How to Start a Daycare in Oregon (2026)

Last updated: February 25, 2026

Starting a daycare in Oregon requires navigating one of the more comprehensive child care licensing systems in the country. The Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) oversees all licensed child care through its Child Care Licensing Division (CCLD). Oregon offers multiple license types depending on whether you operate from your home or a commercial facility, and every adult in the program must pass the state’s Central Background Registry.

Demand for child care in Oregon is strong, particularly in Portland, Salem, Eugene, and Bend where waitlists are common. Oregon also offers significant financial support through child care subsidy programs, which can make your business more accessible to families. This guide covers every license type, training requirement, cost, and step to legally start and operate a daycare in Oregon.

Daycare Requirements in Oregon at a Glance

Requirement	Agency	Cost	Timeline
LLC Formation	Oregon Secretary of State	$100	2-3 business days
Federal EIN	IRS	Free	Immediate (online)
Registered Family License	DELC	$30 application	45+ days
Certified Center License	DELC	$100 + $2/child capacity	45+ days
Central Background Registry	DELC	$3 basic + ~$62 FBI fingerprints	Several weeks
Pre-Service Training	Various approved providers	$100-$400 total	Must complete before licensing
CPR & First Aid Certification	Red Cross / approved provider	$50-$100	1 day
Food Handler Card	OHA / County Health	$10	Same day
General Liability Insurance	Private insurer	$800-$2,500/year	Same day
Workers’ Compensation	SAIF Corporation / private insurer	Varies by payroll	1-3 days

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

Step 1: Choose Your License Type

Oregon offers several child care license types through DELC:

License Type	Setting	Max Capacity	Key Details
Registered Family	Provider’s home	10 children	Max 6 preschool-age or younger; max 2 under 24 months; up to 4 school-age
Certified Family	Provider’s home	16 children	Higher capacity, more requirements than Registered Family
Certified Center	Commercial facility	Varies by space	Children ages 6 weeks to 12 years
Certified School-Age	Nonresidential facility	Varies	Kindergarten-eligible children and older only

For most home-based providers, a Registered Family license is the starting point. It has the lowest cost and fewest requirements. A Certified Center is required if you want to operate from a commercial facility with larger capacity.

Step 2: Complete Background Checks (Central Background Registry)

Oregon requires every adult who will have access to children in care to enroll in the Central Background Registry (CBR). This includes the provider, all staff, household members age 18+ (for home-based care), and volunteers.

Enrollment fee: Free
Basic background check: $3
FBI fingerprint check: ~$62 (paid to DELC/Oregon State Police)
Fingerprint capture fee: Varies by location (up to ~$100)
For Certified Centers: CCLD covers the cost of fingerprinting for child care staff
Processing time: Several weeks – start this step early

Important: You cannot operate or have unsupervised access to children until your CBR enrollment is approved.

Step 3: Complete Pre-Service Training

Oregon requires extensive pre-service training before you can receive your license. The following courses must be completed:

For Registered Family and Certified Family Providers:

Introduction to Registered (or Certified) Family Child Care (Parts 1 & 2)
Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect (RRCAN) – Oregon-specific training
Pediatric CPR & First Aid – current certification required
Oregon Food Handler’s Certification – $10 through OHA
Introduction to Child Care Health and Safety (ICCHS)
Safe Sleep for Oregon’s Infants
Foundations for Learning – must complete within 90 days of licensure

Ongoing Training Requirements:

Registered Family: 10 hours annually
Certified Family: 15 hours annually (minimum 8 hours child development + 1 hour health/safety/nutrition)
Certified Center staff: 15 hours annually per staff member

Step 4: Prepare Your Facility

Before DELC will issue your license, your facility must pass several inspections:

Local zoning/planning approval: Verify your location is zoned for child care use
Building code compliance: Meet all applicable building codes for occupancy type
Fire marshal inspection: Fire inspection required every 24 months for centers
Environmental health inspection: Water testing, sanitation, and safety
Lead testing: All drinking and cooking water fixtures must be tested for lead (every 6 years minimum)

Submit your application at least 45 days before your planned operation start date to allow time for processing and inspections.

