How to Start a Daycare in Florida (2026)

Last updated: October 5, 2026

Starting a daycare in Florida means navigating rules written specifically for Florida – your licensing path depends on which Florida county you operate in, your facility must meet requirements from Florida Administrative Code Rule 65C-22, your staff-to-child ratios come from Florida Statute 402.305(4), and your background screenings run through the DCF Clearinghouse under F.S. 435. The agency is the Department of Children and Families (DCF) – not DBPR, not the Department of Health. Five Florida counties (Broward, Hillsborough, Palm Beach, Pinellas, and Sarasota) have elected under F.S. 402.306 to administer their own child care licensing, so your application path depends on your location. The other 62 Florida counties (including Miami-Dade, Orange, Duval, and Leon) go through DCF directly via the CARES portal.

Florida’s population growth – 300,000-400,000 net domestic migration per year – creates chronic unmet demand for licensed child care, especially in suburban counties around Orlando (Lake, Sumter, Polk), Jacksonville (St. Johns, Clay), Miami (Broward), and Tampa Bay (Pasco, Hernando). Florida also runs two funded child care programs that a licensed provider can opt into: Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK), which is free to every Florida 4-year-old regardless of income, and School Readiness (SR), which pays for eligible families’ care. Becoming a VPK and/or SR provider through your local Early Learning Coalition creates steady enrollment backed by state funding rather than competing only for full private-pay families. This guide compiles the specific Florida regulatory framework and market opportunities you need to launch.

Daycare Requirements in Florida at a Glance

Requirement	Agency / Detail	Cost	Timeline
LLC Articles of Organization	Sunbiz.org	$125 ($100 + $25 RA)	3-5 business days
Family Day Care Home Registration (3-10 children)	DCF or county licensing agency	$25/year	3-6 months
Large Family Child Care Home (up to 12 children)	DCF / county	$60/year	Requires 2 years prior FDCH licensure + assistant
Child Care Facility (13+ children)	DCF / county	$1/child, $25 minimum – $100 maximum per year	3-6 months
Clearinghouse Level 2 background screening	DCF Clearinghouse (FDLE + FBI + abuse registry)	~$70-$100/person	2-4 weeks; 5-year re-screen
40-hour introductory child care training	DCF-approved provider	~$100-$200 + $40 exams	Begin within 90 days of hire; complete within 1 year
5-hour early literacy and language development training	DCF-approved provider	Often bundled with 40-hour course	Same timeline
Pediatric CPR / First Aid	Certified training provider	~$40-$80/person	1 day; renew every 2 years
Annual in-service training (per employee)	DCF-approved provider	Varies	10 hours/year
Fire inspection (center-based)	Local Fire Marshal	Varies	Annual
County Local Business Tax Receipt + zoning + C of O	County Tax Collector / Zoning / Building	$25-$500+ combined	1-6 weeks
General liability insurance	Commercial insurer	$400-$4,000/year (min $100K/$300K required)	Same day
Workers’ comp (if 4+ employees)	FL-licensed carrier	Varies	Non-construction 4+ threshold
VPK provider contract (optional)	County Early Learning Coalition	No fee; state reimbursement per child	Apply annually

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

Step 1: Choose Your Child Care Category

Florida’s DCF (and the five county-run licensing programs) recognize three categories under F.S. 402.302:

• Family Day Care Home (FDCH): 3-10 children in the operator’s own residence. Registration: $25/year. Lowest-capital entry path. Must maintain ratios and complete all training requirements.
• Large Family Child Care Home (LFCCH): Up to 12 children in a residence. Requires 2 years of prior FDCH licensure, a full-time assistant, and meets stricter space and safety requirements.
• Child Care Facility (CCF): 13+ children in a commercial (non-residential) location. License fee: $1 per child, minimum $25, maximum $100 per year. Requires Certificate of Occupancy, commercial zoning, and broader insurance.

Step 2: Know Which Agency Licenses You

Under F.S. 402.306, five Florida counties have opted to administer their own child care licensing programs with their own local ordinances, inspections, and application processes:

• Broward County – Childcare Licensing and Enforcement Section
• Hillsborough County – Child Care Licensing Program
• Palm Beach County – Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County (administered via FDOH)
• Pinellas County – Pinellas County License Board
• Sarasota County – County Licensing Program

The other 62 Florida counties – including Miami-Dade, Orange (Orlando), Duval (Jacksonville), Leon (Tallahassee), and Lee (Fort Myers) – are licensed directly by DCF through the CARES portal at myflfamilies.com. Local ordinances in county-run counties may impose additional requirements on top of state minimums (for example, Broward’s Code Chapter 7 includes some stricter ratios and training requirements than the state baseline). Always verify whether your county runs its own program before starting the application – applying to the wrong agency wastes 2-3 weeks.

