Oregon Launch Guide

How to Start a Daycare in Oregon (2026)

Last updated: June 2026

Researched by the TotReady Research Team

Opening a licensed daycare in Oregon means applying to the Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC), Child Care Licensing Division (CCLD) — formerly the Office of Child Care / Early Learning Division, 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 Oregon's licensing statutes.

Oregon Daycare Licensing: Fees & Key Numbers

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

Application fee
The initial application/filing fee for a Registered Family Child Care home is a non-refundable $30, which may be reduced or waived if the applicant documents income below 100% of the Federal Poverty Level (OAR 414-210-0130(2)); a Certified Child Care Center pays a non-refundable initial fee of $100 plus $2 for each certified space (e.g., $160 for a 30-child capacity) (OAR 414-305-0130(4)(a); Oregon DELC certified-center fee schedule).
Annual renewal fee
A Registered Family Child Care home pays the same non-refundable $30 filing fee at each renewal, and the registration is valid for no more than two (2) years (OAR 414-210-0130(2) and 414-210-0140(3)); a Certified Child Care Center renews annually at $2 for each licensed capacity space, and the certificate is valid for no more than one (1) year (OAR 414-305-0130(4)(b); certificate term per Oregon DELC certified-center rules).
Pre-service training
Oregon does not set a single pre-service clock-hour total; before approval a Registered Family Child Care provider must complete Introduction to Registered Family Child Care Parts I and II, Introduction to Child Care Health & Safety, a minimum of 2 hours of training on Oregon child abuse and neglect law, Safe Sleep for Oregon's Infants, current pediatric CPR and first aid, Foundations for Learning child development training, and a current Oregon food handler's certification (OAR 414-210-0370(1)); at a Certified Child Care Center, all staff must receive an orientation within the first 10 days of hire and before having unsupervised access to children, and complete Introduction to Child Care Health and Safety plus a minimum of 2 hours of recognizing-and-reporting child abuse training within 30 days of hire (OAR 414-305-0370(1)-(2)).
Annual training
A Registered Family Child Care provider must complete at least 10 clock hours of formal training related to child care during the two years preceding each renewal, of which at least 6 clock hours must be in child development (OAR 414-210-0380(3)); a Certified Child Care Center director, multi-site coordinator, teacher, and aide II must each complete at least 15 clock hours of training annually related to child care, of which at least 8 clock hours is in child development and 1 hour in health, safety, and nutrition (OAR 414-305-0380(1)(a)).
License-exempt threshold
In Oregon a person may care for no more than three children, in addition to any children who reside with the caregiver, without a child care certification or registration; care for children from only one family, by a relative within the fourth degree by blood or marriage, or on an occasional basis is also excluded from the definition of regulated 'child care' (ORS 329A.250(4)(b)(C),(E),(F),(H); see also the license-exempt list in OAR 414-075-0250).
Family child care capacity
A Registered Family Child Care home may care for a maximum of 10 children total (this count includes the provider's own or foster children age 9 years or younger), of whom no more than 6 may be preschool age or younger and only 2 of those may be under 24 months of age; no child younger than 6 weeks of age, other than the provider's own child, may be in care (OAR 414-210-0400(1)-(2),(4)). Oregon's Registered Family Child Care rules do not authorize a higher capacity for adding an assistant.
Indoor square footage
A Certified Child Care Center must have a minimum of 35 square feet of indoor activity space per child, excluding single-use areas such as kitchens, hallways, restrooms, storage areas, closets, and staff rooms, and must provide outdoor activity space of no less than 75 square feet for each child using the space at one time (OAR 414-305-0800(5)-(6)). Registered Family Child Care homes have no per-child square-footage standard; instead all floors used for child care must have two usable exits to the outdoors (OAR 414-210-0810(4),(6)).
Inspection schedule
A regular certified child care center certification is valid for no more than 1 year (OAR 414-305-0140), so certification is renewed annually. CCLD may conduct unannounced monitoring visits at least annually to determine compliance (OAR 414-305-1600(1)), and may inspect at any time in response to complaints or investigations (OAR 414-075-0130; OAR 414-305-1600). Health and safety, sanitation/environmental health, and fire inspections are required at certification and renewal; fire protection must meet requirements of the fire code official / Oregon Structural Specialty Code (OAR 414-305-0860) — OAR 414-305 does not specify a fixed fire-inspection interval.

The 8 Steps to Open a Daycare in Oregon

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

  1. Research your state's rules

    Confirm whether your program needs a license in Oregon. In Oregon a person may care for no more than three children, in addition to any children who reside with the caregiver, without a child care certification or registration; care for children from only one family, by a relative within the fourth degree by blood or marriage, or on an occasional basis is also excluded from the definition of regulated 'child care' (ORS 329A.250(4)(b)(C),(E),(F),(H); see also the license-exempt list in OAR 414-075-0250).

    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. Oregon does not set a single pre-service clock-hour total; before approval a Registered Family Child Care provider must complete Introduction to Registered Family Child Care Parts I and II, Introduction to Child Care Health & Safety, a minimum of 2 hours of training on Oregon child abuse and neglect law, Safe Sleep for Oregon's Infants, current pediatric CPR and first aid, Foundations for Learning child development training, and a current Oregon food handler's certification (OAR 414-210-0370(1)); at a Certified Child Care Center, all staff must receive an orientation within the first 10 days of hire and before having unsupervised access to children, and complete Introduction to Child Care Health and Safety plus a minimum of 2 hours of recognizing-and-reporting child abuse training within 30 days of hire (OAR 414-305-0370(1)-(2)).