Step 5: Apply for Your License

Submit your application to DELC’s Child Care Licensing Division:

Application Fees:

License Type	Application Fee	License Duration
Registered Family	$30 (non-refundable)	2 years
Certified Family	$30 (non-refundable)	2 years
Certified Center	$100 + $2 x licensed capacity (non-refundable)	Initial temporary: up to 180 days, then annual

Example: A Certified Center with 60-child capacity would pay $100 + (60 x $2) = $220 application fee.

Monitoring After Licensing:

Registered Family: Minimum 2 unannounced visits per licensing period
Certified Centers: Minimum 1 unannounced visit annually

Step 6: Form Your Business Entity and Get Insurance

Insurance requirements:

General liability insurance: Covers accidents, injuries, and property damage at your facility. Typical cost: $800-$2,500/year depending on capacity and location.
Workers’ compensation: Required if you hire any employees in Oregon. Purchase from SAIF Corporation or a private insurer.
Professional liability insurance: Recommended for child care providers to cover claims of negligence or inadequate supervision.

Oregon Staff-to-Child Ratios

Age Group	Staff-to-Child Ratio	Max Group Size
Infants (6 weeks – 24 months)	1:4	12
Preschool (24 months – 1st grade eligible)	1:10	12
Mixed preschool/school-age	1:10	12

Note: The provider’s own children count toward these ratios if they are in the age groups being served.

Cost to Start a Daycare in Oregon

Item	Cost	Notes
LLC Formation	$100	Oregon Secretary of State
EIN	Free	IRS online application
DELC Application Fee	$30-$220+	$30 for family; $100 + $2/child for centers
Background Checks (per person)	$65-$165	$3 basic + ~$62 FBI + fingerprint capture fee
Pre-Service Training	$100-$400	RRCAN, CPR/First Aid, ICCHS, Safe Sleep, etc.
Food Handler Card	$10	Valid 3 years
General Liability Insurance	$800-$2,500/year	Based on capacity and location
Workers’ Comp (if hiring)	Varies	SAIF Corporation or private insurer
Facility Setup/Renovations	$2,000-$20,000	Childproofing, play equipment, furniture, supplies
Fire/Building Inspections	Varies	Contact local fire marshal and building department
Annual Report	$100/year	Required to keep LLC active

Estimated total startup cost: $3,500-$10,000 (home-based Registered Family); $15,000-$50,000+ (Certified Center, not including lease)

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Frequently Asked Questions

What types of daycare licenses does Oregon offer?

Oregon offers four main license types: Registered Family (up to 10 children in your home), Certified Family (up to 16 in your home), Certified Center (commercial facility, varying capacity), and Certified School-Age (kindergarten-eligible and older). Registered Family is the most common starting point for home-based providers.

What is Oregon’s Central Background Registry?

The Central Background Registry (CBR) is Oregon’s comprehensive background check system for anyone who will have access to children in licensed care. This includes providers, staff, volunteers, and all household members age 18+ in home-based care. It includes a basic background check ($3) plus FBI fingerprinting (~$62 plus capture fees). You cannot begin operating until all required individuals are approved.

How much does it cost to start a home daycare in Oregon?

A home-based Registered Family daycare can be started for approximately $3,500-$10,000. This includes LLC formation ($100), DELC application ($30), background checks ($65-$165/person), pre-service training ($100-$400), insurance ($800-$2,500), and facility setup ($2,000-$5,000). A Certified Center costs significantly more due to lease and build-out requirements.

What training is required before opening a daycare in Oregon?

Oregon requires extensive pre-service training: Introduction to Family Child Care (Parts 1 & 2), Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect (RRCAN), pediatric CPR & First Aid, Oregon Food Handler’s Card, Introduction to Child Care Health and Safety, and Safe Sleep for Oregon’s Infants. Foundations for Learning must be completed within 90 days of licensure. Ongoing training is 10-15 hours annually.

What are Oregon’s staff-to-child ratios for daycare?

For Certified Family homes: 1:4 for infants (6 weeks to 24 months) and 1:10 for preschool-age (24 months to first grade eligible), with a maximum group size of 12. The provider’s own children count toward ratios if they are in the served age groups. Certified Centers have similar ratios but may vary by specific room configuration.

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

Plan for at least 2-3 months from start to finish. You must submit your application at least 45 days before your planned start date, but background check processing alone can take several weeks. Pre-service training, facility inspections, and fire marshal approval all add time. Starting the background check process early is the best way to avoid delays.

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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.

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