your city planning department with your address. Most residential zones (RS zones) allow it. Strata buildings and some rental properties may have restrictions — check your strata bylaws or lease first.
    Required
  • Smoke detectors on every level + near every sleeping area
    Must be within 5m of every sleep area. Interconnected (when one goes off, all go off) is strongly preferred. Test monthly and record it.
    Required
  • Check hot water temperature ≤49°C at all child-accessible taps
    The most commonly failed item in home inspections. Adjust your hot water tank thermostat to 49°C max. Test with a food thermometer — not your hand.
    Required
  • Lock away all hazards — cleaning products, medications, knives, choking hazards
    Everything must be truly inaccessible, not just "up high." Use cabinet locks for under-sink storage. A medicine cabinet with a lock is required.
    Required
  • Set up sleep area (separate from play space, 0.5m around each cot)
    Each child needs their own clean sleep surface with 0.5m of clear space around it during nap time. A separate room or clearly divided area of a room.
    Required
  • Outdoor play space — required, enclosed suitably for children's age [s.16(2),(3)]
    Family and In-Home Multi-Age care are exempt from the 7 m² per child outdoor rule [s.16(1)], but outdoor play access IS still required [s.16(2)]. Must be enclosed in a manner suitable for the age and development of the children [s.16(3)]. Your licensing officer assesses what "suitable enclosure" means for your specific setup.
    Required
  • CO detector (if gas appliances, attached garage, or fireplace)
    Required in homes with any gas appliance or attached garage. Digital readout preferred. Install at sleeping area height.
    Required
📄

Step D — City Licence & Documentation

Once Fraser Health approves your application, you'll also need your City business licence.

  • Prepare your projected monthly budget
    Required as part of your application per the gov.bc.ca licensing page and Schedule B. Include projected income (parent fees, CCOF, CCFRI top-up) and expenses (insurance, food, supplies, utilities, business licence). Shows Fraser Health you've properly planned the business.
    Required
  • Required document. Must include: evacuation map with routes and outdoor assembly point, drill schedule (minimum 2×/year), emergency contact list, staff responsibilities. Post it visibly at the main entrance.
Required
  • Apply for City Business Licence
    Submit with Fraser Health stamped floor plans. Your city will schedule a fire/building inspection. Both licences must be displayed in your facility once issued. See City Guide for your city's contacts.
    Required
  • Get home daycare liability insurance
    Your home insurance policy does NOT cover business activities. You need a separate childcare liability policy (~$400–800/year). Ask a commercial broker — Aviva and Intact both offer this in BC.
    Required
  • Create your Parent Handbook
    Required by licensing. Must include: hours, fees, illness policy, medication policy, daily schedule, discipline approach, emergency contact procedure, and holiday closures.
    Required
  • Apply for ChildCareBC Start-Up Grant ($1,000)
    Available once you're licensed. Apply through My ChildCareBC Services. Covers equipment, safety upgrades, toys, and outdoor materials. Simple one-page application — most people skip this and leave free money on the table.
    Grant $$$
  • Apply for Child Care Operating Funding (monthly base funding)
    ~$300–600/month from the province just for being licensed and open. Apply through My ChildCareBC Services right after you're licensed.
    Grant $$$
  • Opt into the Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative (CCFRI)
    Reduces fees for families (up to $900/child/month) while the government pays you the difference. Makes you highly competitive on rates without losing income. Highly recommended.
    Recommended
  • Apply for ECE Wage Enhancement ($6/hr)
    As a licensed ECE operating your own facility, you can receive up to $6/hr wage enhancement on top of all your other revenue. This is money many new operators don't know they qualify for.
    ECE Bonus

    • Stuck on any of these steps?

    Book a free 20-minute discovery call. We've guided operators through every one of these steps — including zoning conflicts, failed inspections, and complicated floor plans.

    Step 2 of 8

    What the regulation actually says

    Pulled directly from BC Reg 332/2007 (Child Care Licensing Regulation) — the law that governs every licensed home daycare in BC. Citations included.

