10A NCAC 09 .0605(q)
Playground inspection rules for North Carolina childcare centres
North Carolina licensed centres must inspect the play area monthly and keep the records for 12 months, in the centre's files.
How often
Monthly
Keep records
12 months, in the centre's files
Must you use the state's form?
Yes — the Division's checklist
What the rule says
10A NCAC 09 .0605(q) — Outdoor learning environment in child care centers
Following completion of playground safety training as required by Rule .1102(e) of this Chapter, a monthly playground inspection shall be conducted by an individual trained in playground safety requirements.
A trained administrator or staff person shall make a record of each inspection using a playground inspection checklist provided by the Division.
The checklist shall be signed by the person who conducts the inspection and shall be maintained for 12 months in the center's files for review by a representative of the Division.
Read the full rule at NC Office of Administrative Hearings · quoted text checked 2026-09-03
Does a CPSC checklist satisfy it?
North Carolina requires the Division's own checklist, so a CPSC checklist does not satisfy this rule on its own. It also requires the inspector to have completed playground safety training under Rule .1102(e). Use the state form for the licensing record; a CPSC round is a supplement, not a substitute.
25 CPSC pass/fail items, offline, photographs attached to what you find, and a dated record you can keep for as long as your state asks. Print the checklist free, or run it on a phone.