Georgia daycare licensing: what you need to open and stay compliant

Last updated 2026-07-09

Who has to get a Georgia daycare license?

Care for children from more than one unrelated family, for pay, and you almost certainly need a license. Georgia law defines a "child care learning center" as any facility that provides care for seven or more children under age 13 for compensation, and a "family day care home" as a private home serving three to six children (counting the provider's own children if under age 13). Both categories require licensure from DECAL, the Department of Early Care and Learning. ^[1]

The three to six child threshold catches a lot of operators off guard. Watch a neighbor's two kids plus two others from down the street, and you are already in the regulated zone under Georgia Rule 591-1-1-.01. The statutory authority sits in O.C.G.A. Title 20, Chapter 1A. ^[1]

There are narrow exemptions: facilities operated directly by a church that serve only children of church members, programs running fewer than four hours a day that are not part of a full-day arrangement, and Georgia public school Pre-K classrooms. Think an exemption fits you? Get that opinion in writing from DECAL before you invest a dollar. Operating without a license when one is required is a misdemeanor under Georgia law.

What are the two main license types in Georgia?

Georgia issues two distinct license categories, and the rules differ meaningfully between them.

Family Day Care Home (FDCH). This covers a provider's own residence serving between three and six children (again, including the provider's own children under 13 in that count). A family day care home license is issued to the individual and tied to that specific address. You cannot transfer it. ^[1]

Child Care Learning Center (CCLC). This is the standard center license for seven or more children. It applies to stand-alone centers, preschool programs, employer-sponsored care, and any school-age program that operates outside of a regular school day. The CCLC license is facility-based. ^[1]

Georgia also issues a Special Purpose License for school-age programs and a Military Child Care in Home designation, but those apply to narrower situations. Most operators reading this fall into one of the two main categories.

A note on group homes. Some states have a "group family" tier for 7 to 12 children in a home setting. Georgia does not. Hit seven children and you need a CCLC, which means your residence must meet the physical plant requirements of a licensed center. That is a big jump in cost and complexity, so most home providers deliberately stay at six or fewer.

What are Georgia's staff-to-child ratios?

Ratios are where Georgia's rules get specific and where violations show up most in inspection reports. The requirements below come straight from DECAL Rule 591-1-1 for child care learning centers. ^[2]

Age Group	Max Children per Staff	Max Group Size
Infants (0-12 months)	1:6	8
Toddlers (13-24 months)	1:8	12
Twos (25-30 months)	1:10	14
Threes (31-48 months)	1:12	18
Fours (49-60 months)	1:15	20
School-age (5+ years)	1:18	26

For family day care homes, the limit is six children total, and no more than two of those may be under age two. ^[1]

These are minimums. Serve a high percentage of children with disabilities or complex needs and DECAL may require tighter ratios as a condition of your license. Pursuing Quality Rated status (Georgia's QRIS)? Higher quality tiers expect ratios that beat the minimums.

Mixed-age groups follow a blended calculation: apply the most restrictive ratio that governs the youngest child in the group. In practice, a room with even one infant triggers the 1:6 ratio for the whole group. Keep your age groupings tight or you will run chronically short-staffed on paper.

How do you apply for a Georgia childcare license step by step?

The process runs almost entirely through DECAL's online portal, Bright from the Start. Here is the honest sequence.

Step 1: Complete pre-application training. Every CCLC applicant must finish an online orientation through DECAL's Workforce Registry before the application will be accepted. Family day care applicants have a parallel orientation requirement. Plan for about four hours total. ^[3]

Step 2: Submit your application and fees. Applications are filed at brightfromthestart.ga.gov. The non-refundable application fee is $25 for family day care homes and $75 for child care learning centers as of the most recent DECAL fee schedule, though fees are set by rule and can change. ^[3]

Step 3: Background checks. Every person 18 or older who works or resides at the facility must clear a Georgia Applicant Processing Services (GAPS) background check and a national FBI fingerprint check. DECAL does not accept background checks from other states or private vendors. Processing at the state fingerprint vendor runs roughly 2 to 4 weeks depending on volume. ^[4]

Step 4: Complete required training. The director of a CCLC must hold at least a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential or an associate degree in early childhood education, plus documented orientation training. A CDA credential is the floor, not the ceiling. Teachers need 40 hours of initial training and 10 hours of annual continuing education. ^[2]

Step 5: Physical plant inspection. Before DECAL issues a license, a licensor visits the facility and verifies that the space meets square footage requirements (35 square feet of usable indoor space per child, 75 square feet of outdoor space per child), exits, bathroom ratios, lighting, and health and safety standards. ^[2]

Step 6: Receive your initial license. If everything checks out, DECAL issues an initial license valid for one year. After that first year of successful operation, you become eligible for a two-year license.

