How to Start a Daycare in Kansas (2026)

Last updated: February 25, 2026

Starting a daycare in Kansas requires a license from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE). Licensing requirements vary by facility type: a Child Care Center license is needed for 13 or more children, while a Family Child Care Home license is required for even one non-relative child. Background checks are mandatory for all adults in the facility, and as of January 1, 2026, background check fees are $48 per person (previously covered by federal COVID relief funding). This guide covers every requirement to legally operate a daycare in Kansas in 2026.

Daycare Requirements in Kansas at a Glance

Requirement	Agency	Cost	Timeline
Child Care Center License (13+ children)	Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE)	$85	60-120 days
Family Child Care Home License (1+ non-relative children)	KDHE Child Care Licensing	$85	30-60 days
Background Checks (all adults in facility)	KBI/FBI via KDHE	$48/person (as of Jan 1, 2026)	2-6 weeks
CPR and First Aid Certification	Red Cross, AHA, or similar	$50-$100/person	1 day
LLC Formation (recommended)	Kansas Secretary of State	$160 online	2-3 business days
Building/Zoning Inspection (child care centers)	Local building department	Varies	2-8 weeks
General Liability Insurance	Private insurer	$1,500-$4,000/year	1-3 business days

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

Step 1: Understand Kansas Child Care Licensing Requirements

Kansas requires a license from KDHE for most child care arrangements involving non-relative children:

Family Child Care Home: Required when you care for 1 or more non-relative children in a private residence for more than 3 hours per day. Allows up to 12 children total (including your own), depending on ages and configuration. This is the license type for home-based daycares.

Child Care Center: Required for facilities caring for 13 or more children ages 2 weeks to 16 years for more than 3 hours per day. This covers commercial daycare centers, preschools, and similar operations.

Exempt from licensing: Care for fewer than 1 non-relative child; care for 12 or fewer children that qualifies under the family home exemption; care provided by a relative; drop-in care with limitations. Consult KDHE to confirm whether your specific arrangement requires a license.

KDHE Child Care Licensing contact:

• Phone: (785) 296-1270
• Email: childcare@ks.gov
• Website: kdhe.ks.gov/280

Step 2: Complete Background Checks

Background checks are mandatory for ALL persons 10 years of age and older who reside, work, or regularly volunteer in a licensed child care facility.

Required checks:

• Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) criminal history check
• Kansas child abuse and neglect registry check
• FBI fingerprint-based national criminal background check

Cost as of January 1, 2026: $48 per person

Important change: From 2022-2025, background check fees were covered by federal COVID relief funding. As of January 1, 2026, applicants and providers pay the $48 fee directly. Plan for this in your startup budget.

Fingerprints must be reprinted no later than every 5 years. Initial background checks must be completed before the applicant or employee begins working with children.

Step 3: Earn CPR/First Aid Certification

All child care center directors and Family Child Care Home licensees must hold current:

• CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) certification – pediatric CPR specifically
• First Aid certification

Where to certify: American Red Cross, American Heart Association, or other KDHE-accepted providers. Cost: $50-$100 per person. Valid for 2 years.

Step 4: Complete Pre-Licensing Training

Kansas requires child care providers to complete pre-licensing training before a license is issued. Training covers:

• Child development and age-appropriate activities
• Health and safety requirements
• Safe sleep practices and SIDS prevention
• Reporting child abuse and neglect (mandatory reporter training)
• Kansas child care regulations and licensee responsibilities

Training is available online through the Kansas Child Care Training Opportunities (KCCTO) at no charge. Visit kccto.org for available courses.

Step 5: Prepare Your Facility

Child care centers must meet specific physical requirements:

• Minimum 35 square feet of indoor activity space per child
• 75 square feet of outdoor play space per child (if outdoor space is used)
• Separate napping/rest areas for infants and toddlers
• Age-appropriate furniture, toys, and equipment
• Adequate lighting, ventilation, and heating/cooling
• Accessible bathroom facilities with child-sized fixtures
• Secure fencing around outdoor play areas
• Building inspection and certificate of occupancy for your specific facility type
• Fire inspection and smoke/carbon monoxide detectors

Family Child Care Homes have similar safety requirements adapted for residential settings, including childproofing, safe sleep arrangements for infants, and separation of care spaces from adult living areas.

