How to get a daycare center license: requirements, costs, and timelines

Last updated 2026-07-09

What is a daycare center license and who actually needs one?

A daycare center license is the government-issued credential that lets you run a group child care program outside a private home, caring for children who are not your own relatives. Every state requires it. There is no federal daycare license, but federal Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) rules require states to set and enforce licensing standards as a condition of getting block grant funding ^[1].

Who needs one? If you plan to open a commercial or institutional child care center, a church-based program, a preschool that runs more than a few hours a week, or an employer-sponsored facility, you almost certainly need a state license. The threshold that triggers the requirement varies. Some states require licensure once you care for two or more unrelated children. Others set the line at four or five children, or require a license only above a certain square footage of dedicated care space.

Home-based providers fall under a separate license category, usually called a family child care home or group family child care home license. If you are opening a standalone facility with multiple classrooms, you want the center license track. The distinction matters. Center licenses carry stricter building code requirements, higher staff ratios, and more frequent inspections than home-based licenses.

Religious exemptions exist in roughly half of states. A 2020 report from the National Center on Early Childhood Quality Assurance found 14 states let faith-based programs opt out of some or all licensing requirements ^[2]. If you are opening a church-run program, check your state's exemption rules carefully before assuming you are covered, or that you are exempt.

What are the core daycare center license requirements in most states?

Requirements differ by state, but every licensing framework covers roughly the same six categories. Here is what you will face in some form no matter where you operate.

Background checks. All staff, directors, and most volunteers must pass a criminal history background check. Since 2014, CCDF rules have required states to check the FBI fingerprint database plus the state criminal repository and the child abuse and neglect registry for anyone who has lived in multiple states ^[1]. Some states extend the check to household members if the center is in a residence.

Health and safety training. Most states require directors and lead teachers to finish first aid and CPR training before a license issues. Pediatric first aid is the standard, not adult-only CPR. Many states also require training on safe sleep (for infant rooms), mandated reporter duties, and recognizing signs of abuse.

Staff qualifications. Director qualifications are usually the most demanding. A typical requirement is a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential or an associate's or bachelor's degree in early childhood education, plus a few years of direct care experience. Lead teacher minimums are lower but still exist in most states. Aides and assistants often have no formal education requirement beyond age 18 and a clean background check.

Physical space and facility standards. States set a minimum indoor square footage per child, typically 35 square feet of usable indoor space per child in the activity area, though this ranges from 25 to 50 square feet across states ^[3]. Outdoor play space, bathroom ratios, lighting, ventilation, sink placement, and diapering stations are all on the facility checklist. Your building has to pass both a state licensing inspection and, usually, local building code and fire marshal reviews.

Staff-to-child ratios and group sizes. These are the ratios regulators watch most closely. Infants (under 12 months) typically require one caregiver for every three to four children. The ratio loosens as children get older. For a detailed breakdown, the CCDF's most recent compilation of state licensing requirements is the source I trust ^[3].

Health policies and records. You will need written policies on immunization records, illness exclusion criteria, medication administration, and emergency procedures. Many states want an on-file emergency plan and posted evacuation routes before the license issues.

How do you get a daycare license, step by step?

The sequence below reflects how most state licensing processes actually run. Your state may combine some steps or add others, but this is the typical path.

Step 1: Contact your state licensing agency. Find the agency that oversees child care licensing in your state. In most states it is the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Social Services, or a stand-alone early childhood agency. Many states now hold pre-application orientation meetings, sometimes required, sometimes optional. Attend one even if it is optional. You will learn the local quirks that are not in the written regulations.

Step 2: Submit a pre-application or letter of intent. Some states want to know your location and intended capacity before you sign a lease, so they can flag zoning or building issues early. This is genuinely useful. Do not skip it.

Step 3: Secure your location and pass building inspections. Your facility needs to clear local fire, building, and zoning inspections before the state will license it. Get the fire marshal through the door early. Fire code issues, like door hardware, fire suppression systems, and egress routes, are the most common cause of big construction delays.