Total time from application submission to a license in hand runs 60 to 120 days in normal processing cycles. Applicants who front-load background checks and training paperwork can get closer to 60. DECAL's stated goal is to finish the review within 60 days of a complete application, but "complete" is doing a lot of work in that sentence.

What are the physical space requirements for a Georgia daycare?

Georgia requires at least 35 square feet of usable indoor activity space per child in a child care learning center, not counting hallways, bathrooms, storage, or the kitchen. ^[2] For a center licensed for 30 children, that is a minimum of 1,050 square feet of actual activity space. If your building is 2,000 square feet total, you will likely land right around that threshold once you subtract non-usable areas, so measure carefully before you sign a lease.

Outdoor play space requires at least 75 square feet per child for the children who use it at once. Stagger outdoor time so only 15 children are outside at a time, and you need 1,125 square feet of fenced outdoor space. Most inspectors measure this, so get your own numbers before the visit. ^[2]

Family day care homes must have a minimum of 35 square feet of indoor space per child, exclusive of the provider's own living areas that are off-limits to children. The home's bathroom must be reachable without going outdoors.

Other physical standards that trip up first-time applicants: every room used for childcare must have natural light and meet minimum foot-candle measurements for artificial lighting; bathrooms need one toilet and one sink per 15 children; and infant rooms require a changing table with a waterproof surface and handrails on three sides. All of it is spelled out in DECAL Rule 591-1-1. ^[2]

What health and safety requirements does Georgia require for licensed daycares?

Georgia's health and safety requirements cover immunization records, emergency planning, first aid and CPR certification, and medication administration policies. Here are the specifics that matter most.

Immunization records. Within 30 days of enrollment, you must have a current Georgia Form 3231 (Certificate of Immunization) for every child. DECAL inspectors check this file. A child without a certificate on file after 30 days counts as a compliance problem for the facility, more than for the family. ^[5]

CPR and first aid. At least one staff member with current pediatric CPR certification must be present whenever children are in care. DECAL accepts American Heart Association, American Red Cross, and comparable nationally recognized certifications. ^[2]

Emergency preparedness. Centers must have a written emergency plan covering fire, severe weather, lockdown, and evacuation to an off-site location. The plan must be practiced: fire drills monthly, tornado drills at least twice per year. ^[2]

Safe sleep. For programs serving infants, Georgia requires every infant be placed on their back on a firm, flat sleep surface with no loose bedding, pillows, or bumper pads. This matches AAP safe sleep guidelines and is an active inspection item. ^[6]

Water and sanitation. Facilities on a private well need an annual water test with results on file. All facilities need documented hand-washing procedures for staff and children, plus a written sanitation schedule for food prep areas, diaper areas, and toys.

Medication policies, field trip permissions, and food allergy protocols are all required in writing and must live in every child's file. Food programs that participate in USDA's Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) carry extra documentation requirements, but CACFP also brings meal reimbursements that meaningfully improve a center's economics.

How does Georgia's childcare subsidy system connect to licensing?

Georgia's subsidy program is called Childcare and Parent Services (CAPS), administered by DECAL. It is the state's version of the federal Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF). To accept CAPS subsidy payments, a facility must hold a current DECAL license in good standing. ^[7]

This matters economically. In Georgia, the CAPS program served roughly 60,000 children per month at peak utilization, and the rates CAPS pays can be a big share of a center's revenue if you serve a mixed-income population. Current CAPS market rates (what the state will actually pay per child per day) are set by county and by age group. They are updated periodically and published by DECAL. ^[7]

For families, understanding the childcare subsidy side of the equation matters a lot when weighing whether a licensed provider is affordable. For operators, knowing your county's CAPS rate before you set tuition tells you how much of your potential market can actually afford you.

Facilities in CAPS also face extra compliance monitoring. DECAL may conduct unannounced subsidy compliance visits separate from the standard licensing inspection. These visits verify that the children being billed under CAPS are actually present and enrolled. Billing for children who are absent is treated as fraud, not an administrative error.

The federal CCDF block grant requires states to prioritize subsidy access for children in care settings that meet health and safety standards. Holding a Georgia license is the baseline standard that makes your facility CAPS-eligible. ^[8]

What does Georgia's Quality Rated system mean for licensed providers?

