Florida Launch Guide

How to Start a Daycare in Florida (2026)

Last updated: June 2026

Researched by the TotReady Research Team

Opening a licensed daycare in Florida means applying to the Florida Department of Children and Families, Child Care Licensing, clearing fingerprint-based background checks, meeting facility and staff-to-child ratio rules, and passing a licensing inspection. This guide walks the process end to end, grounded in Florida's licensing statutes.

Florida Daycare Licensing: Fees & Key Numbers

The statute-cited figures that shape your Florida launch budget and timeline.

Application fee
The child care facility/center license fee is $1 per child of licensed capacity, with a minimum of $25 and a maximum of $100 per facility; a registered family day care home pays $25, a licensed family day care home pays $50, and a large family child care home pays $60 (Fla. Stat. 402.315(3)).
Annual renewal fee
Every child care facility license shall be renewed annually under Fla. Stat. 402.308(1), and the same statutory fee schedule in Fla. Stat. 402.315(3) applies at each annual renewal (center $1/child, minimum $25/maximum $100; registered family day care home $25; licensed family day care home $50; large family child care home $60); no separate renewal-only fee is set in statute.
Pre-service training
All child care personnel must complete an approved 40-clock-hour Introductory Child Care Training course (Part I 30 hours plus Part II 10 hours), beginning within 90 days after employment and completing it within one year after training begins as evidenced by passing a competency examination; in addition, Universal Precautions training must be completed prior to beginning work, and Fire Extinguisher training and (for those caring for infants) Safe Sleep/Shaken Baby Syndrome training must be completed within the first 30 days and prior to caring for children (Fla. Stat. 402.305(2)(d); Florida DCF Child Care Facility Training Requirements).
Annual training
After completing the introductory training, child care personnel must take an additional 1.0 Continuing Education Unit (CEU) of approved in-service training, or 10 clock hours of equivalent training, annually (Fla. Stat. 402.305(2)(d)).
License-exempt threshold
A child care facility license is required once a person provides child care for more than five children unrelated to the operator for payment; caring for five or fewer unrelated children is exempt from child care facility licensure (Fla. Stat. 402.302(2)).
Family child care capacity
A family day care home may care for: a maximum of 4 children from birth to 12 months; OR a maximum of 3 children from birth to 12 months plus other children for a total of 6; OR a maximum of 6 preschool children if all are older than 12 months; OR a maximum of 10 children if no more than 5 are preschool age and, of those 5, no more than 2 are under 12 months (Fla. Stat. 402.302(8)). A large family child care home, which must have at least two full-time child care personnel on the premises, may care for a maximum of 8 children from birth to 24 months, OR a maximum of 12 children with no more than 4 under 24 months (Fla. Stat. 402.302(11)).
Indoor square footage
Child care facilities licensed on or after October 1, 1992 must provide a minimum of 35 square feet of usable indoor floor space per child and a minimum of 45 square feet of usable outdoor play area per child; facilities licensed before that date must provide a minimum of 20 square feet of usable indoor floor space and 45 square feet of usable outdoor play area per child (Fla. Stat. 402.305(6)).
Inspection schedule
Annual inspection; additional risk-based inspections

The 8 Steps to Open a Daycare in Florida

Follow these in order. Each step is grounded in Florida's childcare licensing rules.

  1. Research your state's rules

    Confirm whether your program needs a license in Florida. A child care facility license is required once a person provides child care for more than five children unrelated to the operator for payment; caring for five or fewer unrelated children is exempt from child care facility licensure (Fla. Stat. 402.302(2)).

    Read the rule that defines license-exempt care before you do anything else — it determines whether you operate as a family child care home, a center, or an exempt arrangement.

  2. Complete pre-service training & CPR

    Finish the required pre-service training and certifications. All child care personnel must complete an approved 40-clock-hour Introductory Child Care Training course (Part I 30 hours plus Part II 10 hours), beginning within 90 days after employment and completing it within one year after training begins as evidenced by passing a competency examination; in addition, Universal Precautions training must be completed prior to beginning work, and Fire Extinguisher training and (for those caring for infants) Safe Sleep/Shaken Baby Syndrome training must be completed within the first 30 days and prior to caring for children (Fla. Stat. 402.305(2)(d); Florida DCF Child Care Facility Training Requirements).

    Plan for ongoing training too: After completing the introductory training, child care personnel must take an additional 1.0 Continuing Education Unit (CEU) of approved in-service training, or 10 clock hours of equivalent training, annually (Fla. Stat. 402.305(2)(d)).

  3. Pass background checks

    Submit fingerprint-based background checks for yourself and every staff member, volunteer, and (where applicable) household member before anyone has unsupervised access to children.

    Background-check clearance often takes the longest of any single step — start it early so it doesn't gate your opening date.

  4. Prepare your facility

    Set up a space that meets Florida's facility standards. Child care facilities licensed on or after October 1, 1992 must provide a minimum of 35 square feet of usable indoor floor space per child and a minimum of 45 square feet of usable outdoor play area per child; facilities licensed before that date must provide a minimum of 20 square feet of usable indoor floor space and 45 square feet of usable outdoor play area per child (Fla. Stat. 402.305(6)).