Step 4: Complete your application and pay the fee. Applications are long. You will provide floor plans, staff qualification documents, written policies (health, discipline, emergency procedures), proof of insurance, and information about your business entity. Application fees run from under $100 in some states to over $500 in others. Minnesota, for example, charges a license fee on a sliding scale based on licensed capacity ^[4].

Step 5: Submit to background checks. Every person who will have unsupervised access to children submits fingerprints and signs authorization forms. This step can take four to eight weeks depending on FBI processing volume. Plan for it.

Step 6: Pre-licensing inspection. A licensing specialist visits your facility before you open. They walk every room with the state's facility checklist. You fix any deficiencies. Some states do a second visit after you address findings.

Step 7: Receive your license and open. Your initial license is usually provisional or probationary for the first year. After that first year and a renewal inspection, you move to a standard license.

The whole process from first contact to open doors typically runs two to six months if your building is already built out. Ground-up construction or major renovation adds six to eighteen months easily.

How long does it take to get a daycare center license?

Two to six months is the realistic range for an existing building. New construction or a building that needs significant renovation pushes that to a year or more.

The FBI background check is often the pacing item. The FBI's standard processing time is under three days for electronic submissions, but state-level processing and routing can add weeks ^[5]. If any staff member has a record that requires a variance or an appeal, that process alone can take sixty to ninety days.

Building inspections are the second big variable. Fire marshal schedules in large metros are often booked four to six weeks out. If you get a correction notice, you reschedule. Plan two inspection visits minimum: the initial and the follow-up clearance.

Application review time depends on your state and on how busy the licensing office is. States have been short-staffed in licensing for years. Child Care Aware of America's 2023 report found that many states saw licensing office vacancies well above normal government attrition rates after 2020, which slowed review times noticeably in some regions ^[6].

If you want to open by a specific date, work backward from that date with at least a three-month buffer. Starting the process six months before your target opening is not excessive.

What does a daycare center license cost?

You are looking at two separate buckets: the license fee itself and the compliance costs to get ready for the license.

License fees alone run from about $50 in low-fee states to over $500 for initial applications in higher-fee states, and some states charge annually based on licensed capacity, so a center licensed for 80 children pays more than one licensed for 20. The fee schedule is public record at your state agency's website.

Compliance costs are where the real money goes. Common categories:

• Facility modifications to meet square footage, bathroom, lighting, and outdoor space requirements. For a leased commercial space that is not purpose-built for child care, budget $10,000 to $50,000 or more in tenant improvements.
• Background check fees. Fingerprint processing typically costs $30 to $75 per person at the state level, plus the FBI fee (currently $13.25 per submission as of 2024) ^[5].
• First aid and CPR training: $30 to $150 per staff member for a certified course.
• Required training hours for directors and lead teachers, which may mean college courses or CDA credentialing at several hundred dollars per person.
• Liability insurance. Child care centers typically need general liability coverage of at least $1 million per occurrence. Annual premiums for a small center start around $1,500 and rise with enrollment. See our full breakdown of daycare liability insurance.

For a realistic total: a small center opening in a built-out commercial space might spend $5,000 to $20,000 getting licensed and compliant before the first child walks in. A center building from scratch should budget compliance costs well into six figures once construction is in the mix.

How do state requirements actually differ from each other?

The variation is real and sometimes dramatic. The table below compares selected states on three metrics: minimum indoor space per child, infant ratio, and whether the state requires a criminal background check covering out-of-state history. Data is from the CCDF compilation of state licensing requirements ^[3].

State	Min. indoor sq ft per child	Infant ratio (max children per caregiver)	Out-of-state background check required?
California	35 sq ft	1:4	Yes
Texas	30 sq ft	1:4	Yes
New York	35 sq ft	1:4	Yes
Florida	35 sq ft	1:4	Yes
Minnesota	35 sq ft	1:4	Yes
Georgia	25 sq ft	1:6	Yes
Idaho	35 sq ft	1:6	Yes

Note: Ratios and space requirements can vary by age sub-group within infant and toddler categories. Always check your state's current regulatory text. This table reflects commonly cited figures and the CCDF compilation, but state rules change.

