Group Care Facilities

Day care facilities which provide care for five or more children unrelated to the facility operator are inspected twice a year. These inspections look at the general sanitation of the facility, food hygiene practices (if applicable), sewage disposal, water supply, garbage disposal, and general safety issues. If a swimming pool is located on the premises, this is also inspected.

Family Day Care centers provide care for four or less unrelated children plus up to five additional after-school children. These facilities are not inspected by DOH-Columbia.

Day care facilities are licensed by the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF), with the exception of some church-affiliated day care centers. To contact the DCF local office, call 386-758-1510.

Private and public school facilities are inspected for general sanitation and safety issues twice each school year.

There are a number of residential care facilities which provide housing, food, and other personalized healthcare services to unrelated individuals on a 24 hour a day basis. These facilities receive a general sanitation and safety inspection once a year. If these facilities have food service for 25 or more residents, the kitchen receives a food safety inspection four times a year.

These types of facilities receive a general sanitation and safety inspection once a year. If these facilities have food service for 25 or more residents, the kitchen receives a food safety inspection four times a year.