Pembroke Pines, FL Building Safety: Childcare Center Rules (2026)

Chapter 124, adopted by Ord. 01 stating the city's intent to protect children, parents, employees and visitors from crime, improve police and fire-rescue response times to emergencies at these sites, and deter people from committing crimes there. 02 defines the two devices the chapter regulates: a DOOR ACCESS CONTROL SYSTEM, which keeps entry doors locked but lets staff buzz in a visitor after speaking with them on an intercom, and a PANIC ALARM BUTTON, a professionally monitored button that silently signals an alarm company to dispatch the Pembroke Pines Police Department and Fire Rescue.

03 then sets the operative rules, layered on top of whatever the Florida Department of Children and Families already requires. Every facility must keep all doors locked during operating hours and whenever children under 18 are present, install at least one professionally maintained panic alarm button in an accessible but inconspicuous spot, and install a door access control system on every primary entry door. Both the panic button and the access-control system need a redundant power supply and must be able to report tampering to the alarm company, and the access-control hardware must meet the Florida Fire Prevention Code's standard for access-controlled egress door assemblies without letting the system 'buzz' people out or block emergency egress.

03(H) waives the permit fee for any facility that comes into compliance within 180 days of the ordinance's effective date. 03(J)-(K) requires annual testing by a licensed contractor during the facility's regular fire alarm test, verified by the Fire Prevention Bureau at the annual fire safety inspection.