Parents selecting a daycare in South Carolina can access several state-run tools to evaluate a facility’s licensing status, safety record, and staff background checks.
The South Carolina Department of Social Services (DSS) oversees child care licensing and operates the Child Care Services website, where families can search for facilities by ZIP code, name, or county. The site provides information on a center’s license type, inspection reports, and participation in quality improvement programs.
Licensed child care centers must meet state health and safety requirements and ensure employees complete background checks. These checks include fingerprint-based state and federal criminal history reviews, as well as searches of the national and state sex offender and child abuse registries.
The DSS conducts at least one unannounced inspection annually for each licensed facility. If a complaint is submitted, additional inspections may follow. Inspection histories, including dates and detailed findings, are available by clicking on a facility’s profile.
Parents may also request confirmation from facility directors that employees have completed required background screenings. For questions about the process, families can contact Child Care Services at 803-898-9020 or centralofficechildcare@dss.sc.gov.
Concerns about noncompliance—such as unlicensed care, improper staff-to-child ratios, or failure to follow hygiene or child interaction standards—can be reported to regional Child Care Licensing Office representatives. Contact information by county is available online.
The department does not investigate concerns related to provider fees. Suspected child abuse or neglect in a child care setting can be reported to the statewide 24-hour hotline at 1-888-227-3487 or through the South Carolina DSS website.