Beyond the numbers, states differ in how they structure their licensing tiers. Some have a single center license. Others run tiered systems where centers can voluntarily pursue a higher quality rating through Quality Rating and Improvement Systems (QRIS), which can change subsidy reimbursement rates. If you plan to serve families using child care subsidy (the Child Care and Development Block Grant-funded assistance program), your state's QRIS can directly affect your revenue.

For Minnesota specifically, center license requirements are run by the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 245A. Centers must meet facility, staff qualification, and program standards set out in the Child Care Center Licensing Standards at Minnesota Rules Chapter 9503 ^[4]. Minnesota also requires a certified director with specific education credentials, which is more prescriptive than some other states.

What background checks are required for a daycare center license?

This is the part of the process that trips people up most often, because the requirements are layered.

At the federal level, the 2014 CCDBG reauthorization (Public Law 113-186) required states to conduct a fingerprint-based FBI criminal history check, a check of the state criminal history repository in each state where the applicant has lived, and a check of the child abuse and neglect registry in each state of prior residence ^[1]. The statute says this applies to "each employee of a child care provider" and to prospective employees before they have unsupervised access to children.

At the state level, requirements stack on top of that federal baseline. Many states also check the sex offender registry, the state's centralized background check database for child care workers, and in some states, civil court records.

What disqualifies someone varies by state, but always includes conviction for crimes against children, sexual offenses, and crimes involving violence. Many states keep a list of automatically disqualifying offenses and a separate list of offenses that require a variance hearing. If a staff member has a prior conviction that is not automatically disqualifying, the variance process is worth pursuing but can be slow.

One practical note. Do not let staff start working, even with supervision, until background clearances come back, unless your state explicitly allows it under a provisional employment window. The liability exposure from an incident involving a staff member whose background check was pending, and who later turns up a disqualifying record, is severe.

What facility and health standards do inspectors check most closely?

Licensing inspectors use a written checklist, and most states post those checklists publicly. Download yours and do your own walk-through before you schedule the official inspection. The items that generate the most deficiency citations tend to be these.

Outdoor play space. Many centers underestimate the square footage they need outdoors. States typically require 75 square feet of outdoor play space per child using the space at any given time ^[3]. If your lease does not include an outdoor area that meets this standard, you need a plan before you apply.

Bathroom ratios. The typical requirement is one toilet per 10 to 15 children, with separate facilities for children and adults in larger centers. Portable toilets do not satisfy this requirement.

Diapering and hand-washing proximity. Diapering stations must be within arm's reach of a sink with running water. This is a non-negotiable sanitation requirement. See our guide on daycare cleaning for the sanitizing protocols that go with it.

Safe sleep compliance for infant rooms. Since 2014, nearly all states require infant sleep environments to meet American Academy of Pediatrics safe sleep guidelines: firm, flat sleep surfaces, no soft bedding, pillows, or positioners, and back-to-sleep positioning ^[10]. Inspectors check crib equipment directly.

Emergency and evacuation planning. You need posted evacuation routes, a written emergency plan, evidence of practiced drills, and a plan for notifying parents. Many programs have the plan but cannot show drill logs, which generates a citation.

Medication storage and administration. Prescription medications must be locked. Over-the-counter medications require signed parent authorization. Inspectors check storage locations and authorization files.

Can a daycare center lose its license, and how does that happen?

Yes, and it happens more often than providers expect. License revocation and suspension are the outcome of serious or repeated violations. Child Care Aware of America data found that enforcement actions, including revocations, rose in the post-pandemic period as inspections resumed after COVID-era deferrals ^[6].

The most common paths to enforcement action:

• Exceeding licensed capacity. Going over your approved child count, even temporarily, is a violation in every state.
• Failing to maintain required ratios. A ratio violation caught during an unannounced inspection can trigger a corrective action plan or, for repeat violations, suspension.
• Not reporting incidents. States require prompt reporting of serious injuries, hospitalizations, deaths, and abuse allegations. Failure to report inside the required window (often 24 to 48 hours) is grounds for action on its own, apart from what happened.
• Employing staff whose background checks are pending or who have disqualifying records.
• Repeat facility deficiencies after multiple chances to correct them.