Step 3: Complete Clearinghouse Background Screening

All child care personnel, owners, directors, employees, volunteers, and household members age 12 and older (for home-based operations) must pass a Level 2 background screening through the DCF Clearinghouse under F.S. 435. The Clearinghouse is a centralized system that consolidates FDLE fingerprints, FBI fingerprints, and child abuse registry checks in one record that multiple agencies can share.

• Cost: Approximately $70-$100 per person including livescan fingerprinting
• Rescreen: Required every 5 years per DCF Clearinghouse rule
• Disqualifying offenses: F.S. 435.04 and F.S. 408.809 list offenses that permanently disqualify individuals from child care employment. Certain offenses (like abuse, neglect, violent crimes) are automatic. Others may be eligible for exemption review.
• No unsupervised access before clearance: Do not let any staff work unsupervised with children until their Clearinghouse result posts. This is the single biggest timing bottleneck for new daycares.

Step 4: Complete Training Requirements

Florida’s training stack is specific and must be completed in order.

• 40-hour DCF Introductory Child Care Training – Required for all child care personnel. Covers child development, health/safety, nutrition, child abuse prevention, behavior management, and Florida regulations. Begin within 90 days of hire; complete within 1 year. Cost $100-$200 + $40 competency exam fees.
• 5-hour Early Literacy and Language Development – Required as part of the introductory training package. Often bundled with the 40-hour course.
• Pediatric CPR and First Aid – Adult-only certifications do not qualify. $40-$80 per person. Renew every 2 years.
• Director credentials – Center-based Child Care Facilities require a designated Director. The Director must hold a Florida Child Care Professional Credential (FCCPC, 120 hours), a Staff Credential, or an equivalent degree in early childhood education.
• 10-hour annual in-service training – Every child care employee completes at least 10 hours of in-service training per fiscal year to maintain their DCF credentials.

Step 5: Meet Facility Requirements (F.A.C. 65C-22)

Florida Administrative Code Rule 65C-22 sets physical standards for licensed child care facilities:

• Indoor space: Minimum 35 square feet per child in buildings constructed or renovated after 1992. Older buildings may operate under prior standards but renovation triggers compliance.
• Outdoor play area: Minimum 45 square feet per child, fenced, with age-appropriate surfacing under climbing equipment.
• Bathrooms: 1 toilet + 1 sink per 15 children.
• Safe sleep: If serving children under 1 year, separate cribs per ABC 17-M safety standard, firm mattresses, no soft bedding. Florida Safe Sleep Baby campaign requirements apply.
• Secure storage: All cleaning supplies, medications, hazardous chemicals locked or out of reach.
• Fire drills: Monthly fire drills required. Document date, time, children present, evacuation time. DCF/county inspectors review drill logs at every visit.
• Infant room: Separate space required if you serve infants (under 1 year).

Step 6: Apply for Your License

If you operate in DCF-licensed counties (62 of 67): Submit via the CARES (Child Care Administration, Registration, and Evaluation System) portal at myflfamilies.com. Include: application form, Clearinghouse clearance letters, training certificates, fire inspection (center-based), floor plan, proof of insurance, zoning approval, Certificate of Occupancy (center-based).

If you operate in a county-run county (Broward, Hillsborough, Palm Beach, Pinellas, Sarasota): apply through that county’s licensing program – not DCF. Documents are similar but the process, inspector assignment, and local ordinance review differ.

Timeline: Typical licensing process is 3-6 months from first application to license in hand. The Clearinghouse backlog is the most common delay source – start fingerprints immediately after deciding to open.

Step 7: Local Business Tax Receipt, Zoning, Certificate of Occupancy

Local Business Tax Receipt from your county Tax Collector ($25-$150). Zoning approval must be secured before the Tax Collector issues your receipt – verify your home or commercial location is zoned for child care use. Center-based facilities need a Certificate of Occupancy from the county Building Department, which requires passing building, health, and fire inspections.

Home-based operators: Many counties restrict home occupations (parking limits, signage restrictions, drop-off/pick-up traffic caps). Family day care is often granted broader latitude than commercial home businesses, but verify with your county zoning office before signing a lease or starting renovations.

Step 8: Get Insurance

DCF requires general liability insurance with minimum $100,000 per occurrence / $300,000 aggregate before issuing a license.

