Children & Child Care

New child care centre coming to Christine Sinclair Community Centre

Find out more

Burnaby is committed to delivering accessible, quality child care and making it straightforward for operators to open child care centres

Children of all ages need the chance to play and learn with their peers. We're committed to providing them with safe, welcoming programs through:

  • City-owned child care centres operated by licensed non-profit societies.
  • New child care centres developed in partnership with Burnaby School District 41.
  • Recreation and arts programs and activities that inspire a lifelong passion to be active and creative.

We also want to help organizations interested in opening a new child care centre with step-by-step instructions.

Quality child care centres

For children, quality child care helps lay the foundation for school success and the ability to play and work well with others. It also helps families balance school, work, and home responsibilities.

The City recognizes the critical social and economic role quality child care plays in community well-being and is committed to assisting in the creation of a comprehensive and inclusive child care system in Burnaby. The City's Child Care Policy outlines this commitment. The City’s new Child Care Action Plan provides a road map to address child care needs over the next ten years.

Through our civic Community Benefit Bonus Policy, Burnaby has acquired 5 City-owned child care centres that are operated by non-profit societies. As well, the City supports child care services and programs in Burnaby through its Child Care Resources Group.

Children's programming

13% of our population is under the age of 14.

The City also supports children in Burnaby through a broad range of recreation activities and programs and through partnerships with Burnaby School District, Fraser Health and other community partners. The City is an active participant in Burnaby's Early Childhood Development Community Planning Table.

Ready, Set, Learn - Sponsored by the BC Ministry of Education and the City of Burnaby, this Burnaby Community Services resource brochure is a comprehensive guide for families with children, newborn to age 12.

City school district partnership to create new child care centres

In 2014, the City and Burnaby School District signed an agreement to build up to 12 child care centres on school sites throughout Burnaby. Under the agreement, the City will provide capital funding through its community benefit bonus funds, the School District will provide land, and locally-based non-profit organizations will operate the centres.

So far, these 7 child care centres have opened or are about to open. These centres will be operated by non-profit societies.

Please contact the child care operators at the new centres directly:

 

Name Operating partner # of spaces available Facility opening

Montecito Children's Centre

7230 Camarillo Place

Burnaby Family Life

0 - infants & toddlers to 36 months

25 - children 2 1/2 - 5 yrs old

2020

Capitol Hill Children's Centre

5750 Pandora St

Lower Mainland Purpose Society for Youth and Families

0 - infants & toddlers to 36 months

25 - children 2 1/2 - 5 yrs old

2021

Stride Avenue Child Care Centre

7051 14th Avenue

Burnaby Neighbourhood House

12 - infants & toddlers to 36 months

25 - children 2 1/2 - 5 yrs old

Fall 2023

Marion Learning Resource Centre

7650 Sapperton Ave

SFU Childcare Society

24 - infants & toddlers to 36 months

25 - children 2 1/2 - 5 yrs old

2022

Westridge Elementary

510 Duncan Ave

Puddle Splashers Child Care Society

12 - infants & toddlers to 36 months

25 - children 2 1/2 - 5 yrs old

2021

Cascade Heights Elementary

4343 Smith Ave

YMCA of Greater Vancouver

12 - infants & toddlers to 36 months

25 - children 2 1/2 - 5 yrs old

2021

Marlborough Elementary

6051 Royal Oak

Burnaby Neighbourhood House

12 - infants & toddlers to 36 months

25 - children 2 1/2 - 5 yrs old

2022

New City child care centres

Priority will be provided to City and RCMP staff, however the facility will also provide a significant number of spaces for community use. 

Name Operating partner # of spaces available Facility opening
Christine Sinclair Community Centre
*official name TBA
Burnaby Family Life

0 - infants & toddlers to 36 months

25 - children 2 1/2 - 5 yrs old

Winter 2024
Rowan Avenue
*official name TBA
TBA

24 - infants & toddlers to 36 months

50 - children 2 1/2 - 5 yrs old

Spring 2025

To locate other licenced child care facilities available in Burnaby

Get Funding for Child Care BC has expanded child care funding to lower fees for families.

The City also supports children in Burnaby through a broad range of recreation activities and programs–including access to the recreation credit, free and low cost and Grade 5 Be Active programs; and through partnerships with Burnaby School District, Fraser Health and other community organizations. The City is an active participant in Burnaby's Early Childhood Development Community Planning Table.

Ready, Set, Learn - Sponsored by the BC Ministry of Education and the City of Burnaby, this Burnaby Community Services resource brochure is a comprehensive guide for families with children, newborn to age 12.