Quality Rated is Georgia's Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS). Participation is voluntary for licensed providers, but it is tied to higher CAPS reimbursement rates and to Pre-K eligibility. DECAL administers it. ^[3]

There are four tiers. Licensed is the baseline, which just means you hold a valid DECAL license. Quality Rated tiers 1 through 3 require progressively higher scores on an environment rating scale (usually the ECERS-3 for preschool rooms or ITERS-3 for infants and toddlers), higher staff qualification thresholds, and ongoing professional development documentation.

The financial incentive is real. A Quality Rated 2 or 3 facility receives a higher CAPS reimbursement rate per child per day. The differential varies by county and age group, but it can run $3 to $6 more per child per day, which adds up fast in a center with 50 children on subsidy.

Planning to pursue Georgia's Pre-K program through Bright from the Start? Your facility needs at minimum a Quality Rated star before the lottery for Pre-K slots. That is a practical gating requirement, more than a nice credential.

The environment rating scales (ECERS, ITERS, FCCERS for family childcare) reward things like the quality of your preschool curriculum, the ratio of teacher talk to child talk, and whether children have access to varied materials. Investing in a curriculum framework early, whether a structured published curriculum or a play-based model, pays off at Quality Rated review time.

What inspections will DECAL conduct after you're licensed?

DECAL conducts at least two unannounced inspections per year for most licensed facilities. Child care learning centers generally see more frequent visits in their first two years. Family day care homes typically get one unannounced annual inspection plus one announced renewal visit. ^[3]

Inspectors check ratios, background check currency (checks expire and must be renewed), training hour documentation, immunization records, emergency drill logs, physical space compliance, and safe sleep practices for infant rooms. They use a standardized checklist that DECAL publishes. You can download the current inspection instrument from DECAL's website and self-audit before any visit.

Violations are classified as Class I (most serious, immediate risk to children), Class II (significant but not immediately dangerous), and Class III (technical or documentation violations). Class I violations require immediate corrective action. Accumulating uncorrected violations can trigger a conditional license, a probationary license, or revocation. ^[3]

Inspection reports are public record in Georgia. Parents can and do look them up. This is not a minor point. A string of ratio violations or immunization record deficiencies shows up in a DECAL search, and savvy parents use it. Clean inspection records are as much a marketing asset as a compliance obligation.

The ChildCareComp compliance toolkit includes a Georgia-specific self-audit checklist that mirrors DECAL's inspection instrument, which helps you catch gaps before an inspector does.

How much does it cost to open a licensed daycare in Georgia?

The honest answer: it varies enormously depending on whether you are converting a home, leasing commercial space, or building from scratch. Here are the cost categories you need to budget for.

Licensing fees. The DECAL application fee is $25 for family day care homes and $75 for child care learning centers. Background check fees run approximately $51.50 per person through the state fingerprint vendor (this figure comes from the GAPS fee schedule and is subject to change). For a center with 10 employees, that is roughly $515 in background check fees alone at startup. ^[4]

Training costs. A CDA credential costs around $425 in assessment fees through the Council for Professional Recognition, plus coursework costs that vary. If your director does not yet hold a qualifying credential, factor in $1,500 to $3,000 for coursework at a community college. ^[10]

Physical plant modifications. This is the wildcard. Bringing a commercial space up to 35 square feet per child of usable space, installing compliant bathroom fixtures, adding fencing for outdoor play, and meeting fire code can cost anywhere from $10,000 to $100,000 depending on the starting condition of the space. Get a contractor who has done childcare buildouts before. They know the fire marshal requirements and DECAL's physical plant checklist.

Furniture and equipment. Budget $500 to $1,500 per enrolled child for age-appropriate furniture, nap equipment, outdoor play structures, and learning materials.

Insurance. Georgia does not specify a minimum liability insurance amount in the licensing rules for most facilities, but most commercial insurers who write childcare policies offer $1 million per occurrence as a floor. Annual premiums for a 30-child center typically run $3,000 to $7,000 depending on location and claims history.

Child Care Aware of America's annual report found that center-based infant care in Georgia averaged roughly $9,000 per year in recent years, which gives you a benchmark for what the market will bear on tuition. ^[9] If your cost structure requires $12,000 per year per infant to break even, you have a math problem before you open. Understanding the childcare tax credit and subsidy landscape from the parent side helps you set tuition that actually works for your market.

How do you renew a Georgia daycare license?

