How to Start a Daycare in Montana (2026)

Last updated: February 26, 2026

Starting a daycare or childcare center in Montana is one of the most regulated business types in the state – and for good reason. The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS), through its Child Care Licensing (CCL) program, sets requirements covering staff-to-child ratios, background checks, facility standards, and ongoing training. The license type you need depends on the number of children you plan to serve and whether you are operating from your home or a dedicated facility. This guide covers all license types, the application process, background check requirements, and staff training obligations using official Montana state sources.

Daycare Requirements in Montana at a Glance

Requirement	Agency	Cost	Timeline
LLC Formation	Montana Secretary of State	$35 (online)	3-5 business days
Child Care Facility License (type varies)	Montana DPHHS – Child Care Licensing	Contact CCL for fee schedule	2-4 months (background checks + inspection)
FBI Fingerprint Background Check (all staff)	Montana DOJ + FBI	Free through Spark Montana locations	2-6 weeks
Montana Sex Offender Registry Check	Montana DOJ	Free	Immediate
Child Protective Services History Check	Montana DPHHS	Free	1-2 weeks
CPR/First Aid Certification (director)	Red Cross / AHA approved provider	$50-$150	1-2 days course
Pre-Licensing Facility Inspection	Montana DPHHS CCL	Included with license	Scheduled after application review
Workers’ Compensation Insurance	Private insurer or Montana State Fund	Premium-based	Before first employee

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

Step 1: Determine Your License Type

Montana DPHHS licenses childcare in four categories based on capacity and setting. Choose the type that matches your planned operation:

License Type	Setting	Capacity	Type
Family, Friend, Neighbor (FFN)	Provider’s home	Up to 4 unrelated children	Registration (lighter requirements)
Family Home	Home-based	3-8 children	Registration
Group Home	Home-based (larger)	9-15 children	Registration
Child Care Center	Dedicated facility	16+ children	Full License

This guide focuses primarily on Child Care Centers (16+ children), which carry the most complete regulatory requirements. Smaller home-based programs follow similar principles but with lighter facility standards.

DPHHS Child Care Licensing contact:

• Phone: (406) 444-2012
• Email: childcarelicensing@mt.gov
• Website: dphhs.mt.gov/ecfsd/childcare/childcarelicensing
• Mailing: PO Box 4210, Helena, MT 59620-4211

Step 2: Form Your Business Entity

File an LLC with the Montana Secretary of State online at biz.sosmt.gov for $35. A separate LLC for your daycare business protects your personal assets. The LLC name must be distinguishable from existing Montana business names.

Step 3: Background Checks – All Staff and Household Members

Montana requires comprehensive background checks for all owners, operators, employees, and volunteers who have unsupervised contact with children. Background checks must be repeated annually and whenever a new person joins the facility.

Required checks (ARM 37.95.161):

• FBI Fingerprint Background Check: Montana DOJ submits fingerprints to the FBI. Free fingerprinting is available through Spark Montana locations statewide. Results take 2-6 weeks. Montana residents may use alternate fingerprinting locations; contact CCL for a list.
• Montana Sex Offender Registry check: Checked through the Montana DOJ. CCL processes this during the application.
• National Sex Offender Registry (NCIC) check: Checked at the national level.
• Child Protective Services (CPS) history check: Montana CPS records plus records from any state where the applicant has lived in the past 5 years. CCL coordinates this check.

Anyone with a disqualifying criminal conviction, sex offense registry listing, or substantiated child abuse/neglect finding cannot work at the facility in any capacity involving child contact.

Step 4: Meet Training and Certification Requirements

Montana childcare staff must meet ongoing training requirements:

• CPR certification (director and key staff): Must cover infant, child, and adult CPR. Must be from an approved provider (Red Cross, American Heart Association).
• Infant choking response certification
• Pediatric first aid certification
• Required immunizations: All staff must have current Tdap (pertussis) and MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccinations. Documentation required.
• Annual training hours: Family, Friend, Neighbor (FFN) providers must complete 8 hours of approved training per year. Child Care Center staff have ongoing in-service training requirements specified in ARM 37.95.

Contact CCL at childcarelicensing@mt.gov for the current complete training checklist applicable to your license type.