Opening a child care centre

Groups and individuals interested in opening a child care centre, including a home-based child care centre, should consult with the Planning and Development Department before you start. Inquiries can be directed to:

Burnaby City Hall (third floor, front counter to planning division)
4949 Canada Way, Burnaby
Phone: 604-294-7400
Fax: 604-294-7986
Email: [email protected]

Where can I locate a child care centre in Burnaby?

Child care centres are located throughout Burnaby–in people’s homes, in buildings specially designed as child care centres, in commercial or residential buildings that have converted space into child care centres–or in other spaces such as rooms in churches and other places of worship.

To operate licensed child care in Burnaby, you as the child care operator must ensure that the centre operates within the correct zoning district.

Single and 2-family zoning districts

Family child care (maximum of 7 children) and in-home, multi-age child care (maximum of 8 children) are permitted as a home occupation in the following single and two-family residential zoning districts:

  • R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R8, R9, R10, R11 and R12.

In a two-family dwelling (duplex), only one unit is permitted to have a home-based child care, and only if the owner of the other dwelling unit supports the establishment of the home-based child care.

Multiple family zoning districts

Family child care and in-home multi-age child care are also permitted in these multiple family zoning districts :

  • RM1, RM2 and RM3, RM4, RM5, RM6 and RM7

However, the child care centre must be located in a ground floor dwelling unit and have the support of the strata council or the owner or manager of a rental building.

The child care centre application process for home-based child care, family child care and in-home multi-age child care

As part of the Fraser Health Authority application process for licensed family child care or in-home multi-age child care, you need to complete a City of Burnaby referral form. The City reviews the referral form for compliance with zoning regulations (including the number of children on site) and any fire or safety concerns. Here are a few conditions to note:

  • As a child care operator, you must be a resident of the dwelling unit.
  • A home-based child care centre is not permitted in a dwelling unit that has a secondary (basement) suite.
A helpful resource guide

A step-by-step guide for a home-based child care centre in Burnaby provides the steps to follow for opening a home-based child care centre or amending your current licence. In Burnaby, a home-based child care centre is any child care service located in a residential dwelling and operated by the resident of the dwelling.

Before buying or leasing a child care space, make sure the type of child care centre you plan to provide is allowed at that location. Child care centres have a number of type categories:

  • group child care (under 36 months, 30 months to school age, and school age)
  • preschool 
  • multi-age 
  • school-age on school grounds*
  • recreational child care centres for more than 8 children*

*Service types added in 2021

The above categories are permitted in the following zoning districts:

  • P1, P2, P3, P5, P6, P11 Public and Institutional Districts.
  • RM1, RM2, RM3/RM3s, RM4/RM4s and RM5/RM5s Multiple Family Residential Districts.
  • C1, C2, C3, C4, C8/C8a (conditional) and C9 Commercial Districts.
  • It may be possible to locate a child care centre in the Comprehensive Development (CD) District, but rezoning is most likely required.

You can enter the address of the space you’re considering for a childcare centre into our Zoning Map to look up the designated Zoning District.

Application process

To open a child care space, you must meet the provincial and municipal requirements. Connect with the Health Protection Office Burnaby for information about the Fraser Health Community Care Facilities Licensing, and connect with Burnaby’s Planning Department at 604-294-7400 to learn about the City’s requirements. 

The following applications may be required:

  • Rezoning: If your site is not zoned for any district or sub-district above, the site will need to be rezoned. City Council must approve the rezoning application.
  • Preliminary Plan Approval: If you are changing the external appearance of a building or site or changing the use of the building, you will need a Preliminary Plan Approval.
  • Building Permit: You must meet all BC Building Code requirements, including building, fire and electrical code regulations for child care facilities. We recommend consulting with a certified architect or engineer to check what renovations might be needed before signing a lease or buying a property. For more information, see the Building Department’s Child Care Facilities brochure.
  • Other Requirements: 

Submit your application

  1. Once you’ve developed a plan for your child care centre, apply for the Fraser Health Child Care Licence. After a completed application has been submitted, a Licensing Officer will meet with you to ensure your centre meets all legislative requirements.
  2. Contact City staff at the Planning Department to ask whether your chosen location permits a child care facility, or what would be required to permit it to be used as one. 
  3. Apply for a Burnaby business licence. The Business Licence Office will send your application to the Fire Department, Building Department and Fraser Health Licensing as part of the process.

Contact us

For more information about zoning for child care centres, please contact or visit the planning division.

Burnaby City Hall (third floor, front counter to planning division)
4949 Canada Way, Burnaby
Phone: 604-294-7400
E-mail: [email protected]

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