A license is required for all facilities with six or more children. Our guide will help you through the steps.
A license is required if you care for six or more children who are less than thirteen years of age, for any amount of time of the day or night, who are not related to you (children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, brothers/sisters, nieces/nephews). This includes day care centers, day nurseries, and any other facilities that fall within the scope of the above description.
Obtaining a license to operate a child care facility requires a serious commitment and investment of not only money but also time. There are several steps that must be taken before a facility can begin operation, including an inspection by the state Fire Marshal's office. Please review the information in the document How to Get a Child Care License FIRST.
Once you have reviewed this information, you can begin the online application process:
Helpful Guidelines
- Do not sign a lease or purchase a building to use as a child care facility until a Child Care Licensing Inspector has conducted an initial visit with you and inspected the building to ensure it meets all facility requirements.
- Pay close attention to the list of documentation that must be obtained before a facility can receive a license. This list is included in the How to Get a Child Care License document above.
- It can take up to 90 days to obtain a license once an application is submitted and the application fee paid. Work with your Licensing Inspector to get all paperwork processed in a timely manner.
- Do not hesitate to talk to your Licensing Inspector when questions arise. Your Licensing Inspector is there to help you!
