How to Start a Daycare in Virginia (2026)

Last updated: February 25, 2026

Starting a daycare in Virginia is one of the most heavily regulated small businesses you can open. The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) Office of Child Care Licensing oversees licensing for child day centers, with strict requirements for staff-to-child ratios, background checks, training, and facility standards. The process takes several months from application to opening day, but Virginia has strong demand for quality child care, particularly in the Northern Virginia, Richmond, and Hampton Roads metro areas. This guide covers every step using official Virginia sources.

Daycare Requirements in Virginia at a Glance

Requirement	Agency	Cost	Timeline
LLC Formation	VA State Corporation Commission	$100	1-2 business days
Child Day Center License	VDOE Office of Child Care Licensing	Application fee (varies)	3-6 months
Background Checks (all staff)	VDOE / Virginia State Police / FBI	$12-$63 per person	2-6 weeks per check
CPR/First Aid Certification	Red Cross / AHA / equivalent	$50-$100 per person	1-2 day course
Health & Safety Training	VDOE-approved provider	Varies	Before opening
Fire Inspection	Local Fire Marshal	Varies by locality	Before license issued
Building/Zoning Approval	Local Government	Varies	Before license issued
General Liability Insurance	Private Carrier	~$100-$250/month	Before opening
Workers’ Compensation Insurance	Private Carrier	Varies by payroll	Before hiring 3rd employee
Federal EIN	IRS	Free	Immediate (online)

How to Start a Daycare in Virginia (Step by Step)

Step 1: Form Your Business Entity

Register an LLC with the Virginia State Corporation Commission ($100 filing fee). Apply for a free federal EIN from the IRS. Get a local business license (BPOL) from your city or county.

Step 2: Contact VDOE and Attend Orientation

Virginia child day centers are licensed by the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE), Office of Child Care Licensing. Contact them at 1-800-543-7545 or visit childcare.virginia.gov.

Attend a pre-application orientation session where you’ll learn about:

Virginia’s Standards for Licensed Child Day Centers
Staff qualification and training requirements
Background check procedures
The application and inspection process
Ongoing compliance requirements

Step 3: Secure and Prepare Your Facility

Zoning: Verify your proposed location is zoned for child care use. Contact your local zoning office before signing a lease or purchasing property.

Facility requirements include:

Indoor space: Minimum 25 square feet of usable floor space per child
Outdoor play area: Must be fenced, with age-appropriate equipment and adequate shade
Bathrooms: Child-accessible toilets and sinks, appropriate ratios to number of children
Kitchen/food prep area: If providing meals, must meet health department standards
Fire safety: Fire alarms, extinguishers, emergency exits, evacuation plan
Safety hazards: All chemicals locked, electrical outlets covered, stairs gated

You’ll need approvals from your local fire marshal and building inspector before your license can be issued.

Step 4: Complete Background Checks for All Staff

Virginia requires comprehensive background checks for all individuals who will have contact with children. As of February 2026, the background check requirements (8VAC20-821) include:

Virginia Central Registry Search: $12 per person
Out-of-state child abuse/neglect registry: Required if person lived in another state in the past 5 years
National criminal fingerprint background check (FBI): $43-$63 depending on applicant type
Virginia Sex Offender Registry check

Individuals convicted of a barrier crime are prohibited from working in a licensed child day center. Providers are responsible for all background check fees.

Step 5: Meet Training Requirements

All staff must complete before caring for children:

CPR and first aid certification – infant/child CPR from Red Cross, AHA, or equivalent
Health and safety orientation – VDOE-approved training
Medication administration training (if administering medication)

Program directors must have:

A degree in early childhood education, child development, or related field (or equivalent experience/credentials)
Management and supervisory experience

Ongoing training: Staff members must complete annual training hours in topics related to child development, health and safety, and age-appropriate programming.