Initial licenses are valid for one year. Keep your first year clean and DECAL issues a two-year license at renewal. After that, renewals continue on a two-year cycle as long as you stay compliant. ^[3]

Renewal happens through DECAL's online portal. You will submit updated staff training documentation, verify that all background checks are current (the state background check expires after five years for continuing employees; track each employee's check date separately), confirm your physical address and capacity have not changed, and pay the renewal fee.

Renewal fees follow the same structure as application fees. If you had violations during your license period that required corrective action plans, DECAL may schedule a compliance inspection before issuing the renewal rather than relying on documentation alone.

Do not wait until the expiration date to start. Submit at least 60 days out. DECAL processing times fluctuate, and operating on an expired license while your renewal is pending is a compliance violation. Set a calendar reminder 90 days before expiration.

What are the director and staff qualification requirements?

Georgia's qualification requirements for directors and lead teachers are among the more specific in the Southeast. Here is what DECAL requires as minimums for child care learning centers. ^[2]

Director. Must have a high school diploma or GED, a minimum of a CDA credential or an associate degree in early childhood education or child development, at least one year of experience in a licensed childcare setting, and completion of DECAL's director orientation. Some elements can be met concurrently, but the credential must be in hand before the license is issued.

Lead teacher. Must have a high school diploma or GED, at least 40 hours of documented childcare training before working independently with children, and ongoing annual training of 10 hours minimum. DECAL tracks training hours through the Georgia Professional Development System (GPDS) registry. ^[3]

Assistant teacher. Must be at least 16 years old (but cannot be counted in ratios if under 18 without a qualifying adult present), have a high school diploma or be enrolled in one, and complete 40 hours of orientation training within the first 90 days.

For family day care home providers, the qualification requirement is simpler: a high school diploma or GED and completion of DECAL's family day care orientation training.

Hiring? Ask every candidate to log in to DECAL's GPDS registry and show you their training transcript before you extend an offer. It saves a painful surprise after you have already made the hire. Operators who want staff to deepen their credentials should know that a CDA credential is recognized by DECAL and most Quality Rated assessors as meaningful evidence of professional preparation.

Can a church or religious organization run a daycare without a Georgia license?

This is one of the most misunderstood questions in Georgia childcare law, and the answer is narrower than most people assume.

Georgia law provides a limited exemption for child care programs that are: (1) operated by a religious institution, (2) serving only children whose parents are members of that specific congregation, and (3) not serving the general public for compensation. The exemption does not apply to a church-run daycare that accepts children from outside the congregation or that accepts CAPS subsidy payments. ^[1]

In practice, most church-operated childcare programs that function as community childcare need a DECAL license. The exemption is built for programs like a Wednesday evening childcare during a church service, not five-day-a-week toddler programs that happen to sit on church property.

Operating on the assumption that your religious affiliation exempts you? Get a formal written opinion from DECAL. The penalty for unlicensed operation is a misdemeanor and can also carry civil liability if a child is injured.

Frequently asked questions

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

Most applicants finish in 60 to 120 days from submission of a complete application. The biggest delays come from background check processing (2 to 4 weeks) and scheduling the pre-licensing inspection. Getting your background checks submitted and your training documented before you file the application is the fastest way to compress that timeline.

How many children can a family daycare home in Georgia watch?

A licensed family day care home in Georgia may serve up to six children total, counting the provider's own children who are under age 13. No more than two of the six may be under age two. Reach seven children and you need a child care learning center license, which requires a commercial facility, not a residence.

Does Georgia require a background check for daycare workers?

Yes. Every person 18 or older who works at or resides in the childcare facility must complete a Georgia Applicant Processing Services (GAPS) check and a national FBI fingerprint background check. DECAL does not accept checks from other vendors. These checks must be renewed every five years for continuing employees and immediately for any new hire.

What is DECAL and what does it oversee?

DECAL stands for the Department of Early Care and Learning. It is the Georgia state agency responsible for licensing childcare facilities, administering the Quality Rated QRIS system, running the CAPS subsidy program, and overseeing Georgia's Pre-K program. DECAL was established as a standalone agency in 2004, separating childcare oversight from the Department of Human Services.

What is the staff-to-child ratio for infants in a Georgia daycare?

Georgia requires a maximum ratio of 1 staff member for every 6 infants (children under 12 months), with a group size cap of 8 infants. This is the most restrictive ratio in the Georgia system. A room with even one infant in a mixed-age group triggers the infant ratio for calculating how many staff you need.

Does Georgia require a curriculum for licensed daycares?

