Georgia Launch Guide

How to Start a Daycare in Georgia (2026)

Last updated: June 2026

Researched by the TotReady Research Team

Opening a licensed daycare in Georgia means applying to the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning, 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 Georgia's licensing statutes.

Georgia Daycare Licensing: Fees & Key Numbers

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

Application fee
Georgia charges no separate initial application fee; the only charge is the license fee, which for a Family Child Care Learning Home is a flat $50.00 annual fee (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 290-2-3-.04(1)(f)), and for a Child Care Learning Center is a capacity-based annual fee of $50 (25 or fewer), $100 (26-50), $150 (51-100), $200 (101-200), or $250 (over 200) per the DECAL License Fee schedule (decal.ga.gov/CCS/licensefeeinformation.aspx).
Annual renewal fee
The license fee is annual and equals the same amount as the initial fee — $50.00 per year for a Family Child Care Learning Home and the capacity-based $50-$250 per year for a Child Care Learning Center, payable by the date set by the Department; a late fee of up to $250.00 may be imposed if not paid by the due date (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 290-2-3-.04(1)(f); DECAL License Fee Information page).
Pre-service training
Georgia does not set a single statewide pre-service clock-hour number; before submitting a Family Child Care Learning Home license application the responsible applicant must complete Department-approved licensure orientation, a pre-licensure provider competencies course, and CPR/first aid training, and the Provider and all staff must complete initial program orientation before being assigned to children (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 290-2-3-.04(2)(b) and 290-2-3-.07(5)).
Annual training
Every calendar year after the first year of employment, the Provider and all staff must complete 10 clock hours of Department-approved continuing training (including at least 2 hours in evidence-based language/literacy practices and at least 2 hours in child development and health/safety topics) — Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 290-2-3-.07(9)(a) for homes and R. 591-1-1-.33(5) for centers.
License-exempt threshold
A person may care for no more than two unrelated children under 13 in a private residence without a license; caring for at least three but not more than six unrelated children under 13 requires a Family Child Care Learning Home license, and caring for more than six children requires a Child Care Learning Center license (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 290-2-3-.03(k) and 290-2-3-.04(1)(c)-(d)).
Family child care capacity
A Family Child Care Learning Home may care for at least three but no more than six unrelated children under 13 (plus up to two additional children age 3 or older for two designated one-hour periods daily with Department approval); when related children or children residing in the home are also present, the total number of children present under 13 may not exceed twelve; an employee (at least 16) is required whenever more than three children under 12 months, more than six under 3 years, or more than eight under 5 years are present (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 290-2-3-.03(k), 290-2-3-.07(16)-(17), and 290-2-3-.07(19)).
Indoor square footage
Georgia requires a minimum of 35 square feet of usable indoor space per child (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 290-2-3-.13(1)(a) for homes and R. 591-1-1-.19 for centers, which excludes kitchens, bathrooms, closets, halls, storage, offices, and staff/single-use areas); centers must also provide outdoor play area equal to 100 square feet times one-third of licensed capacity (for centers licensed for 19+) with at least 100 square feet available per child occupying the play area at any one time (R. 591-1-1-.26), while family homes have no specified per-child outdoor square-footage minimum.
Inspection schedule
Annual; unannounced inspections at least twice per year for high-risk facilities

The 8 Steps to Open a Daycare in Georgia

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

  1. Research your state's rules

    Confirm whether your program needs a license in Georgia. A person may care for no more than two unrelated children under 13 in a private residence without a license; caring for at least three but not more than six unrelated children under 13 requires a Family Child Care Learning Home license, and caring for more than six children requires a Child Care Learning Center license (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 290-2-3-.03(k) and 290-2-3-.04(1)(c)-(d)).

    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. Georgia does not set a single statewide pre-service clock-hour number; before submitting a Family Child Care Learning Home license application the responsible applicant must complete Department-approved licensure orientation, a pre-licensure provider competencies course, and CPR/first aid training, and the Provider and all staff must complete initial program orientation before being assigned to children (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 290-2-3-.04(2)(b) and 290-2-3-.07(5)).

    Plan for ongoing training too: Every calendar year after the first year of employment, the Provider and all staff must complete 10 clock hours of Department-approved continuing training (including at least 2 hours in evidence-based language/literacy practices and at least 2 hours in child development and health/safety topics) — Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 290-2-3-.07(9)(a) for homes and R. 591-1-1-.33(5) for centers.