Step 6: Submit Application and Pass Inspections

Submit your completed license application to the VDOE Office of Child Care Licensing with:

All background check results
Staff training documentation
Proof of insurance
Facility floor plans
Fire marshal approval
Local zoning/building approval
Application fee

A licensing inspector will conduct an on-site inspection of your facility before issuing the license. Plan for the entire process to take 3-6 months from application to opening.

Virginia Staff-to-Child Ratios

Age Group	Staff-to-Child Ratio	Maximum Group Size
Infants (birth to 11 months)	1:4	8
Toddlers (12-29 months)	1:7	14
Preschool (30 months to 5 years)	1:10	20
School-age (5 years and older)	1:15	30

Staff counted in ratios must be at least 16 years old and directly supervising children. Staff under 18 must work under the supervision of an adult staff member. At least one adult staff member must be present in each group at all times.

Cost to Start a Daycare in Virginia

Item	Cost	Notes
LLC Articles of Organization	$100	One-time SCC filing fee
Federal EIN	Free	IRS, immediate online
Facility lease deposit	$2,000-$10,000	First/last month + security deposit
Facility renovations/build-out	$5,000-$50,000	Child-proofing, bathroom modifications, etc.
Background checks (per person)	$55-$75	Central registry + fingerprints
CPR/first aid training (per person)	$50-$100	Infant/child CPR required
Furniture and equipment	$5,000-$20,000	Cribs, tables, chairs, playground equipment
Supplies and curriculum materials	$1,000-$5,000	Art supplies, books, toys, etc.
General liability insurance	$1,200-$3,000/year	Child care specific policy
Workers’ comp insurance	Varies by payroll	Required at 3+ employees
Local business license (BPOL)	$50-$500	Varies by locality
SCC Annual Registration Fee	$50/year	Due in anniversary month

Estimated total startup cost: $15,000-$90,000+ (facility costs are the largest variable; a home-based daycare conversion is at the lower end, while leasing and renovating commercial space is at the higher end)

Related Virginia Business Guides

← Back to all Virginia business guides

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need to open a daycare in Virginia?

You need a child day center license from the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE), Office of Child Care Licensing. The application process includes background checks for all staff, facility inspections, fire marshal approval, and meeting staff-to-child ratio requirements. Plan for 3-6 months from application to opening.

What are the staff-to-child ratios in Virginia?

Virginia requires: 1:4 for infants (birth-11 months), 1:7 for toddlers (12-29 months), 1:10 for preschoolers (30 months-5 years), and 1:15 for school-age children (5+). Staff counted in ratios must be at least 16 years old and directly supervising children.

What background checks are required for daycare staff in Virginia?

All staff must pass a Virginia Central Registry search ($12), a national criminal fingerprint check ($43-$63), and a sex offender registry check. Anyone who lived out of state in the past 5 years also needs an out-of-state child abuse registry check. Individuals convicted of barrier crimes cannot work in a licensed center.

How much does it cost to start a daycare in Virginia?

Total startup costs range from $15,000 to $90,000+ depending on your facility situation. Major costs include facility lease/renovation ($7,000-$60,000), furniture and equipment ($5,000-$20,000), insurance ($1,200-$3,000/year), and background checks and training for all staff.

Do I need a degree to open a daycare in Virginia?

You do not necessarily need a degree to own a daycare, but the program director must meet specific education and experience qualifications, typically including a degree in early childhood education or a related field. All staff must complete required health, safety, and CPR training.

How long does it take to get a daycare license in Virginia?

The licensing process typically takes 3-6 months from the time you submit a complete application. This includes time for background checks, facility preparation, inspections, and VDOE review. Starting early with background checks and facility preparation can help speed the process.

More Virginia Business Guides

About the Author

Robert Smith has run a licensed private investigation firm for 8 years from the Florida-Georgia state line - where he learned firsthand how wildly business licensing rules differ between states just miles apart. He personally researched requirements across all 50 states and D.C., reviewing hundreds of government sources over hundreds of hours to build guides he wished existed when he started. Not a lawyer or accountant - just a business owner who has done the research so you don't have to.

Learn more about our research process