    📖
    Source: Child Care Licensing Regulation, BC Reg 332/2007 — current to March 2026. All section numbers below refer to this regulation. Verify at bclaws.gov.bc.ca.
    Two home-based licence types — know which one you want
    ①
    Family Child Care [s.2(e)] — Max 7 children. Licensee personally provides care from their own residence. No ECE required — only a Responsible Adult qualification (20-hr course + First Aid). Space rule s.14(1) does NOT apply — inspector assesses suitability.
    ②
    In-Home Multi-Age Child Care [s.2(h)] — Max 8 children of various ages. Licensee personally provides care from own residence. ECE certificate required (Schedule E). One extra child = ~$1,100+/month. This is the right licence if you have your ECE.
    👶 Group Size & Age Rules — Schedule E, BC Reg 332/2007
    👨‍👩‍👧‍👦
    In-Home Multi-Age: max 8 children [s.2(h)]
    Children of various ages. Your own children count toward the 8 if they are in the care program at the same time. Schedule E requires at minimum one ECE for any group of 1–8 children.
    ≤8 total · ECE required for all group sizes · [Schedule E]
    👶
    Infant limits within your group [Schedule E]
    In-Home Multi-Age groups may include children of various ages, but group composition must follow Schedule E age combination tables. If you have a child under 12 months, the possible group combinations are restricted — your licensing officer will go through these with you at intake.
    Age combinations governed by Schedule E tables
    ⏱️
    Max care hours per child: 13 hours/day [s.40(1)]
    You cannot provide care to any single child for more than 13 hours in one day. This limits how early or how late you can operate. Plan your hours policy around this — most Fraser Valley home daycares run 7am–5pm or 6:30am–5:30pm.
    Max 13 hrs/day per child [s.40(1)]
    🏠
    No other business that interferes with supervision [s.35]
    You cannot conduct any other business or activity from your home that may interfere with the supervision of children or the space used for care. Running a separate home business (e.g. hair salon, tutoring) during care hours is a compliance issue.
    No interfering business activities [s.35(2)]
    📐 Space Requirements — ss.14, 15, 16, BC Reg 332/2007
    📏
    Indoor space: s.14(1) does NOT apply to Family Child Care [s.14(1)]
    The 3.7 m² per child rule is explicitly excluded for Family Child Care and Child-minding. For In-Home Multi-Age, the same exemption applies — the licensing officer assesses the overall suitability of your space. Use 3.7 m² (40 sq ft) per child as your planning benchmark anyway.
    Inspector assesses suitability · 3.7 m² is your design target [s.14(1)]
    🚽
    Toilet and wash basin: 1 per 10 children [s.14(2)]
    One toilet and wash basin for every 10 children or fewer. For home care (Family or In-Home Multi-Age), the toilet/basin does NOT need to be on the same floor as the care space [s.14(3)] — your existing bathroom arrangement is almost certainly fine.
    1 toilet + basin per 10 children · Same floor NOT required for home care [s.14(2),(3)]
    🍼
    Diaper changing surface required if under 36 months [s.14(4)]
    Must be a sturdy surface, located outside the food preparation area, next to a wash basin. Required for any program caring for children under 36 months (except Preschool and School Age). A standard changing table adjacent to your bathroom qualifies.
    Sturdy surface · Outside food prep area · Next to wash basin [s.14(4)]
    🛏️
    Separate sleeping area for children under 36 months [s.14(3) equivalent]
    If you're caring for any child younger than 36 months, you must provide a separate sleeping area located away from active activity areas. This is a separate physical space during nap time — a pack 'n play in a bedroom qualifies if it's properly set up and not in the main play zone.
    Away from activity area · Required for children under 36mo
    🌳
    Outdoor play area: s.16(1) does NOT apply to Family Child Care [s.16(2)]
    The 7 m² per child outdoor rule [s.16(1)] is explicitly exempted for Family Child Care. However, s.16(2) still requires Family Child Care to provide both indoor and outdoor play areas. For In-Home Multi-Age, the 7 m² rule also does not apply by extension — but outdoor access is still required.
    Outdoor area required · 7 m²/child rule exempt for home care [s.16(1),(2)]
    🚧
    Outdoor area must be safely enclosed [s.16(3)]
