How to Start a Daycare in Oklahoma (2026)

Last updated: February 25, 2026

Starting a daycare in Oklahoma is a highly regulated process overseen by the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS). Whether you plan to open a commercial child care center or a family child care home, you must obtain a OKDHS license before accepting any children in care. The licensing process involves background checks for all staff, fire and health inspections, director credential requirements, and minimum liability insurance of $200,000 per occurrence under “Demarion’s Law.” This guide covers every requirement for 2026.

Daycare Requirements in Oklahoma at a Glance

Requirement	Agency	Cost	Timeline
Child Care Facility License	Oklahoma DHS (OKDHS)	No codified state fee (confirm with county DHS)	6-month permit first; full license after
Background checks (all staff + household members)	OKDHS Office of Background Investigations	$44-$55 per person (fingerprint-based)	1-4 weeks
Fire inspection	Oklahoma State Fire Marshal / local fire authority	$0-$200 (set by local authority)	Before opening
Health inspection	Oklahoma State Dept. of Health (OSDH)	$0-$200	Before opening
ELCCT training (per staff member)	CECPD Online	$20/person	Within 90 days of hire
CPR/First Aid certification (at least one staff member)	AHA, Red Cross, or other approved providers	$30-$80/person	Before opening
Oklahoma Director’s Credential (ODC) – Bronze	CECPD / Oklahoma Professional Development Registry	No application fee	Must hold before opening
General liability insurance	Private carrier	$1,500-$5,000/year	Before opening; $200,000/occurrence minimum required by law
LLC formation	Oklahoma Secretary of State	$100 one-time	1-3 business days

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

Step 1: Register Your Business and Plan Your Facility

Form an LLC with the Oklahoma Secretary of State for $100. Get a free EIN from the IRS. Before signing a commercial lease, verify with local zoning authorities that the property is approved for childcare use. Check that the building can pass fire and health inspections and meet OKDHS square footage requirements.

Step 2: Director Credential

The center director must hold an Oklahoma Director’s Credential (ODC) at Bronze level or higher before the facility can open. The ODC is administered by the Center for Early Childhood Professional Development (CECPD) through the Oklahoma Professional Development Registry (OPDR).

Bronze level minimum requirements:

High school diploma or GED
At least 6 early childhood education (ECE) credit hours from an accredited institution, OR a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential, OR an Oklahoma Competency Certificate
At least 3 credit hours in administration/management (or equivalent credential or 40 clock hours of training)
At least 12 months of experience working in a licensed childcare program
Annual renewal: 20 hours of job-related training

Step 3: Background Checks

All of the following must pass a fingerprint-based background check before they have any unsupervised contact with children:

Owners and responsible entities (before authorization to operate)
All employees and personnel (before hire)
All household members age 18 or older in a licensed family child care home

The check covers Oklahoma and FBI criminal history, Oklahoma State Courts Network, Sex Offender Registry, Violent Offender Registry, and Joshua’s List (Child Care Restricted Registry). Background checks must be renewed every 5 years.

How to apply: Contact the OKDHS Office of Background Investigations (OBI) at (405) 962-1735 or 1-800-347-2276, or email OBICC@okdhs.org. Fingerprinting through IdentoGO. Cost: approximately $44-$55 per person for the fingerprint-based check.

Step 4: Required Training

All staff must complete the following within 90 days of hire (unless completed within the past 5 years):

Entry Level Child Care Training (ELCCT): 20 clock hours. Cost: $20 online at cecpdonline.org.
Safe sleep training (required for any staff working with infants)
Child abuse prevention training
CPR and First Aid: At least one staff member with current Adult + Child + Infant CPR, AED, and First Aid certification must be physically present with children at all times, both on-site and off-site. Certification must include hands-on practical component (100% online is not acceptable). Cost: $30-$80 per person. Approved providers: American Heart Association, American Red Cross, National Safety Council.

All teaching staff must obtain an Oklahoma Professional Development Ladder (OPDL) certificate within 12 months of hire. Information: cecpd.org/OPDL.

Step 5: Facility Requirements

Your facility must meet these OKDHS physical requirements:

Indoor Space (OAC 340:110-3-301):

Minimum 35 square feet of usable floor space per child. (Hallways, bathrooms, kitchens, and storage are excluded from this calculation.)
New construction or programs licensed after November 1, 2016: minimum 40 square feet per infant in infant-only rooms.
Hard-surface, non-porous, easily cleaned flooring required in all service areas.

Outdoor Space:

75 square feet per child for the first 23 enrolled children
For 24 or more children: 75 sq ft per child for at least one-third of licensed capacity, or 1,800 sq ft total (whichever is greater)
All outdoor play areas must be enclosed by a fence at least 48 inches high, starting at ground level, with no climbable footholds

Fire Safety: A pre-opening fire inspection approval from the Oklahoma State Fire Marshal or local fire authority is required. Fire drills must be conducted and documented. Fire extinguishers (NFPA Standard No. 10) must be inspected annually. Hard-wired smoke detection system required (for centers licensed after October 1, 2001).

