Childcare Services Updates

The City of Boise will maintain the Boise childcare map until June 30, 2025. After that date, the map will be discontinued since no information will be available to our staff to keep it updated. You can visit the IDHW website to access their online resources.

When selecting childcare, it's important to remember the following factors:

• Adult-to-Child Ratio: Ask how many children there are for each adult. The fewer the children for each adult, the better for your child. You want your child to get plenty of attention.

• Caregiver Qualifications: Ask about the childcare provider’s training and education. Caregivers with degrees and/or special training in working with children will often be better able to help your child grow and learn. Are the caregivers engaged in activities or programs outside of work that help to improve their skills and knowledge around child development? Do they attend classes and workshops that focus on early childhood development?

• Turnover: Check how long the childcare provider has been at the center or in their home. It’s best if children stay with the same caregiver at least a year. Caregivers who come and go make it hard on your child. Consistency helps to build your child’s self-esteem and provides them a sense of security.

• Supervision: Are children supervised at all times, even when they are sleeping? How do the caregivers discipline children? Discipline should be positive, clear, consistent, and fair. Can caregivers be seen by others at all times? Have the caregivers been trained on how to prevent child abuse, how to recognize signs of child abuse, and how to report suspected child abuse?

• Safe and Clean: Have caregivers been trained how to keep children healthy and safe from injury and illness? Do all caregivers and children wash their hands often, especially before eating, and after using the bathroom or changing diapers? Is the outdoor play area regularly inspected for safety? Is equipment the right size and type for the age of children who use it?

• Active Parents: Involved parents build trust, communication, and consistency between home and childcare.

• Accreditation and/or IdahoSTARS Rated: Find out if your childcare provider has been accredited by a national organization or has been rated through the IdahoSTARS program. These providers have met voluntary standards for children that are higher than most state licensing requirements. Visit the Idaho Association for the Education of Young Children website for more information.

The City of Boise will continue to license childcare facilities and workers under the current city process through June 30, 2025. During this time period, childcare facilities and workers will be required to license with the city and continue to meet the requirements of the Boise City Code.  Licenses will be issued for a full year, consistent with our current process.

All childcare facility licenses that expire between July 1, 2025, and December 2025 will be extended until December 31, 2025.  The goal of this extension is to allow providers time to comply and navigate the new state of Idaho requirements and minimize disruption of service for parents and providers, including funding.

Yes. The City will continue to regulate zoning and land use through our Planning and Development Services Department. If you have questions or need to verify zoning or code compliance, please e-mail zoninginfo@cityofboise.org or call (208) 608-7100. You may also visit our website.
 
The Boise Fire Department will also be available to provide fire code compliance inspections. The current fee, if any, has yet to be determined.

The City of Boise will continue to license childcare facilities and workers under the current city process through June 30, 2025. During this time period, childcare facilities and workers will be required to license with the city and continue to meet the requirements of the Boise City Code.  Licenses will be issued for a full year, consistent with our current process.

All childcare facility licenses that expire between July 1, 2025, and December 2025 will be extended until December 31, 2025.  The goal of this extension is to allow providers time to comply and navigate the new state of Idaho requirements and minimize disruption of service for parents and providers, including funding.

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare may have different licensing standards, which could include new training and background check requirements. Visit IDHW’s website for the latest information.  These changes will go into effect July 1, 2025.

City of Boise fees will remain the same through June 30, 2025.  Fees may change beginning July 1, 2025 when the state begins issuing licenses in lieu of the City of Boise. Check with the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare for current fee information.

The city of Boise recommends reaching out to the State immediately.  Per an email from the state of Idaho, dated April 4, 2025:

• All city licensed facilities will need to apply for a state license in RISE before July 1, 2025, and a state license will be issued using their non-expired city license as the verification for no charge. Then, when the city license is due to expire, providers will need to work through the state licensing process.
• City licensed providers will receive a separate email with instructions for transitioning to state daycare licensing. Please contact IdahoSTARS if you need assistance with your daycare license, or contact 2-1-1.