    The entire outdoor play area must be enclosed in a manner suitable for the age and development of children, ensuring they are free from harm [s.16(3)(a)]. Constructed with materials suitable for children [s.16(3)(b)]. "Suitable enclosure" is assessed by the licensing officer — it is not a fixed fence height in the regulation itself, but 1.2m is the standard applied in practice.
    Enclosed suitably for age/development of children [s.16(3)]
    🔐 Criminal Record Checks — s.20, Schedule B, BC Reg 332/2007
    🔍
    CRC required for ALL persons over 12 ordinarily present [s.20(1)]
    This is broader than most people expect. Anyone over age 12 who is regularly present at your home while children are in care needs a criminal record check. This includes teenage children living in your home. The regulation says "over the age of 12" — not 19+.
    Everyone 12+ ordinarily present needs a CRC [s.20(1)]
    📋
    Application must include CRC for any person 12+ in the home [Schedule B, s.4]
    Schedule B of the regulation explicitly lists the CRC for persons over 12 ordinarily present as a required application document. Submit these with your application — missing CRCs are a common cause of processing delays.
    Schedule B s.4 — required with application
    📄 What Your Application Must Include — Schedule B, BC Reg 332/2007
    📝
    Detailed program description [Schedule B s.2]
    Type of care, ages of children, hours of operation, your approach to activities, nutrition, rest, and discipline. This is not a checklist — write it in paragraph form and make it sound professional. Your licensing officer is assessing whether you understand what you're doing.
    Schedule B s.2 — program description required
    👥
    Employee plan with qualifications & supervision plan [Schedule B s.5]
    Must include: duties and qualifications of the proposed manager (you), number of employees, their qualifications and expected duties, and a supervision and staffing plan including during outdoor activities and transport.
    Schedule B s.5 — employee plan required
    🗺️
    Site plan drawn to scale [Schedule B s.6]
    Shows property boundaries, location and dimensions of the outdoor play area, and any outdoor areas outside property boundaries. Must be drawn to scale — a simple but accurate hand-drawn plan is acceptable. Include fence locations and gate positions.
    Schedule B s.6 — site plan (to scale) required
    🏠
    Floor plan of all rooms [Schedule B s.6]
    Detailed floor plan showing every room children will use — dimensions, furniture placement, designated sleep area, kitchen layout, bathroom location, and any areas off-limits to children. This is reviewed before the inspection and again during it.
    Schedule B — floor plan with dimensions required
    💰
    Projected monthly budget [Schedule B]
    The gov.bc.ca application page explicitly lists a projected monthly budget as a required document. Include expected income (parent fees, grants) and expenses (insurance, supplies, food, utilities, licensing fees). Shows the licensing authority you've planned the business properly.
    Required — projected monthly income & expenses
    🎓 ECE Qualifications — Division 2, BC Reg 332/2007
    ⭐
    ECE certificate required for In-Home Multi-Age [Schedule E]
    Schedule E requires at minimum one Early Childhood Educator for any In-Home Multi-Age group of 1–8 children. As the sole operator, that ECE is you. Your certificate must be current and registered with the BC ECE Registry. Bring your certificate number to your Fraser Health intake meeting.
    Current ECE cert + Registry registration required [Schedule E]
    🩺
    Responsible Adult standard — if no ECE [Division 2]
    For Family Child Care without an ECE certificate, you must qualify as a Responsible Adult: 19+ years old, able to provide care and mature guidance, with 20 hours of child care-related training, relevant work experience, and a valid childcare first aid certificate.
    20-hr course + First Aid + work experience [Division 2]
    🔄
    ECE certificate renewal requirements [s.25]
    To renew an ECE certificate, you must show 2+ seminars/conferences/workshops totalling at least 12 hours, OR a completed ECE-related course. If your certificate expired within 5 years, you can still apply for renewal under s.25 — don't assume an expired certificate disqualifies you without checking.
    12 hrs of PD required for renewal · Expired within 5yrs = still renewable [s.25]