License denial and revocation come with appeal rights in every state. The appeal is typically an administrative hearing before an agency hearing officer, with further appeal to state court possible. If you get a revocation notice, get legal help immediately. The window to respond is short, often 15 to 30 days to request a hearing.

For a cautionary example of what licensing fraud and compliance failure looks like in practice, our piece on minnesota daycare fraud covers cases where providers lost licenses and faced criminal charges.

What is the difference between a daycare center license and a family child care home license?

The center license is for group programs in a non-residential commercial or institutional space, typically with multiple classrooms and staff. The family child care home license is for providers caring for children in the provider's own home, usually up to a state-defined maximum (often six to eight children for a regular family home, up to twelve for a group family home license).

The practical differences are large. Center licenses require a director who meets specific education credentials, separate from the teaching staff. Home-based licenses require the provider to meet the training and background check standards but generally set lower education thresholds. Center facility standards (fire suppression, commercial kitchen requirements, square footage minimums) are stricter than home-based standards. Insurance minimums are typically higher for centers.

Center licenses are generally non-transferable to a new location. If you move your program, you apply for a new license for the new address. Home-based licenses are tied to the home address and to the licensed provider personally.

If you are undecided, the math on startup costs usually favors a home-based license if you qualify. But your market, your capacity goals, and the families you want to serve will drive that call more than the licensing track will. Our overview of daycare cost breaks down what families actually pay at each program type, which shapes what you can charge.

Do daycare centers need a separate license for before and after school care?

Often, yes, or at minimum you need an amendment to your existing license to add school-age care. Many states classify before and after school care (school-age child care, or SACC) as a distinct program type with its own ratio requirements and sometimes its own license category.

Ratios for school-age children are generally more relaxed than for preschool-age. A common school-age ratio is 1:15 or even 1:20, compared to 1:10 or 1:12 for four-year-olds. The exact numbers depend on your state.

If your center runs both a daytime preschool program and a school-age program on the same licensed premises, your license usually needs to reflect both program types and the capacity for each. Running a school-age program under a preschool-only license is a licensing violation.

Summer camps that operate during the day and serve school-age children are a gray area in many states. Some are exempt from child care licensing if they meet specific criteria (duration, program type, age range). Check with your state agency before assuming a summer program is exempt.

How do you maintain a daycare center license after you get it?

A license is not a one-time credential. It is an ongoing compliance relationship with your state agency.

Renewal cycles vary by state: one year, two years, and three years are all common. Renewal requires updated background checks for any new staff, documentation that current staff met ongoing training hour requirements, and payment of renewal fees. Some states inspect the facility at every renewal. Others inspect on a schedule that is separate from renewal.

Unannounced inspections happen between renewals. Every state does them. How often depends on the state, your compliance history, and complaints received. A center with a clean record in a state that inspects annually might go 10 to 14 months between visits. A center with recent citations gets more frequent attention.

Keep your files current at all times, more than before a scheduled renewal. That means:

• Current CPR and first aid certifications for all required staff (they expire, usually every two years)
• Updated background check clearances for any new hires before they work unsupervised
• Current immunization or exemption records for enrolled children
• Drill logs for fire, lockdown, and tornado drills
• Current insurance certificates on file

If your licensed capacity or age groups change, notify your licensing agency before you make the change. Operating outside your licensed parameters, even briefly, is a violation.

ChildCareComp's compliance toolkit includes state-specific checklist templates and renewal tracking tools that help you stay ahead of expiration dates without building a whole manual system from scratch.

Where can you find your state's specific daycare center licensing requirements?

Go to the primary source. Every state posts its child care licensing regulations publicly. The fastest way to find them:

1. Search "[your state] child care center licensing" plus the name of your state's social services or health department. 2. The federal Child Care Technical Assistance Network (CCTAN) keeps a state licensing contact directory at childcareta.acf.hhs.gov ^[7]. 3. The CCDF compilation of state licensing requirements, updated periodically by the Office of Child Care, shows key regulatory parameters side by side for all 50 states and territories ^[3].