    Match your enrollment plan to capacity limits: A family day care home may care for: a maximum of 4 children from birth to 12 months; OR a maximum of 3 children from birth to 12 months plus other children for a total of 6; OR a maximum of 6 preschool children if all are older than 12 months; OR a maximum of 10 children if no more than 5 are preschool age and, of those 5, no more than 2 are under 12 months (Fla. Stat. 402.302(8)). A large family child care home, which must have at least two full-time child care personnel on the premises, may care for a maximum of 8 children from birth to 24 months, OR a maximum of 12 children with no more than 4 under 24 months (Fla. Stat. 402.302(11)).

  5. Submit your license application & fee

    File your application with the Florida Department of Children and Families, Child Care Licensing and pay the licensing fee. The child care facility/center license fee is $1 per child of licensed capacity, with a minimum of $25 and a maximum of $100 per facility; a registered family day care home pays $25, a licensed family day care home pays $50, and a large family child care home pays $60 (Fla. Stat. 402.315(3)).

    Include your parent handbook, staff policies, enrollment forms, and operations manual — inspectors ask for these at the initial visit.

  6. Pass the licensing inspection

    Schedule and pass your pre-licensing inspection. Annual inspection; additional risk-based inspections

    The inspector checks ratios, square footage, sanitation, emergency preparedness, and your written policies against the regulations.

  7. Open your doors

    Once your license is issued, you can legally begin caring for children under Florida rules. Maintain the staff-to-child ratios at all times: Infant (0-11 months) 1:4, Toddler (12-23 months) 1:6, Toddler (24-35 months) 1:11, Preschool (3 years) 1:15, Preschool (4-5 years) 1:20, School Age (6-8 years) 1:25

    Keep certifications current and your handbook updated — these are the items most often cited at renewal.

  8. Enroll families

    Use your compliant enrollment paperwork to bring in families. A complete, Florida-specific parent handbook signals professionalism and keeps you inspection-ready from day one.

    Required enrollment and admission forms must be signed before a child's first day — have them ready before you advertise open spots.

What You Need to Apply in Florida

Florida licensing requires these documents and forms at the initial application and inspection.

  • Child Enrollment Form (CF-FSP 5268)
  • Emergency Contact Form
  • Health Appraisal / Physical Exam Record
  • Immunization Record (Florida Certificate of Immunization)
  • Medication Authorization Form
  • Signed Parent Handbook Receipt
  • Transportation Consent Form (if applicable)

Staff-to-child ratios you must maintain

Florida requires these maximum staff-to-child ratios, enforced by the Florida Department of Children and Families, Child Care Licensing: Infant (0-11 months) 1:4, Toddler (12-23 months) 1:6, Toddler (24-35 months) 1:11, Preschool (3 years) 1:15, Preschool (4-5 years) 1:20, School Age (6-8 years) 1:25.

Skip the 80-hour paperwork grind

Get your Florida licensing kit

The inspector asks for a parent handbook, staff policies, enrollment forms, and an operations manual — all Florida-specific. The TotReady Startup Bundle gives you every document you need to apply, ready to customize in about 30 minutes.

See the Startup Bundle →

One-time purchase · Florida-specific documents

Starting a Daycare in Florida: FAQs

Do I need a license to start a daycare in Florida?
A child care facility license is required once a person provides child care for more than five children unrelated to the operator for payment; caring for five or fewer unrelated children is exempt from child care facility licensure (Fla. Stat. 402.302(2)).
How much does it cost to get a daycare license in Florida?
The child care facility/center license fee is $1 per child of licensed capacity, with a minimum of $25 and a maximum of $100 per facility; a registered family day care home pays $25, a licensed family day care home pays $50, and a large family child care home pays $60 (Fla. Stat. 402.315(3)). Renewal: Every child care facility license shall be renewed annually under Fla. Stat. 402.308(1), and the same statutory fee schedule in Fla. Stat. 402.315(3) applies at each annual renewal (center $1/child, minimum $25/maximum $100; registered family day care home $25; licensed family day care home $50; large family child care home $60); no separate renewal-only fee is set in statute.
Who issues daycare licenses in Florida?
Childcare licensing in Florida is handled by the Florida Department of Children and Families, Child Care Licensing. You apply to this agency, pay the licensing fee, and schedule your inspection through them.
What training do I need before opening a daycare in Florida?
All child care personnel must complete an approved 40-clock-hour Introductory Child Care Training course (Part I 30 hours plus Part II 10 hours), beginning within 90 days after employment and completing it within one year after training begins as evidenced by passing a competency examination; in addition, Universal Precautions training must be completed prior to beginning work, and Fire Extinguisher training and (for those caring for infants) Safe Sleep/Shaken Baby Syndrome training must be completed within the first 30 days and prior to caring for children (Fla. Stat. 402.305(2)(d); Florida DCF Child Care Facility Training Requirements).

Keep researching Florida

Florida Licensing Requirements

Full handbook sections, ratios, immunization rules, and penalties for Florida.

Read more →

How to Start a Daycare: Complete Guide

The cross-state playbook, from choosing a program type to opening day.

Read more →

License-Exemption Thresholds by State

Compare when a license is required across all 50 states.

Read more →

Licensing Fees by State

Application and renewal fee data for every state we track.

Read more →

Licensing rules change. The figures above are compiled from Florida statutes and agency materials and are provided for informational purposes only — always verify current requirements with the Florida Department of Children and Families, Child Care Licensing before applying. TotReady provides information and document templates, not legal advice.