    Want someone to review your specific situation?

    Every home and application has unique complications. Our 1-on-1 consult includes a complete review of your floor plan, qualifications, and city requirements before you submit anything to Fraser Health.

    Step 3 of 8

    Space calculator

    Find out how many children your home can comfortably and legally accommodate. Enter your useable room sizes below.

    💡
    Useable play space only. Don't count: bathrooms, hallways, kitchens, storage rooms, or any area you're designating for staff/admin use only. Only count rooms where children will actively play and spend time.
    📏

    Enter your rooms

    Measure room sizes in square feet (length × width)

    Enter your room sizes above
    MetricResult
    Total useable play space—
    Space in square metres—
    Max children (3.7 m² guideline)—
    Recommended max with comfort buffer—
    🌳

    Outdoor space check

    Required for all licensed home daycares

    ✅
    Enter your outdoor space above.
    Step 4 of 8

    What will you actually earn?

    Model your real monthly take-home. This includes parent fees plus every government top-up you're entitled to as a licensed ECE operator.

    🌟
    Most ECE teachers earning $28–32/hr in a group care centre will earn more running their own 7–8 child home daycare, even after all expenses — and they set their own hours, choose their own families, and work from home.
    ⚙️

    Your Setup

    Adjust to match your situation

    Gross Monthly
    —
    all sources
    Monthly Costs
    —
    estimated
    Net Monthly
    —
    annual: —
    📊

    Full breakdown

    Revenue & Cost ItemMonthly
    💡
    Note on CCFRI: CCFRI is a pass-through subsidy — it reduces what parents pay (from ~$1,250 down to ~$400-500/month) and the government pays you the difference directly. Your total revenue per child stays at market rate. The benefit: your waitlist fills faster because your fees look much lower, and families with the Affordable Child Care Benefit can stack on top.
    Step 5 of 8

    Grants & government funding

    As a licensed ECE operator, you qualify for more funding than almost any other small business in BC. Most new operators miss at least two of these.

    ⚠️
    As of Budget 2026: BC has temporarily paused new enrolment into the $10/Day ChildCareBC program. The CCFRI fee reduction program (which is separate and still highly valuable) remains fully open to new participants. All grants below are still available.
    ChildCareBC Start-Up Grant
    Up to $1,000
    For anyone opening a licensed home-based childcare facility (Family, In-Home Multi-Age, or Group Care) in their personal residence. Covers startup costs: safety equipment, toys, furniture, outdoor materials, fencing. Apply AFTER you receive your licence through My ChildCareBC Services. Simple application, usually processed in 2–3 weeks.
    → gov.bc.ca/childcare/startup-grants
    Child Care Operating Funding (CCOF) — Base Funding
    ~$300–600 / month
    Monthly operating support for licensed providers. Covers day-to-day running costs. Apply through My ChildCareBC Services right after you're licensed. Agreements run April 1 to March 31 and must be renewed annually. You can apply any time during the year and receive funding retroactive to the first of that month.
    → gov.bc.ca/childcare/operating-funding
    Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative (CCFRI)
    Up to $900 / child / month
    You opt in, reduce parent fees, and receive a government top-up payment to cover the difference. Result: families see much lower fees (you fill spots and build waitlists faster) while your total monthly income stays strong. Families who also receive the Affordable Child Care Benefit (incomes up to $111K/yr) can stack this — paying as little as $0/month. This is the single most powerful tool for filling your spots quickly in a competitive market.
    → gov.bc.ca/childcare/fee-reduction
    ECE Wage Enhancement
    Up to $6 / hour
    If you hold an ECE certificate and operate a qualifying licensed facility, you can receive up to $6/hour wage enhancement — effectively a $6/hr raise on every hour you work, funded by the province. As a sole operator working ~8-hour days this adds up to ~$900–1,200/month in additional income. Apply through My ChildCareBC Services as part of your operating funding agreement.
    → gov.bc.ca/childcare/wage-enhancement
    ECE Specialized Certification Grant
    $2,000 – $3,000 / year
    Annual grant for ECEs holding specialized post-basic certificates. $2,000/year for one specialization (Infant Toddler OR Special Needs) and $3,000/year for both. Must be working with children birth to age 5 in a licensed facility. Applications open annually through the Early Childhood Educators of BC (ECEBC). This is a payment, not a loan — it's yours every year you qualify.
    → ecebc.ca — Specialized Certification Grant
    ChildCareBC Maintenance Fund — Emergency Repairs
    Up to $2,000
    Once you're an established operator, this covers emergency repairs that impact children's health and safety or risk immediate closure. Includes repairs to heating, plumbing, fencing, and safety equipment. Apply when needed — not a competitive process.
    → gov.bc.ca/childcare/maintenance-fund
    Step 6 of 8

