All citation explainers

§416.4(h)(4): Clear exits and walkways

All paths of exit inside and outside the home, including corridors, aisles and approaches, must be kept free of obstructions, impediments and debris at all times. A citation means that was not the case when the home was cited.

The state's wording

All paths of egress on the interior and exterior of the home, including corridors, aisles and approaches must be kept free of obstructions, impediments and debris at all times.

This is the text the state (OCFS) attaches to the citation. It is a template, so it can sound harsher or vaguer than the finding behind it.

Worth asking the provider

Which exits would the children use, and are they kept clear?

Reading it on a record

Look at whether the citation is marked open or corrected, how long ago it was cited, and whether the same section shows up on several inspections. One corrected citation is common. The same one on visit after visit is worth a direct question. Our guide to checking a daycare and methodology explain the rest.

Look up a home daycare and read its record

Related sections

• §416.3(h): Peeling or damaged paint
• §416.5(a): Safety and health hazards

Counts are from the inspection records we hold, as of 2026-10-19. The plain-English note was written by NYC Daycare Check from the city's wording; the citation on each provider's page is the record.