Rules for fire prevention and inspection of unlicensed ministries
Ind. Code § 12-17.2-6-5
in effectNote: This version of section effective 7-1-2027. See also preceding version of this section, effective until 7-1-2027.
Sec. 5. (a) As used in this section, "primary use of the building" means the occupancy classification that is:
(1) most closely related to the intended use of the building; and
(2) determined by the rules of the department of homeland security in effect at the time that the child care ministry is first registered.
(b) The department of homeland security shall inspect a child care ministry registered under section 2 of this chapter to ensure that the child care ministry complies with the requirements of subsection (c).
(c) Except as provided in the following, a registered child care ministry shall comply with all rules of the department of homeland security applicable to the primary use of the building:
(1) A registered child care ministry with an occupant load of at least fifty (50) shall do either of the following:
(A) Install and maintain a fire alarm system in compliance with the rules of the department of homeland security.
(B) Provide a notice on a form prescribed by the department of homeland security to the parents of each child who attends the ministry stating that the ministry does not have the same level of fire safety protection as a licensed child care center.
(2) Each registered child care ministry with an occupant load of less than fifty (50) shall do either of the following:
(A) Install and maintain in good operating condition at least one (1) battery operated smoke detector in each room and corridor used by the ministry.
(B) Provide a notice on a form prescribed by the department of homeland security to the parents of each child who attends the ministry stating that the ministry does not have the same level of fire safety protection as a licensed child care center.
(3) Each registered child care ministry shall comply with the rules of the department of homeland security concerning fire drills.
For purposes of this subsection, occupant load is determined by dividing the total square footage of the area used by the child care ministry by thirty-five (35) and rounding any result that is not a whole number up to the next whole number.
(d) The department of homeland security shall perform inspections of a child care ministry registered under section 2 of this chapter in accordance with IC 22-14-2-11.
As added by P.L.1-1993, SEC.141. Amended by P.L.159-1995, SEC.2; P.L.1-2006, SEC.194; P.L.187-2021, SEC.46; P.L.28-2026, SEC.26; P.L.152-2026, SEC.202.
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://iga.in.gov/laws/2026/ic/titles/12Fetched: 10/17/2026