• Home-based FDCH/LFCCH: $400-$1,500/year for a dedicated child care liability policy. Your homeowner’s insurance does NOT cover child care operations. Florida law is explicit: a residential property policy does not cover liability claims arising from the operation of a family child care home or large family child care home, and the insurer has no duty to defend such a claim, unless the policy specifically covers it or carries a business rider or endorsement (Fla. Stat. §627.70161(3)). The same statute protects you in one respect: an insurer may not deny, cancel, or refuse to renew your residential policy solely because you operate one, though it may act for other lawful reasons, including exceeding your authorized capacity.
• Center-based CCF: $1,100-$4,000/year depending on capacity and location.
• Workers’ compensation: Required at 4+ employees (non-construction threshold). LLC members and corporate officers count toward the threshold. Owners in non-construction classifications can file a Notice of Election to Be Exempt ($50, 2-year validity).

Step 9: Consider VPK and School Readiness Provider Status

Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK): Florida’s state-funded, free-to-parents preschool program for every Florida 4-year-old (born on or before September 1). Providers apply to their county’s Early Learning Coalition for VPK contract status. You receive per-child reimbursement at the state VPK rate for school-year or summer programs. Parents cannot be charged registration or tuition for the VPK portion, but can pay for extended-day/wrap-around care. VPK providers must meet additional quality standards (director credentials, curriculum approval).

School Readiness (SR): Florida’s subsidized child care for income-eligible working families, families in the child welfare system, and families receiving TANF. Providers contract through their Early Learning Coalition. Reimbursement rates increase substantially for Gold Seal Quality Care-designated providers – achieving Gold Seal through national accreditation (NAEYC, NAFCC, COA, Council on Accreditation) can raise your SR reimbursement 15-30%.

For a new provider, VPK plus SR together can stabilize enrollment in your first 12-18 months while you build a private-pay waitlist. Start the VPK and SR applications immediately after licensure – contracts align with school-year calendars.

Florida Staff-to-Child Ratios (F.S. 402.305(4))

Florida’s statutory ratios must be maintained at all times children are in care – including outdoor play, field trips, and transitions.

Age Group	Staff-to-Child Ratio
Birth to 1 year	1:4
1 year to under 2 years	1:6
2 years to under 3 years	1:11
3 years to under 4 years	1:15
4 years to under 5 years	1:20
5 years and older	1:25

Mixed-age groups: When children of different ages are in the same group, the ratio for the youngest child in the group applies. County-run counties (Broward, Hillsborough, Palm Beach, Pinellas, Sarasota) sometimes set stricter ratios locally – verify with your county licensing program.

Florida Child Care Tax and Compliance Notes

No Florida sales tax on child care. Tuition, registration fees, and child care service charges are not subject to Florida sales tax. You do not need to register as a sales tax dealer unless you sell taxable retail items (merchandise, meals to non-enrolled families, etc.).

DH 680 Immunization Form. Every enrolled child must have a current DH 680 (Florida Certification of Immunization) on file before the child’s first day. No provisional enrollment is permitted. The form is issued by the child’s pediatrician or the Florida Department of Health.

Food service. If you serve meals to enrolled children, you may qualify for the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) administered in Florida by the Department of Health. CACFP reimburses licensed providers for meals served to enrolled children at set per-meal rates.

Florida Daycare Market: Where Demand Exceeds Supply

Four Florida-specific dynamics shape daycare demand:

Suburban growth in Central Florida. Lake, Sumter, Polk, and Osceola counties around Orlando have seen sustained housing growth outpacing child care supply. Waitlists of 50-200+ children are routine for licensed providers in these counties. Infant care (1:4 ratio, highest-demand) is almost always the tightest category.

Hispanic-majority neighborhoods and bilingual care. Florida’s Hispanic population has grown substantially – Miami-Dade, Broward, Orange, Hillsborough, and Osceola counties all have significant Spanish-speaking family populations. Bilingual (English/Spanish) care is commonly under-supplied. A provider who markets bilingual capability often fills enrollment faster than English-only equivalents.

Military installations and base families. Jacksonville Naval Air Station, NAS Pensacola, Eglin AFB, Tyndall AFB, and Patrick Space Force Base all sustain year-round military family demand. Military families move on 2-3 year rotations and need immediate placement – providers on or near base who can accept military child care subsidies (MCCYN) and Air Force/Navy/Army child care fee assistance often stay full without broader marketing.

Retiree-caretaker intersection. Florida’s 21%+ 65+ population creates a distinct service market: retirees providing child care for grandchildren, adult children relocating to Florida to be near aging parents while raising young children, and multi-generational households. Suburbs surrounding retirement communities often have higher than average child care demand because relocating grandparents bring adult-child households with them.