    City-by-city guide

    Fraser Health issues your provincial licence everywhere in the region. Each city then has its own business licence and inspection process — and some have important quirks you need to know about before you apply.

    📞
    Fraser Health is your first call regardless of city. Surrey & White Rock: 604-930-5405 · Langley: 604-514-6121 (via Surrey office) · Chilliwack: 604-702-4950 · Abbotsford: 604-870-6000 · Mission: 604-814-5515 · Central intake: 604-587-3936
    ⚠️
    Surrey & Langley have unique rules worth knowing before you apply: Surrey does not require a city business licence for home-based childcare — the Fraser Health licence is sufficient. Township of Langley requires proof of a Fraser Health application before you can submit a city business licence application, and strata properties require a Strata Consent Form. City of Langley requires a business licence with zoning confirmed first.
    Surrey
    SURREY.CA · FRASER HEALTH 604-930-5405
    Fraser Health (Surrey/White Rock)
    604-930-5405
    Fraser Health Central Intake
    604-587-3936
    Surrey Planning & Development
    604-591-4441
    Surrey Building Division
    604-591-4370
    CCRR Surrey (Child Care Options)
    604-572-8032
    CCRR Address
    #101, 13583–81 Ave, Surrey
    CCRR Email
    [email protected]
    🌟 No city business licence required
    Home daycares exempt from Surrey BL By-law
    Building/fire inspection
    City contacts you within 5–10 business days of FHA receiving your application
    Zoning — home care ≤8 kids
    Permitted in most residential zones. No rezoning needed for up to 8 children.
    Inspection fee
    Required before City inspection — pay online or at City Hall
    Surrey childcare guidelines
    surrey.ca/childcare-facilities
    Township of Langley
    TOL.CA · FRASER HEALTH VIA SURREY OFFICE
    Fraser Health (via Surrey office)
    604-930-5405
    Fraser Health (Langley direct)
    604-514-6121
    TOL Licences & Policies Dept
    604-533-6018
    TOL Licences Email
    [email protected]
    TOL Address
    20338 – 65 Avenue, Langley
    CCRR Langley (LCSS)
    604-533-4425
    CCRR Address
    5339 207 St, Langley
    CCRR Email
    [email protected]
    ⚠️ FHA proof required first
    Must provide proof of Fraser Health application BEFORE submitting city BL application
    ⚠️ Strata properties
    Strata Consent Form required for home-based business in strata
    If renting (not owner)
    Owner's Authorization form required
    Processing time
    Allow 30+ business days — building & fire inspections required
    Zoning check tool
    GeoSource mapping at tol.ca
    BL cost
    See Schedule 19, TOL Fees & Charges Bylaw 4616
    City of Langley
    LANGLEYCITY.CA · DIFFERENT FROM TOWNSHIP
    Fraser Health (Surrey office)
    604-930-5405
    City Development Services
    604-514-2830
    Building Permits & BL
    604-514-2804
    BL / Permits Email
    [email protected]
    Planning & Zoning
    [email protected]
    CCRR Langley (LCSS)