For Minnesota specifically: the Minnesota Department of Human Services licenses child care centers under Chapter 245A of the Minnesota Statutes and Minnesota Rules Chapter 9503 ^[9]. Their licensing information page is at mn.gov/dhs ^[4].

Do not treat third-party licensing guides, including this one, as your final compliance reference. Regulations change, and your state licensing specialist is the authority on how a rule is interpreted and enforced locally. Call them. Most licensing offices have a pre-application consultation option, and they are generally willing to answer questions before you invest in a facility.

If you want the wider picture of how licensing fits into the child care system, our guide covering Daycare costs, licensing, and rules: the complete 2026 guide pulls these threads together in one place.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to get a daycare center license?

Most applicants working with an existing, built-out building get licensed in two to six months. The FBI background check, building inspections, and state application review are the three main pacing factors. New construction adds six to eighteen months on top of that. Plan for at least six months from first contact with your licensing agency to opening day, and build in buffer for delays you cannot control.

How much does a daycare center license cost?

The license fee itself runs from about $50 to over $500 depending on the state and your licensed capacity. The bigger costs are compliance: facility modifications, background check fees ($30 to $75 per person plus the FBI's $13.25 fee), CPR and first aid training, director credentialing, and liability insurance. A small center opening in an existing built-out space might spend $5,000 to $20,000 on compliance before opening.

What education do you need to open a daycare center?

Most states require the director of a licensed center to hold at minimum a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential, and many require an associate's or bachelor's degree in early childhood education or a related field plus several years of direct care experience. Lead teacher requirements are lower but still exist. Aide positions typically require only age 18 and a clean background check. Check your state's specific staff qualification rules.

What background checks are required to work at a licensed daycare center?

Federal CCDBG law requires a fingerprint-based FBI check, a check of the criminal history repository in every state where the person has lived, and a check of the child abuse and neglect registry in each prior state. States add their own layers, including sex offender registry checks. These checks must be complete before a new hire has unsupervised access to children in most states.

What are the mn daycare license requirements?

Minnesota licenses child care centers under Chapter 245A of the Minnesota Statutes and Minnesota Rules Chapter 9503, run by the Department of Human Services. Requirements include a certified director with specific education credentials, staff background checks (FBI plus state), facility standards (35 square feet of indoor space per child), staff-to-child ratios, and health and safety policies. License fees are on a sliding scale based on licensed capacity. Contact MN DHS for the current fee schedule.

Can a church or religious organization be exempt from daycare licensing?

Roughly 14 states let faith-based programs opt out of some or all licensing requirements, according to a 2020 National Center on Early Childhood Quality Assurance report. Even where an exemption exists, accepting CCDF child care subsidy payments usually requires meeting at least minimum health and safety standards. Exemption rules vary a lot. Confirm with your state licensing agency before assuming any exemption applies to your program.

Do you need a separate license for before and after school care?

Usually yes, or at minimum a license amendment. Most states treat school-age child care as a distinct program type with its own ratio standards and sometimes its own license category. If you run both a daytime preschool and a school-age program on the same premises, your license has to reflect both. Running a school-age program under a preschool-only license is a violation in most states.

What is the minimum square footage required for a daycare center?

The most common standard is 35 square feet of usable indoor activity space per child, but states range from 25 to 50 square feet. Outdoor play space requirements typically add 75 square feet per child using the space at one time. These minimums apply to usable space, excluding bathrooms, hallways, storage, and kitchen areas. Your state's licensing checklist defines exactly how usable space is measured.

What insurance does a daycare center need to get licensed?

Most states require proof of general liability insurance as a condition of licensure, typically at least $1 million per occurrence. Some states also require commercial property coverage and vehicle coverage if you transport children. Annual premiums for a small center's general liability policy start around $1,500 and rise with enrollment size and age groups served. Workers' compensation is required as soon as you hire paid staff in nearly every state.

Can a daycare center lose its license for exceeding capacity?