Health: An OSDH health inspection is required before DHS will authorize operation. Contact OSDH Environmental Health at (405) 426-8250.

Step 6: Insurance

Oklahoma’s “Demarion’s Law” (10 O.S. Section 404.3) requires every licensed childcare facility to carry a minimum of $200,000 general liability insurance per occurrence of negligence. Proof must be on file with DHS at all times. Failure to maintain required insurance is grounds for license suspension or revocation. Annual cost: $1,500-$5,000/year depending on capacity, location, and insurer.

Workers’ compensation is also mandatory under Oklahoma law once you have any employee. Additional coverages strongly recommended: abuse and molestation coverage, commercial auto if transporting children, property insurance.

Step 7: Apply for Your OKDHS License

Contact your county OKDHS licensing specialist: phone (405) 521-3561 or 1-844-834-8314, email childcare.occs@okdhs.org. Current licensing requirements are published in OKDHS Publication 14-05 (effective November 1, 2025). New applicants first receive a 6-month provisional permit while the state investigates compliance; a full license follows.

Staff-to-Child Ratios (Child Care Centers):

Infants (under 12 months): 1:4 (max group size 8)
Toddlers (12-23 months): 1:6 (max group size 12)
2-year-olds: 1:8 (max group size 16)
3-year-olds: 1:12 (max group size 24)
4-year-olds: 1:15 (max group size 30)
5 and older: 1:20 (max group size 40)

Cost to Start a Daycare in Oklahoma

Item	Cost	Notes
OKDHS license application	$0 (confirm with county DHS)	No codified state fee in OAC 340
Background checks (fingerprint-based)	$44-$55 per person	All staff + household members (family homes)
ELCCT training	$20/person	Online through CECPD
CPR/First Aid certification	$30-$80/person	In-person required; at least one staff member always on duty
Oklahoma Director’s Credential (ODC)	$0 application fee	ECE coursework may add tuition cost
Fire and health inspections	$0-$400 total	Varies by local authority
General liability insurance (annual)	$1,500-$5,000/year	$200,000/occurrence minimum required by law
Workers’ compensation (annual)	$1,000-$4,000/year	Mandatory with employees; scales with payroll
LLC formation (Oklahoma SOS)	$100	One-time
Facility lease (monthly, commercial space)	$2,000-$8,000/month	OKC/Tulsa area; varies by size and location
Facility build-out / renovation	$10,000-$100,000+	Childproofing, play areas, restroom requirements
Playground equipment	$5,000-$30,000	Fenced outdoor area; safety surfacing required
Furniture, cribs, mats, equipment	$5,000-$30,000	Age-appropriate per OKDHS requirements
Operating reserve (3-6 months)	$15,000-$60,000	Centers often operate at a loss initially

Estimated total startup cost: $3,000-$15,000 (family child care home) | $50,000-$300,000 (commercial child care center)

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Frequently Asked Questions

What agency licenses daycares in Oklahoma?

The Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS), Child Care Services licenses all childcare facilities in Oklahoma. Contact: (405) 521-3561 or 1-844-834-8314, childcare.occs@okdhs.org. Current requirements are in OKDHS Publication 14-05 (effective November 1, 2025).

What are the staff-to-child ratios for Oklahoma daycares?

For child care centers: infants (under 12 months) require a 1:4 ratio with a maximum group size of 8; toddlers (12-23 months) 1:6 (max 12); 2-year-olds 1:8 (max 16); 3-year-olds 1:12 (max 24); 4-year-olds 1:15 (max 30); and children 5 and older 1:20 (max 40). Family child care homes may serve a maximum of 7 children.

How much does it cost to open a daycare in Oklahoma?

A family child care home can start for $3,000-$15,000. A small commercial child care center (20-30 children) typically requires $50,000-$150,000 to open, including facility renovation, playground equipment, furniture, insurance, and a 3-6 month operating reserve. Larger centers (30-60 children) run $100,000-$300,000.

How much liability insurance does an Oklahoma daycare need?

Oklahoma’s “Demarion’s Law” (10 O.S. Section 404.3) requires a minimum of $200,000 per occurrence of negligence in general liability insurance. Proof must be maintained on file with DHS. Failure to maintain coverage is grounds for license suspension or revocation.

Do I need to complete a background check to open a daycare in Oklahoma?

Yes. All owners, employees, and (for family child care homes) all household members age 18 and older must pass a fingerprint-based background check through the OKDHS Office of Background Investigations (OBI). The check covers Oklahoma and FBI criminal history, sex and violent offender registries, and the Child Care Restricted Registry. Cost: approximately $44-$55 per person. Checks renew every 5 years.

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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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