    604-533-4425 · [email protected]
    City Hall Address
    20399 Douglas Crescent, Langley
    ⚠️ City ≠ Township
    City of Langley and Township of Langley are separate municipalities with separate processes — confirm your address
    BL required?
    Yes — confirm zoning first, then apply for BL. Daycares covered in BL Regulation Bylaw 2916.
    Zoning check
    Interactive GIS Map at langleycity.ca
    Home occupation rules
    Must be resident of property. Max 1 non-resident employee.
    BL application fee
    $60 admin fee + licence fee
    Chilliwack
    CHILLIWACK.COM · FRASER HEALTH 604-702-4950
    Fraser Health (Chilliwack)
    604-702-4950
    Business Licence
    604-793-2909
    Planning / Zoning
    604-793-2906
    Building Dept
    604-793-2905
    Fire Dept
    604-792-8713
    CCRR Chilliwack
    604-792-4267
    CCRR Address
    8937 School Street, Chilliwack
    CCRR Email
    [email protected]
    Zoning (home daycare)
    Most RS zones allow
    Business licence cost
    ~$150–250/yr
    City childcare guide
    chilliwack.com/childcare
    Abbotsford
    ABBOTSFORD.CA · FRASER HEALTH 604-870-6000
    Fraser Health (Abbotsford)
    604-870-6000
    City Main Line
    604-864-5510
    CCRR Abbotsford (Archway)
    604-850-7934
    CCRR Address
    #102 2469 Montrose Ave, Abbotsford
    CCRR Email
    [email protected]
    Zoning note
    Confirm if on ALR land — different rules apply
    Business licence cost
    ~$200–300/yr
    Mission
    MISSION.CA · FRASER HEALTH 604-814-5515
    Fraser Health (Mission)
    604-814-5515
    City Main Line
    604-820-3700
    CCRR Mission
    778-201-2367
    CCRR Address
    33313 3rd Avenue, Mission
    Business licence cost
    ~$150–200/yr
    Agassiz / Harrison
    DISTRICT OF KENT · FRASER HEALTH 604-870-6000
    Fraser Health
    604-870-6000 (Abbotsford office)
    District of Kent
    604-796-2235
    Harrison Hot Springs
    604-796-2171
    CCRR (via Abbotsford/Agassiz)
    604-792-4267 (also serves Agassiz)
    Business licence cost
    ~$100–150/yr
    Hope / Rosedale / Yarrow
    HOPE.CA & FVRD AREAS
    Fraser Health
    604-870-6000
    City of Hope
    604-869-5671
    CCRR Hope
    604-869-2466
    CCRR Address (Hope)
    434 Wallace Street, Hope
    FVRD (Rosedale/Yarrow)
    604-702-5000
    Fraser Health (Rosedale/Yarrow)
    604-702-4950 (Chilliwack office)
    Business licence cost
    ~$100–150/yr (FVRD BL for rural areas)
    📋
    Your CCRR is free and underused. Attend their free orientation session before you apply. They'll walk you through Fraser Health's process, lend you toys and equipment from their resource library, connect you with experienced operators nearby, and post your vacancy on their directory once you're open. Surrey's CCRR is Child Care Options (604-572-8032). Langley's is LCSS (604-533-4425).
    Step 7 of 8

    Week-by-week roadmap

    Most ECE operators are licensed and open within 10–14 weeks if they follow this sequence. The biggest variable is the criminal record check timeline.