Step 5: Prepare Your Facility

Your facility must meet Montana’s childcare facility standards before CCL will issue a license. Key standards for Child Care Centers:

Staff-to-child ratios (ARM 37.95.623):

Age Group	Minimum Ratio	Maximum Group Size
Newborn to 23 months	1 staff : 4 children	12
2-3 years	1 staff : 8 children	16
4 years	1 staff : 10 children	24
5 years and older	1 staff : 14 children	32

Physical space requirements:

• Minimum indoor usable floor space per child (Montana follows federal Head Start guidelines as a reference): typically 35 square feet per child minimum for licensed centers
• Outdoor play space required for centers
• Separate designated sleep/rest areas for infants
• Accessible bathrooms at appropriate child height
• Functioning kitchen or food preparation area if meals are served
• Smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, emergency exit plans required

Step 6: Apply Through the DPHHS CCL Provider Portal

Montana processes childcare licensing applications through an online portal (Okta system). Contact DPHHS CCL directly for access credentials and current licensing fees:

• Phone: (406) 444-2012
• Email: childcarelicensing@mt.gov

Note: DPHHS does not publicly post childcare licensing fees online. The fee schedule is provided during the application process. Call CCL before submitting your application to confirm current fees for your license type.

Your application package will include:

• Completed application form
• Background check authorizations for all staff and household members
• Facility floor plan and description
• Proof of immunizations for all staff
• CPR/first aid certification documentation
• Policy and procedure manual (required for Child Care Centers)
• Proof of workers’ compensation insurance (required)

Step 7: Pass the Pre-Licensing Facility Inspection

After your application is reviewed and background checks are cleared, a CCL representative will conduct an on-site inspection of your facility. The inspection verifies compliance with all physical space, equipment, safety, and documentation requirements. Upon passing, your license is issued. Annual unannounced inspections follow.

Cost to Start a Daycare in Montana

Item	Cost	Notes
LLC Formation	$35	Online at biz.sosmt.gov
Child Care Facility License	Contact CCL	(406) 444-2012; fee varies by license type
Background Checks (per staff member)	Free	FBI fingerprinting free at Spark Montana locations
CPR/First Aid Certification (per staff)	$50-$150	Required for director; recommended for all staff
Facility Lease/Renovation	Highly variable	Depends on location, size, and condition
Furniture, Equipment, Educational Materials	$5,000-$30,000+	Age-appropriate furnishings, cribs, toys, learning materials
Workers’ Compensation Insurance (annual)	Premium-based	Mandatory with any employees
General Liability Insurance (annual)	$1,500-$4,000	$1M+ occurrence; required by licensing and leases
Local Business License	$25-$100	Required by most Montana cities

Estimated total startup cost: $15,000-$80,000+ (varies greatly by facility size and whether you lease existing space or build out)

Related Montana Business Guides

• How to Start a Cleaning Service in Montana
• How to Start a Hair Salon in Montana
• How to Start a Food Truck in Montana

← Back to all Montana business guides

Frequently Asked Questions

Who licenses childcare facilities in Montana?

The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS), Child Care Licensing (CCL) program licenses and regulates all childcare facilities in Montana. Contact CCL at (406) 444-2012, childcarelicensing@mt.gov, or visit dphhs.mt.gov/ecfsd/childcare/childcarelicensing. The CCL program oversees Family Homes, Group Homes, and Child Care Centers, as well as Family, Friend, and Neighbor (FFN) providers.

What are the staff-to-child ratio requirements in Montana?

For Child Care Centers, Montana ARM 37.95.623 requires: 1:4 ratio for infants (0-23 months, max group 12); 1:8 for ages 2-3 (max group 16); 1:10 for age 4 (max group 24); and 1:14 for age 5 and older (max group 32). These minimum ratios must be maintained at all times during operating hours, including nap and outdoor play periods.

What background checks are required for Montana daycare workers?

All owners, operators, employees, and unsupervised volunteers must pass: (1) FBI fingerprint background check (Montana DOJ + FBI); (2) Montana Sex Offender Registry check; (3) National Sex Offender Registry check; and (4) Child Protective Services history check for Montana and any other state of residence in the past 5 years. FBI fingerprinting is free at Spark Montana locations. Background checks must be repeated annually.

How much does a Montana childcare license cost?

Montana DPHHS does not publicly post a specific childcare licensing fee schedule on their website. Fees are determined during the application process and vary by license type. Contact the CCL program directly at (406) 444-2012 or childcarelicensing@mt.gov for current fees before submitting your application.

Does Montana require daycare workers to be vaccinated?

Yes. Montana childcare facility staff must have current documentation of Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis/whooping cough) and MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccinations. Documentation must be kept on file at the facility and presented during licensing inspections. Staff who cannot receive vaccines due to medical contraindications may be eligible for exemptions – contact CCL for the current process.