Cost to Start a Daycare in Florida

Review Florida childcare wages and $15-floor payroll scenarios when updating staffing costs for September 30, 2026. Model your actual staff schedule; the wage study does not change required staffing ratios.

Home-Based Family Day Care (3-10 Children)

Item	Cost	Notes
LLC formation (Sunbiz) + DBA	$175	One-time
DCF (or county) FDCH registration	$25/year	Annual
Clearinghouse Level 2 screening	$70-$100/person	All personnel + household age 12+
40-hour introductory training + 5-hour literacy + exams	$140-$240	Begin within 90 days of hire
Pediatric CPR/First Aid	$40-$80	Pediatric-specific required
County Local Business Tax Receipt	$25-$150	Annual
General liability insurance	$400-$1,500/year	Min $100K/$300K required
Facility prep (childproofing, supplies, safe-sleep, playground fence)	$1,500-$10,000	Varies widely
Marketing, website, signage	$200-$1,000	Optional at start
Estimated total: $3,000-$15,000

Center-Based Child Care Facility (25-75 Children)

Item	Cost	Notes
LLC + EIN + DBA	$175	One-time
DCF Child Care Facility license	$25-$100/year	$1/child
Clearinghouse screening (5-10+ staff)	$350-$1,000+	All staff + director
40-hour training + literacy + exams (all staff)	$700-$2,400+	Per staff member
Director credential (FCCPC or equivalent)	$500-$2,000	One-time + course fees
Pediatric CPR/First Aid (all staff)	$200-$800	Per staff member
Local Business Tax Receipt + zoning + C of O	$150-$1,000+	Varies by county
General liability insurance	$1,100-$4,000/year	Min $100K/$300K required
Workers’ comp insurance	Varies	Required at 4+ employees
Lease deposit + build-out	$5,000-$40,000+	Tenant improvements, bathrooms, handwash sinks
Furniture, equipment, supplies	$5,000-$25,000	Cribs, tables, shelves, smart boards
Outdoor play area (fencing, surfacing, equipment)	$3,000-$15,000	45 sq ft/child, age-appropriate
Marketing, website, enrollment software	$500-$3,000	Waitlist management, billing
Estimated total: $20,000-$100,000+

Need a loan to cover these startup costs? See Florida business loans for new and growing businesses for microlenders, state programs and SBA offices.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

A license from the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) under F.S. 402 and F.A.C. 65C-22 – not DBPR, not the Department of Health. Three categories: Family Day Care Home ($25/year, 3-10 children in a residence), Large Family Child Care Home (up to 12 children, requires 2 years prior FDCH), or Child Care Facility ($1/child, $25 min – $100 max per year, 13+ children in commercial space). Five counties (Broward, Hillsborough, Palm Beach, Pinellas, Sarasota) administer their own licensing under F.S. 402.306; the other 62 counties go through DCF’s CARES portal.

What are Florida’s daycare staff-to-child ratios?

Florida’s ratios under F.S. 402.305(4): Birth-1 year 1:4, 1-2 years 1:6, 2-3 years 1:11, 3-4 years 1:15, 4-5 years 1:20, 5+ years 1:25. In mixed-age groups, the ratio for the youngest child applies. Some county-run counties set stricter local ratios; verify with your county program.

Do I need a background check to run a daycare in Florida?

Yes. All child care personnel, owners, directors, volunteers, and household members age 12 and older (for home-based) must pass a Level 2 background screening through the DCF Clearinghouse – a centralized system under F.S. 435 that combines FDLE fingerprints, FBI fingerprints, and child abuse registry checks. Cost approximately $70-$100 per person. Re-screen every 5 years. No staff may have unsupervised access to children before clearance posts.

Is daycare taxable in Florida?

No. Child care services are exempt from Florida sales tax. Tuition, registration fees, and service charges are not taxable. You do not need to register as a sales tax dealer unless you sell taxable retail items.

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

A home-based family day care typically launches for $3,000-$15,000 including LLC formation, Clearinghouse screening, training, insurance, and facility prep. A center-based Child Care Facility (25-75 children) typically needs $20,000-$100,000+ once you add lease/build-out, commercial equipment, playground, multiple staff, and marketing.

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

Typically 3-6 months from first application to license. The Clearinghouse background screening is the largest delay source – start fingerprints the day you decide to open. Training and inspections can run in parallel. County-run counties may have different processing times from DCF.

Comparing states? See our daycare guides for all 50 states.