    🚨
    Start the criminal record check on Day 1. Vulnerable Sector checks at the RCMP take 4–8 weeks. This is always the bottleneck. Everything else can proceed in parallel — but you cannot be licensed without this document.
    Week 1 — Do this today
    Start your Vulnerable Sector criminal record check
    Every adult 19+ in your household. Go to your local RCMP detachment or police station in person with ID. Do not wait on anything else before doing this — it takes the longest and everything else can run in parallel.
    Week 1–2
    Research & preparation
    Confirm your home zoning (call city planning with your address). Measure your rooms and run the Space Calculator. Verify your ECE certificate is active in the Registry. Attend a free CCRR orientation session. Book a pre-application call with Fraser Health.
    Week 2–3
    Purchase Fraser Health application package
    Call your Fraser Health office, pay the fee, receive the full application package. From this point you're officially applying and can legally care for 2 unrelated children. You'll be assigned a licensing officer.
    Week 3–5
    Complete qualifications & draw floor plan
    Book and complete childcare First Aid/CPR (1-day course). Complete Food Safe if you'll be serving food. Draw your floor plan with accurate dimensions of every room children will use, sleep area, and outdoor access. Show furniture placement.
    Week 4–6
    Prepare your home
    Check and fix hot water temperature. Install/test smoke detectors and CO alarm. Lock all hazards. Set up designated sleep area. Check or install outdoor fencing. Get your ABC fire extinguisher. Walk through every item on the Checklist tab.
    Week 6–8
    Submit application to Fraser Health
    Submit completed application with floor plans, ECE certificate, criminal record checks (once received), medical forms, and program description. Your licensing officer will contact you to schedule a home inspection. Typical wait: 2–4 weeks.
    Week 8–12
    Fraser Health home inspection
    Your licensing officer visits your home. They check every item on the requirements list — hot water, smoke detectors, hazard storage, sleep area, outdoor space. Minor deficiencies get a correction deadline. Pass everything → licence issued within 1–2 weeks. Most ECEs pass on the first visit.
    Week 10–14
    City business licence & fire inspection
    Submit your city business licence application with your Fraser Health stamped floor plans. City schedules their own fire/building inspection. Once you pass both, display both licences prominently in your care space.
    Week 12–16
    You're licensed — apply for all funding, start enrolling
    Apply for Start-Up Grant ($1,000). Apply for CCOF base funding. Opt into CCFRI. Apply for ECE Wage Enhancement. Register with CCRR for their vacancy listing. Sign your first parent agreements. You're open. Most operators have their first 3–4 children within weeks of listing on the CCRR vacancy board.
    Step 8 of 8

    Done-with-you support

    The Launch Kit answers most questions. The consulting package is for everything it can't.

    DAYCARESINBC.COM · FRASER VALLEY ONLY
    Your own expert in your corner
    from first call to first day open.
    Every application has complications — a zoning wrinkle, a failed inspection item, a landlord question, a confusing grant form. Instead of spending weeks figuring it out alone, you get someone who's been through dozens of Fraser Valley applications and knows exactly how to handle it.
    $10,000
    DONE-WITH-YOU
    FRASER VALLEY
    4 payments of $2,500 · No interest · Paid across your application timeline
    Fraser Health application walkthrough
    Floor plan review before you submit
    City zoning check for your address
    All grant applications filed together
    Fire Safety Plan template + review
    Parent Handbook template
    Unlimited support calls during licensing
    Post-licence first-month setup guidance
    Book Free 20-Min Discovery Call →
    "I passed my Fraser Health inspection on the first visit — zero deficiencies. The floor plan review beforehand made all the difference. I didn't have to guess what the inspector was looking for."
    ECE Teacher · Chilliwack · Licensed Feb 2024
    "I had no idea I qualified for the ECE Wage Enhancement on top of my parent fees. That alone covers more than the cost of the consulting package in the first few months."
    ECE Teacher · Abbotsford · Licensed Apr 2024
    "My strata had rules about home-based businesses. Without help I would have given up at step one. We found a solution and I've been running for 8 months with 7 enrolled kids."
    ECE Graduate · Sardis (Chilliwack) · Licensed Mar 2024
    🤝
    The discovery call is free and genuinely no-pressure. We'll look at your specific situation — your home, your city, your qualifications — and tell you honestly whether this is a good fit and what your path looks like. Most people leave with a clear next step regardless of whether they hire us.