Louisiana Launch Guide

How to Start a Daycare in Louisiana (2026)

Last updated: June 2026

Researched by the TotReady Research Team

Opening a licensed daycare in Louisiana means applying to the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE), Bulletin 137 - Louisiana's Early Learning Center Licensing Regulations (LAC Title 28, Part CLXI), 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 Louisiana's licensing statutes.

Louisiana Daycare Licensing: Fees & Key Numbers

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

Application fee
For an early learning center, an administrative fee of $25 is submitted with each application for initial licensure and is applied toward the total licensure fee, and the annual licensure fee itself is then set by licensed capacity ($25 for 15 or fewer children; $100 for 16-50; $175 for 51-100; $250 for 101 or more), with Type I centers operated by churches/religious organizations exempt from the annual licensure fee; a family child care home additionally pays a separate $30 Office of State Fire Marshal fee (called a $30 application fee by LDOE and a $30 inspection fee by the Fire Marshal) during registration (La. Admin. Code tit. 28, Pt. CLXI, §707 and §313; LDOE in-home/family provider registration steps).
Annual renewal fee
There is no separate renewal-only fee: the full annual licensure fee based on licensed capacity, as provided in §313 ($25 / $100 / $175 / $250 by capacity tier), must be submitted with all renewal applications, the same schedule used at initial licensure (La. Admin. Code tit. 28, Pt. CLXI, §707.A.2 and §313).
Pre-service training
Louisiana requires orientation training rather than a fixed pre-service clock-hour total: before being left alone with children each staff member must complete the LDE Key Training Module 1 and the DCFS online Mandated Reporter Training, then complete Key Orientation Modules 2 and 3 within 30 days, and family child care providers must also complete a Pre-service Orientation, all approved/provided by the Louisiana Department of Education (La. Admin. Code tit. 28, Pt. CLXI, §1719; LDOE in-home/family provider registration steps).
Annual training
Contact your Louisiana licensing office to confirm.
License-exempt threshold
A Louisiana license (as an "early learning center") is required only when a provider cares for seven or more children unrelated to the caregiver, unaccompanied by a parent or legal custodian, on a regular basis for at least 12 1/2 hours in a continuous 7-day week; care of six or fewer unrelated children in the provider's private home is "family child care" that is registered/certified rather than licensed (La. Admin. Code tit. 28, Pt. CLXI, §103, per R.S. 17:407.33).
Family child care capacity
Louisiana family child care is defined as care for six or fewer unrelated children offered in the child care provider's private home (a registered/certified category, not a licensed one), and Bulletin 137 sets no separate larger family-home tier that adds capacity for an assistant or a distinct under-X-months sub-limit (LDOE in-home/family provider registration; La. Admin. Code tit. 28, Pt. CLXI, §103).
Indoor square footage
A minimum of 35 square feet of usable indoor space per child is required (reduced to 25 square feet per child only in spaces used exclusively by children age four and above, with Fire Marshal and LDE approval), plus a minimum of 75 square feet of outdoor play space per child using the play space at any one time (La. Admin. Code tit. 28, Pt. CLXI, §1903).
Inspection schedule
After initial licensure, inspections shall be conducted as deemed necessary by the department at regular intervals not to exceed one year (i.e., at least annually) and without notice to the early learning center, per La. Admin. Code tit. 28, Pt. CLXI, §713 (Renewal and Other Inspection Procedures). An initial inspection is required before licensure under Chapter 7 (§701/§703).

The 8 Steps to Open a Daycare in Louisiana

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

  1. Research your state's rules

    Confirm whether your program needs a license in Louisiana. A Louisiana license (as an "early learning center") is required only when a provider cares for seven or more children unrelated to the caregiver, unaccompanied by a parent or legal custodian, on a regular basis for at least 12 1/2 hours in a continuous 7-day week; care of six or fewer unrelated children in the provider's private home is "family child care" that is registered/certified rather than licensed (La. Admin. Code tit. 28, Pt. CLXI, §103, per R.S. 17:407.33).

    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. Louisiana requires orientation training rather than a fixed pre-service clock-hour total: before being left alone with children each staff member must complete the LDE Key Training Module 1 and the DCFS online Mandated Reporter Training, then complete Key Orientation Modules 2 and 3 within 30 days, and family child care providers must also complete a Pre-service Orientation, all approved/provided by the Louisiana Department of Education (La. Admin. Code tit. 28, Pt. CLXI, §1719; LDOE in-home/family provider registration steps).

    Plan for ongoing training too: Contact your Louisiana licensing office to confirm.

  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 Louisiana's facility standards. A minimum of 35 square feet of usable indoor space per child is required (reduced to 25 square feet per child only in spaces used exclusively by children age four and above, with Fire Marshal and LDE approval), plus a minimum of 75 square feet of outdoor play space per child using the play space at any one time (La. Admin. Code tit. 28, Pt. CLXI, §1903).

    Match your enrollment plan to capacity limits: Louisiana family child care is defined as care for six or fewer unrelated children offered in the child care provider's private home (a registered/certified category, not a licensed one), and Bulletin 137 sets no separate larger family-home tier that adds capacity for an assistant or a distinct under-X-months sub-limit (LDOE in-home/family provider registration; La. Admin. Code tit. 28, Pt. CLXI, §103).