Georgia's licensing rules do not mandate a specific published curriculum for licensed facilities. But DECAL's Quality Rated system and Pre-K program both evaluate the quality and intentionality of your educational programming. Centers pursuing Quality Rated status or Pre-K slots benefit from adopting a structured curriculum framework. Options range from research-based commercial programs to locally developed approaches, as long as they are documented and consistently implemented.

Can I run a daycare out of my home in Georgia?

Yes, with a family day care home license from DECAL, if you serve three to six children. The home must meet physical space requirements (35 square feet of usable indoor space per child), pass an inspection, and you must complete DECAL's orientation training and background check process. Serving seven or more children in any setting requires a child care learning center license.

How much does a Georgia daycare license cost?

The DECAL application fee is $25 for a family day care home and $75 for a child care learning center. Background check fees run roughly $51.50 per person through the state vendor. Total startup licensing and compliance costs for a small center typically run $500 to $1,500 in fees and required training costs, before any physical plant renovation or equipment.

What happens if my Georgia daycare fails an inspection?

Violations are classified Class I (immediate risk), Class II (significant), or Class III (technical). Class I violations require immediate corrective action and a follow-up visit. Repeated or uncorrected violations can result in a conditional license, probationary license, or revocation proceedings. Inspection reports are public record and searchable through DECAL's website, so compliance directly affects your reputation with prospective families.

How does Georgia's CAPS subsidy program work for providers?

CAPS (Childcare and Parent Services) is Georgia's CCDF-funded subsidy program. To accept CAPS payments, your facility must hold a current DECAL license in good standing. CAPS pays per-child daily rates that vary by county and age group. Participating also subjects your facility to unannounced subsidy compliance visits. Rates are published by DECAL and updated periodically.

What training do Georgia daycare directors need?

A child care learning center director must have a high school diploma or GED, at minimum a CDA credential or an associate degree in early childhood education or child development, at least one year of experience in a licensed childcare setting, and completion of DECAL's director orientation. All of these must be documented and on file before DECAL issues the license.

Does Georgia require daycares to have liability insurance?

Georgia's DECAL licensing rules do not specify a minimum liability insurance dollar amount for most facilities. But most commercial childcare insurance policies start at $1 million per occurrence, and any lender or landlord will require proof of insurance. Annual premiums for a small center typically run $3,000 to $7,000 depending on capacity and location.

How do I look up a Georgia daycare's inspection history?

DECAL publishes inspection reports and license status through its online provider search at brightfromthestart.ga.gov. You can search by facility name, county, or license number. Reports show violation history, current license status, and Quality Rated tier. This is the same database parents use when evaluating providers.

Sources

1. Georgia General Assembly, O.C.G.A. Title 20 Chapter 1A, Child Care Learning Centers: Georgia defines child care learning centers (7+ children) and family day care homes (3-6 children) and requires both to hold DECAL licenses; religious exemption scope
2. Georgia DECAL, Rule 591-1-1, Regulations for Child Care Learning Centers: Staff-to-child ratios, group size caps, square footage requirements (35 sq ft indoor, 75 sq ft outdoor), director and staff qualifications, health and safety standards
3. Georgia DECAL, Bright from the Start licensing and Quality Rated program overview: Application process through online portal, pre-application orientation requirement, inspection frequency, Quality Rated QRIS tiers, renewal cycle
4. Georgia Bureau of Investigation, GAPS applicant fingerprinting for childcare: All persons 18+ working or residing at a licensed facility must complete GAPS and FBI fingerprint checks; approximate fee of $51.50 per person
5. Georgia Department of Public Health, Immunization Certificate Form 3231: Licensed childcare facilities must have a current Form 3231 Certificate of Immunization on file for every enrolled child within 30 days of enrollment
6. American Academy of Pediatrics, Safe Sleep Guidelines: Infants should be placed on their back on a firm, flat surface with no loose bedding; this is an active DECAL inspection item for infant rooms
7. Georgia DECAL, Childcare and Parent Services (CAPS) program: CAPS is Georgia's CCDF-funded subsidy program; only DECAL-licensed facilities in good standing may accept CAPS payments; county-based reimbursement rates published by DECAL
8. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) policy: CCDF requires states to prioritize subsidy access for children in care settings meeting health and safety standards; holding a state license is the baseline requirement
9. Child Care Aware of America, The US and the High Cost of Child Care report: Center-based infant care in Georgia averaged approximately $9,000 per year, establishing market rate benchmarks for tuition-setting
10. Council for Professional Recognition, CDA credential fees and requirements: CDA credential assessment fee is approximately $425; required for Georgia CCLC director qualification as a minimum credential