  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 Georgia's facility standards. Georgia requires a minimum of 35 square feet of usable indoor space per child (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 290-2-3-.13(1)(a) for homes and R. 591-1-1-.19 for centers, which excludes kitchens, bathrooms, closets, halls, storage, offices, and staff/single-use areas); centers must also provide outdoor play area equal to 100 square feet times one-third of licensed capacity (for centers licensed for 19+) with at least 100 square feet available per child occupying the play area at any one time (R. 591-1-1-.26), while family homes have no specified per-child outdoor square-footage minimum.

    Match your enrollment plan to capacity limits: A Family Child Care Learning Home may care for at least three but no more than six unrelated children under 13 (plus up to two additional children age 3 or older for two designated one-hour periods daily with Department approval); when related children or children residing in the home are also present, the total number of children present under 13 may not exceed twelve; an employee (at least 16) is required whenever more than three children under 12 months, more than six under 3 years, or more than eight under 5 years are present (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 290-2-3-.03(k), 290-2-3-.07(16)-(17), and 290-2-3-.07(19)).

  5. Submit your license application & fee

    File your application with the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning and pay the licensing fee. Georgia charges no separate initial application fee; the only charge is the license fee, which for a Family Child Care Learning Home is a flat $50.00 annual fee (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 290-2-3-.04(1)(f)), and for a Child Care Learning Center is a capacity-based annual fee of $50 (25 or fewer), $100 (26-50), $150 (51-100), $200 (101-200), or $250 (over 200) per the DECAL License Fee schedule (decal.ga.gov/CCS/licensefeeinformation.aspx).

    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; unannounced inspections at least twice per year for high-risk facilities

    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 Georgia rules. Maintain the staff-to-child ratios at all times: Infant (0-12 months) 1:6, Toddler (12-18 months) 1:6, Toddler (18-36 months) 1:8, Preschool (3 years) 1:15, Preschool (4-5 years) 1:18

    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, Georgia-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 Georgia

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

  • Enrollment Application
  • Emergency Medical Consent
  • Health and Immunization Record
  • Medication Authorization
  • Parent Handbook Receipt
  • USDA Food Program Enrollment (if applicable)

Staff-to-child ratios you must maintain

Georgia requires these maximum staff-to-child ratios, enforced by the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning: Infant (0-12 months) 1:6, Toddler (12-18 months) 1:6, Toddler (18-36 months) 1:8, Preschool (3 years) 1:15, Preschool (4-5 years) 1:18.

Skip the 80-hour paperwork grind

Get your Georgia licensing kit

The inspector asks for a parent handbook, staff policies, enrollment forms, and an operations manual — all Georgia-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 · Georgia-specific documents

Starting a Daycare in Georgia: FAQs

Do I need a license to start a daycare in Georgia?
A person may care for no more than two unrelated children under 13 in a private residence without a license; caring for at least three but not more than six unrelated children under 13 requires a Family Child Care Learning Home license, and caring for more than six children requires a Child Care Learning Center license (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 290-2-3-.03(k) and 290-2-3-.04(1)(c)-(d)).
How much does it cost to get a daycare license in Georgia?
Georgia charges no separate initial application fee; the only charge is the license fee, which for a Family Child Care Learning Home is a flat $50.00 annual fee (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 290-2-3-.04(1)(f)), and for a Child Care Learning Center is a capacity-based annual fee of $50 (25 or fewer), $100 (26-50), $150 (51-100), $200 (101-200), or $250 (over 200) per the DECAL License Fee schedule (decal.ga.gov/CCS/licensefeeinformation.aspx). Renewal: The license fee is annual and equals the same amount as the initial fee — $50.00 per year for a Family Child Care Learning Home and the capacity-based $50-$250 per year for a Child Care Learning Center, payable by the date set by the Department; a late fee of up to $250.00 may be imposed if not paid by the due date (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 290-2-3-.04(1)(f); DECAL License Fee Information page).
Who issues daycare licenses in Georgia?
Childcare licensing in Georgia is handled by the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning. 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 Georgia?
Georgia does not set a single statewide pre-service clock-hour number; before submitting a Family Child Care Learning Home license application the responsible applicant must complete Department-approved licensure orientation, a pre-licensure provider competencies course, and CPR/first aid training, and the Provider and all staff must complete initial program orientation before being assigned to children (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 290-2-3-.04(2)(b) and 290-2-3-.07(5)).

Keep researching Georgia

Georgia Licensing Requirements

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

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 Georgia statutes and agency materials and are provided for informational purposes only — always verify current requirements with the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning before applying. TotReady provides information and document templates, not legal advice.