  5. Submit your license application & fee

    File your application with the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE), Bulletin 137 - Louisiana's Early Learning Center Licensing Regulations (LAC Title 28, Part CLXI) and pay the licensing fee. For an early learning center, an administrative fee of $25 is submitted with each application for initial licensure and is applied toward the total licensure fee, and the annual licensure fee itself is then set by licensed capacity ($25 for 15 or fewer children; $100 for 16-50; $175 for 51-100; $250 for 101 or more), with Type I centers operated by churches/religious organizations exempt from the annual licensure fee; a family child care home additionally pays a separate $30 Office of State Fire Marshal fee (called a $30 application fee by LDOE and a $30 inspection fee by the Fire Marshal) during registration (La. Admin. Code tit. 28, Pt. CLXI, §707 and §313; LDOE in-home/family provider registration steps).

    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. After initial licensure, inspections shall be conducted as deemed necessary by the department at regular intervals not to exceed one year (i.e., at least annually) and without notice to the early learning center, per La. Admin. Code tit. 28, Pt. CLXI, §713 (Renewal and Other Inspection Procedures). An initial inspection is required before licensure under Chapter 7 (§701/§703).

    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 Louisiana rules. Maintain the staff-to-child ratios at all times: Infants under 1 year 5:1 (max group size 15), 1 year 7:1 (max group size 21), 2 years 10:1 (max group size 20), 3 years 13:1 (max group size 26), 4 years 15:1 (max group size 30), 5 years 19:1 (max group size 38), 6 years and up 23:1 (max group size 46)

    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, Louisiana-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 Louisiana

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

  • Early Learning Center initial licensing application submitted via the LDOE online electronic system (§701); renewal application via the online electronic system (§711)
  • Child's Information Form / Cumulative File information form signed and dated by parent (§1515)
  • Emergency Medical Treatment Authorization, written, signed and dated by parent (§1515)
  • Child Release Authorization listing first and last names of persons to whom the child may be released (§1515)
  • Medication Authorization Form / written parental authorization with medication administration record (§1917)
  • Critical/Reportable Incident notifications (§1103)
  • Field Trip Authorization (§2105) and Non-Vehicular Excursion authorization (§2109)
  • Daily Attendance Records for children, staff, owners, contractors, trainees, and visitors (§1507)
  • CCCBC (Child Care Criminal Background Check) request / fingerprint submission for CCCBC-based determination of eligibility (Chapter 18, §1807, §1811)
  • Application of Topical Products form (LDOE Licensed Center Forms - administrative form, not a numbered LAC requirement)

Staff-to-child ratios you must maintain

Louisiana requires these maximum staff-to-child ratios, enforced by the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE), Bulletin 137 - Louisiana's Early Learning Center Licensing Regulations (LAC Title 28, Part CLXI): Infants under 1 year 5:1 (max group size 15), 1 year 7:1 (max group size 21), 2 years 10:1 (max group size 20), 3 years 13:1 (max group size 26), 4 years 15:1 (max group size 30), 5 years 19:1 (max group size 38), 6 years and up 23:1 (max group size 46).

Skip the 80-hour paperwork grind

Get your Louisiana licensing kit

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

Starting a Daycare in Louisiana: FAQs

Do I need a license to start a daycare in Louisiana?
A Louisiana license (as an "early learning center") is required only when a provider cares for seven or more children unrelated to the caregiver, unaccompanied by a parent or legal custodian, on a regular basis for at least 12 1/2 hours in a continuous 7-day week; care of six or fewer unrelated children in the provider's private home is "family child care" that is registered/certified rather than licensed (La. Admin. Code tit. 28, Pt. CLXI, §103, per R.S. 17:407.33).
How much does it cost to get a daycare license in Louisiana?
For an early learning center, an administrative fee of $25 is submitted with each application for initial licensure and is applied toward the total licensure fee, and the annual licensure fee itself is then set by licensed capacity ($25 for 15 or fewer children; $100 for 16-50; $175 for 51-100; $250 for 101 or more), with Type I centers operated by churches/religious organizations exempt from the annual licensure fee; a family child care home additionally pays a separate $30 Office of State Fire Marshal fee (called a $30 application fee by LDOE and a $30 inspection fee by the Fire Marshal) during registration (La. Admin. Code tit. 28, Pt. CLXI, §707 and §313; LDOE in-home/family provider registration steps). Renewal: There is no separate renewal-only fee: the full annual licensure fee based on licensed capacity, as provided in §313 ($25 / $100 / $175 / $250 by capacity tier), must be submitted with all renewal applications, the same schedule used at initial licensure (La. Admin. Code tit. 28, Pt. CLXI, §707.A.2 and §313).
Who issues daycare licenses in Louisiana?
Childcare licensing in Louisiana is handled by the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE), Bulletin 137 - Louisiana's Early Learning Center Licensing Regulations (LAC Title 28, Part CLXI). 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 Louisiana?
Louisiana requires orientation training rather than a fixed pre-service clock-hour total: before being left alone with children each staff member must complete the LDE Key Training Module 1 and the DCFS online Mandated Reporter Training, then complete Key Orientation Modules 2 and 3 within 30 days, and family child care providers must also complete a Pre-service Orientation, all approved/provided by the Louisiana Department of Education (La. Admin. Code tit. 28, Pt. CLXI, §1719; LDOE in-home/family provider registration steps).

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Licensing rules change. The figures above are compiled from Louisiana statutes and agency materials and are provided for informational purposes only — always verify current requirements with the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE), Bulletin 137 - Louisiana's Early Learning Center Licensing Regulations (LAC Title 28, Part CLXI) before applying. TotReady provides information and document templates, not legal advice.