Hackensack, NJ Building Safety: Childcare Center Rules (2026)

Chapter 74, Article I of the City Code defines a child-care facility broadly under § 74-1 as any private child-care center, infant-care center, day nursery, nursery school, boarding school, private elementary school, cooperative group, play group or similar establishment caring for or schooling six or more children under six years old, whether or not tuition or a fee is charged. Section 74-2 makes it unlawful to maintain such a place without a Health Department license issued under Chapter 107's licensing procedures, though public and parochial schools that meet the article's other requirements don't need one.

Section 74-3 layers in building-safety sign-off before any license issues: the Chief of the Bureau of Fire Prevention and the Construction Official must both approve the facility in writing on the application, and the initial license further requires that the Construction Official has issued a certificate of occupancy or certificate of continued occupancy for the space. Renewal applications need separate written approval from the Building Subcode Official and the Fire Subcode Official under § 74-3B(2), so a facility has to clear a fire-and-building review at both initial licensing and each renewal.

Section 74-5 layers on annual inspection fees that scale with capacity, from $150 initial and $75 renewal for 6 to 50 children up to $600 initial and $350 renewal for 201 or more children, payable to the Health Department by March 1 each year.