Step 6: Apply for Your KDHE License

Application fee: $85

Submit to KDHE:

• Completed license application form
• Evidence of completed background checks for all applicable adults
• Copies of CPR and first aid certifications
• Pre-licensing training completion documentation
• Facility floor plan (for child care centers)
• Building inspection documentation (for centers)
• Sample policies and procedures (enrollment, discipline, health/illness, emergency)

Processing time: Family Child Care Homes: 30-60 days. Child Care Centers: 60-120 days.

Step 7: Staff-to-Child Ratios

Kansas regulations (updated August 2, 2024) require minimum staff-to-child ratios:

Age Group	Maximum Ratio (Staff:Children)	Maximum Group Size
Infants (0-12 months)	1:3	6
Toddlers (12-24 months)	1:4	8
2-year-olds	1:5	10
3-year-olds	1:10	20
4-5-year-olds	1:12	24
School-age (6+)	1:15	30

Step 8: Form Your Business and Get Insurance

LLC formation: File with the Kansas Secretary of State for $160 online. This protects your personal assets from daycare-related lawsuits.

Daycare liability insurance: Kansas does not require liability insurance for licensing, but it is essential. Specialized daycare/child care liability policies cover injuries to children in your care, allegations of abuse or molestation, and professional liability. Cost: $1,500-$4,000/year for a small center.

Workers’ compensation: Required once your annual payroll exceeds $20,000 (excluding owner wages). Daycare workers fall under standard workers’ comp requirements.

Cost to Start a Daycare in Kansas

Item	Cost	Notes
KDHE license fee	$85	Family home or child care center
Background checks	$48/person	Required for all adults in facility; fee effective Jan 1, 2026
CPR/First Aid certification	$50-$100/person	Required for director/licensee
LLC formation	$160	Kansas Secretary of State (online)
Facility renovation/setup (center)	$10,000-$50,000+	Building modifications, furniture, equipment, playground
Facility setup (family home)	$2,000-$10,000	Childproofing, furniture, age-appropriate toys
Liability insurance	$1,500-$4,000/year	Specialized daycare/child care policy
Fire inspection / building permits	$200-$1,000	Required for child care centers
Staff hiring and training	$5,000-$20,000	Initial staffing for center operations

Estimated total startup cost: Family Home – $5,000-$15,000 | Child Care Center – $20,000-$100,000+

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← Back to all Kansas business guides

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a license to watch children in my home in Kansas?

Yes. Kansas requires a Family Child Care Home license from KDHE if you care for even one non-relative child for more than 3 hours per day. The license fee is $85. Family child care homes can serve up to 12 children (including your own) depending on ages and configuration. Caring only for relatives or only providing care for 3 hours or less per day may be exempt – confirm with KDHE.

How much does a Kansas daycare license cost in 2026?

The KDHE child care license fee is $85 for both family child care homes and child care centers. Starting January 1, 2026, background checks cost $48 per person (previously covered by federal COVID relief funds). Plan for $85 in license fees plus $48 per adult in your facility for background checks.

What background checks are required for Kansas daycares?

All adults 10 and older who reside, work, or regularly volunteer in a licensed facility must complete a KBI criminal history check, a Kansas child abuse and neglect registry check, and an FBI fingerprint-based national background check. The combined cost is $48 per person as of January 1, 2026. Fingerprints must be renewed every 5 years.

How many children can I watch with a Kansas Family Child Care Home license?

A Kansas Family Child Care Home license allows you to care for up to 12 children total (including your own children), subject to age-based capacity limits and required staff-to-child ratios. You cannot exceed 3 infants or toddlers under 18 months in a family home setting without additional staff. Contact KDHE for specific capacity calculations based on your ages served.

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

Family Child Care Home licenses typically take 30-60 days from application submission. Child Care Center licenses take 60-120 days due to the additional facility inspection, building review, and documentation requirements. The KDHE recommends applying 3-4 months before your planned opening date to allow time for the review process.

Is daycare a taxable service in Kansas?

Child care services in Kansas are generally not subject to Kansas sales tax. However, you may need to register with the Kansas Department of Revenue as a business entity. Check with KDOR at ksrevenue.gov for the current taxability of your specific services.