Children & Child Care

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

We're committed to providing children of all ages with safe, welcoming programs through City-owned child care centres operated by licensed non-profit societies, new centres developed with Burnaby School District 41, and various recreation and arts activities. We also provide step-by-step instructions for organizations interested in opening new child care centres.

Quality child care is essential for children's development and helps families balance responsibilities. The City is committed to creating a comprehensive and inclusive child care system, as outlined in our Child Care Policy and Child Care Action Plan. Through the Community Benefit Bonus Policy, Burnaby has built or supported 16 child care centres, including 9 in partnership with the Burnaby School District. The City also supports child care services and programs through its Child Care Resources Group.

Learn more about:

Child care centres

City and School District partnership 

In 2014, the City and Burnaby School District signed an agreement to build up to 12 child care centres on school sites throughout Burnaby. So far 9 centres have opened. These centres are operated by non-profit societies.

Please contact the child care operators at the centres directly:

Child care centre Location Operator Number of child care spaces
Infant & toddler (up to 36 months) Children (2.5-5 years) School-age care
Capitol Hill Children's Centre Capitol Hill Elementary
5750 Pandora Street
Lower Mainland Purpose Society for Youth and Families - 25 -
Cascade Heights YMCA Child Care & Kids' Club Cascade Heights Elementary
4343 Smith Avenue
YMCA of Greater Vancouver 12 25 54
Sapperton Learning Lab Marian Learning Resource Centre
7650 Sapperton Avenue
SFU Childcare Society 24 25 54
Stride Avenue Early Years Care, Stride Avenue Neighbourhood Care Stride Avenue Community School
7014 Stride Avenue
Burnaby Neighbourhood House 12 15 60
Marlborough Early Years Care, Marlborough Neighbourhood Care Marlborough Elementary
6051 Royal Oak
Burnaby Neighbourhood House 12 25 54
Montecito Child Care Centre Montecito Elementary
7230 Camarillo Place
Burnaby Family Life - 25 -
Puddle Splashers Childcare Society  Burnaby North Secondary
751 Hammarskjold Drive
Puddle Splashers Child Care Society 24 25 54
Puddle Splashers Childcare Society  Westridge Elementary 
510 Duncan Avenue
Puddle Splashers Child Care Society 12 25 54
Suncrest Neighbourhood Care Suncrest Elementary
3883 Rumble Street
Burnaby Neighbourhood House - - 54

City child care centres

The City has been committed to advancing child care since 1995. The following centres are City owned and operated by non-profit societies. 

Please contact the child care operators at the centres directly:

Child care centre Location Operator Number of child care spaces
Infant & toddler (up to 36 months) Children (2.5-5 years) School-age care
Cameron  Children's Centre 9838 Cameron Street Lower Mainland Purpose Society for Youth and Families 20 24 -
Christine Sinclair Child Care Centre Christine Sinclair Community Centre
3713 Kensington Avenue
Burnaby Family Life - 25 -
Hanna Court Children's Centre 7521 Hanna Court Burnaby Children Centre Society 20 25 -
Madison Children's Centre 4397 Buchanan Street Lower Mainland Purpose Society for Youth and Families 22 18 -
Rowan Avenue Child Care Centre
(opening Fall 2025)
4838 Rowan Avenue Lower Mainland Purpose Society for Youth and Families 24 50 -
Yukon Crescent Children's Centre 2123 Yukon Crescent Lower Mainland Purpose Society for Youth and Families 20 24 20
Taylor Park Children's Centre 7500 Hanna Court Burnaby Children Centre Society 12 25 -

To locate other licensed child care facilities available in Burnaby

The Affordable Child Care Benefit is a monthly payment to help eligible families with the cost of child care.

The City also supports children in Burnaby through a broad range of recreation activities and programs–including access to the Fair Play Program, 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.

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, planning division)
4949 Canada Way, Burnaby
Phone: 604-294-7400
Email: [email protected]

New! Child Care Design Principles and Guidelines 

On November 4, 2024, Council approved new child care design principles and guidelines for all new City-supported child care centres. These guidelines are a user-friendly resource for building quality child care spaces in Burnaby.

Burnaby’s Child Care Design Principles and Guidelines reflect the City’s commitment to exceptional child care. They incorporate best practices in early learning and care, providing guidance for creating inspiring spaces that support children's well-being and development. These guidelines ensure high-quality licensed child care spaces that will endure, aligning with new provincial guidelines and promoting healthy, inspiring environments for children, staff, parents, and caregivers.

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.

Small-scale multi-unit housing district

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 a single-family home, duplex, multiplex or rowhouse dwelling, including in the primary dwelling unit or in a secondary suite. 

In the R1 district, up to 2 dwelling units on a lot, each with a maximum of 7 to 8 children, are permitted to have a home-based child care, and only if the owners of the other dwelling units support 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. Note that as a home-based child care operator, you must be a resident of the dwelling unit.

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
  • R1 Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing District (conditional)
  • RM1, RM2, RM3/RM3s, RM4/RM4s and RM5/RM5s Multiple Family Residential Districts
  • C1, C2, C3, C4, C8/C8a (conditional) and C9 Commercial Districts
  • M4, M5, and M8 Industrial Districts
  • B1 and B2 Business Centre Districts
  • It may be possible to locate a child care centre in the Comprehensive Development (CD) District, but  in some cases rezoning may still be 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 division 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 division 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 Licensing Department 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, planning division)
4949 Canada Way, Burnaby
Phone: 604-294-7400
E-mail: [email protected]

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