Scranton, PA Building Safety: Childcare Center Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Covered centers
- 3+ unrelated children or adults cared for
- License
- Annual, from Dept. of Community Development
- License/inspection fee
- $250 per year
- Correction deadline
- Up to 40 days after notice
- Appeal fee
- $100, nonrefundable, within 10 days
- Operating without a license
- $300 fine, 30-90 days jail if unpaid
Summary
Scranton requires anyone operating a child or adult day-care center to pass a City inspection and hold an annual $250 license from the Department of Community Development. Inspectors check compliance with the City's building codes before issuing the license, and give up to 40 days to fix any deficiencies found.
Any person or operator of a child day-care center or facility within the City of Scranton, either within 30 days after the effective date of this article, if operating or in existence on the day this article becomes effective; or any person or operator wishing to establish or operate a child day-care center or facility with the City of Scranton after the effective date of this article, shall arrange for the inspection of said center/facility by the City of Scranton, and obtain a license annually from the Department of Community Development of the City of Scranton. ... If such inspection shows that the center/facility is in compliance with the standard building codes (BOCA Codes) adopted by the City of Scranton and any other pertinent building regulations enacted by the city, the license will be issued by the Department or the Master Code Official.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4719898; v25 updated 2025-12-16; through 12-16-2025).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 212 of the City Code splits day-care regulation into two nearly identical articles: Article I for child day-care centers (three or more unrelated children cared for at once) and Article II for adult day-care centers (three or more unrelated adults). Under §§ 212-2 and 212-5, any operator running a center when the article took effect, or opening one afterward, must arrange a City inspection and hold an annual license from the Department of Community Development. The applicant submits the center's name, address and capacity, the operator's and owner's names, a drawing of the building, proposed hours, and a $250 annual license and inspection fee.
The Department's Bureau of Licenses and Inspection then schedules the inspection in cooperation with the Scranton Fire Department; if the center complies with the City's adopted building codes and other pertinent regulations, the Department or Master Code Official issues the license. If the inspection turns up deficiencies, inspectors issue a notice directing corrective action within a reasonable time not to exceed 40 days, followed by a reinspection. An operator or applicant unhappy with a corrective notice can appeal to the Housing Appeals Board within 10 days of the notice, paying a nonrefundable $100 appeal fee.
Violations & Fines
Operating a child or adult day-care center without the required license or inspection, or failing to complete corrective action, is punishable under §§ 212-3 and 212-6 by a $300 fine plus costs, and, if unpaid, imprisonment of not less than 30 and not more than 90 days, with each day of operation a separate violation. A day-care citation under Chapter 212 does not bar separate citations for the same conduct under the City's adopted building codes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Scranton require day-care centers to be inspected?
How much does a Scranton day-care license cost?
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Sources & Official References
Other rules in Scranton
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