Yes. Exceeding your licensed capacity is a violation in every state and one of the most common reasons for corrective action. Even a single incident of going over capacity can trigger a deficiency citation. Repeated violations can lead to license suspension. Your licensed capacity is the number on your license document, and it applies at all times, more than during scheduled inspections.

What happens during a daycare center licensing inspection?

A state licensing specialist visits your facility and walks it against a written checklist that is usually publicly available. They check physical space, staff qualifications and ratios, documentation (immunization records, drill logs, policies), and health and safety practices. Pre-licensing inspections are scheduled. Renewal and complaint inspections are often unannounced. Any deficiencies generate a written report with a correction deadline.

How often does a daycare center license need to be renewed?

Renewal cycles vary by state: one, two, and three years are all common. Renewal requires updated documentation for all staff, evidence of ongoing training compliance, and payment of renewal fees. Some states inspect at renewal. Others inspect on a separate schedule. Letting a license lapse, even briefly, means you must stop operating until the license is reinstated or reissued.

Is a daycare center license transferable if I move locations or sell the business?

No. A center license is tied to a specific physical address and to the named licensee (the owner or organization). Moving your program to a new location requires a new license application for that address, including a new facility inspection. Selling the business does not transfer the license to the buyer. The new owner must apply in their own name. Plan for the full application timeline when buying or relocating a child care business.

What is the difference between a daycare license and a QRIS rating?

A license is the legal minimum required to operate. A Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) rating is a voluntary or incentivized quality tier above licensure that most states offer. Higher QRIS ratings typically bring higher child care subsidy reimbursement rates and may qualify a center for grant funding. Licensing compliance is required before a center can join QRIS. They are related but separate systems.

Sources

1. U.S. Office of Child Care, Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) Act of 2014 Summary: Federal CCDBG reauthorization requires states to conduct FBI fingerprint checks, state criminal history checks, and child abuse and neglect registry checks for all child care employees as a condition of receiving CCDF funding.
2. National Center on Early Childhood Quality Assurance, Licensing and Health and Safety Requirements: A 2020 report found that 14 states allowed faith-based programs to opt out of some or all child care licensing requirements.
3. U.S. Office of Child Care, CCDF Compilation of State, Territory, and Tribal Child Care and Development Fund Plans and Licensing Requirements: States require minimum indoor usable space per child ranging from 25 to 50 square feet, with 35 square feet being the most common standard; outdoor space requirements typically run 75 square feet per child.
4. Minnesota Department of Human Services, Child Care Center Licensing: Minnesota licenses child care centers under Chapter 245A of the Minnesota Statutes and Minnesota Rules Chapter 9503; license fees are on a sliding scale based on licensed capacity.
5. FBI Criminal Justice Information Services, Identity History Summary Checks: FBI fingerprint-based background check fee is $13.25 per submission as of 2024; standard electronic processing time is under three days, though state-level routing adds additional time.
6. Child Care Aware of America, 2023 Demanding Change: Repairing Our Child Care System: State licensing offices saw elevated vacancy rates post-2020, slowing application review times in many regions; enforcement actions including revocations increased as inspections resumed after COVID-era deferrals.
7. Child Care Technical Assistance Network (CCTAN), State Licensing Contacts: CCTAN maintains a publicly available directory of state child care licensing agency contacts for all 50 states and territories.
8. U.S. Office of Child Care, Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) Policy: All states must meet federal CCDF baseline licensing standards as a condition of receiving Child Care and Development Block Grant funding.
9. Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes, Chapter 245A Human Services Licensing: Minnesota Statutes Chapter 245A governs human services licensing including child care centers in the state of Minnesota.
10. American Academy of Pediatrics, Safe Sleep Recommendations: AAP safe sleep guidelines require firm, flat sleep surfaces with no soft bedding for infants; these standards are incorporated into virtually all state child care center licensing rules for infant rooms.
11. Child Care Aware of America, 2024 Child Care in America State Fact Sheets: Child Care Aware of America tracks state-level licensing data, enforcement trends, and child care subsidy participation rates annually.