    Plan for ongoing training too: A Registered Family Child Care provider must complete at least 10 clock hours of formal training related to child care during the two years preceding each renewal, of which at least 6 clock hours must be in child development (OAR 414-210-0380(3)); a Certified Child Care Center director, multi-site coordinator, teacher, and aide II must each complete at least 15 clock hours of training annually related to child care, of which at least 8 clock hours is in child development and 1 hour in health, safety, and nutrition (OAR 414-305-0380(1)(a)).

  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 Oregon's facility standards. A Certified Child Care Center must have a minimum of 35 square feet of indoor activity space per child, excluding single-use areas such as kitchens, hallways, restrooms, storage areas, closets, and staff rooms, and must provide outdoor activity space of no less than 75 square feet for each child using the space at one time (OAR 414-305-0800(5)-(6)). Registered Family Child Care homes have no per-child square-footage standard; instead all floors used for child care must have two usable exits to the outdoors (OAR 414-210-0810(4),(6)).

    Match your enrollment plan to capacity limits: A Registered Family Child Care home may care for a maximum of 10 children total (this count includes the provider's own or foster children age 9 years or younger), of whom no more than 6 may be preschool age or younger and only 2 of those may be under 24 months of age; no child younger than 6 weeks of age, other than the provider's own child, may be in care (OAR 414-210-0400(1)-(2),(4)). Oregon's Registered Family Child Care rules do not authorize a higher capacity for adding an assistant.

  5. Submit your license application & fee

    File your application with the Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC), Child Care Licensing Division (CCLD) — formerly the Office of Child Care / Early Learning Division and pay the licensing fee. The initial application/filing fee for a Registered Family Child Care home is a non-refundable $30, which may be reduced or waived if the applicant documents income below 100% of the Federal Poverty Level (OAR 414-210-0130(2)); a Certified Child Care Center pays a non-refundable initial fee of $100 plus $2 for each certified space (e.g., $160 for a 30-child capacity) (OAR 414-305-0130(4)(a); Oregon DELC certified-center fee schedule).

    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. A regular certified child care center certification is valid for no more than 1 year (OAR 414-305-0140), so certification is renewed annually. CCLD may conduct unannounced monitoring visits at least annually to determine compliance (OAR 414-305-1600(1)), and may inspect at any time in response to complaints or investigations (OAR 414-075-0130; OAR 414-305-1600). Health and safety, sanitation/environmental health, and fire inspections are required at certification and renewal; fire protection must meet requirements of the fire code official / Oregon Structural Specialty Code (OAR 414-305-0860) — OAR 414-305 does not specify a fixed fire-inspection interval.

    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 Oregon rules. Maintain the staff-to-child ratios at all times: 6 weeks to 24 months of age (Table 3A, OAR 414-305-0400) 1:4, maximum group size 8, 24 months to 36 months of age (Table 3A) 1:5, maximum group size 10, 36 months to school-age (Table 3A) 1:10, maximum group size 20, School-age (Table 3A) 1:15, maximum group size 30, Legacy Table 3B (centers with initial certification on or before July 15, 2001): 6 weeks to 30 months of age 1:4, maximum group size 8, Legacy Table 3B: 30 months to school-age 1:10, maximum group size 20, Legacy Table 3B: school-age 1:15, maximum group size 30

    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, Oregon-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 Oregon

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

  • Child Care Center Certification Application (initial/renewal) — submitted to CCLD with non-refundable filing fee per OAR 414-305-0130
  • CCLD-0084 — Rules for Certified Child Care Centers (official OAR 414-305 + 414-075 rule book; Jan. 2024 edition, eff. 01/01/2024)
  • CCLD-0105 — Guide to Certified Child Care Centers
  • CCLD-0090 — CC Health and Safety Review Checklist
  • CCLD-0093 — CC Monitor Visit Checklist
  • CEN-0001 — Instructions and Application for Enrollment in the Central Background Registry (CBR), required for all staff/operators/owners/adults on premises per OAR 414-061-0000 through 414-061-0120 and OAR 414-305-0310
  • FBI fingerprint card (or electronic livescan) for CBR national criminal history check per OAR 414-061-0080
  • Floor plan, fire/Deputy State Fire Marshal inspection approval, and environmental health/sanitation inspection approval submitted with the application

Staff-to-child ratios you must maintain

Oregon requires these maximum staff-to-child ratios, enforced by the Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC), Child Care Licensing Division (CCLD) — formerly the Office of Child Care / Early Learning Division: 6 weeks to 24 months of age (Table 3A, OAR 414-305-0400) 1:4, maximum group size 8, 24 months to 36 months of age (Table 3A) 1:5, maximum group size 10, 36 months to school-age (Table 3A) 1:10, maximum group size 20, School-age (Table 3A) 1:15, maximum group size 30, Legacy Table 3B (centers with initial certification on or before July 15, 2001): 6 weeks to 30 months of age 1:4, maximum group size 8, Legacy Table 3B: 30 months to school-age 1:10, maximum group size 20, Legacy Table 3B: school-age 1:15, maximum group size 30.

Skip the 80-hour paperwork grind

Get your Oregon licensing kit

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

Starting a Daycare in Oregon: FAQs

Do I need a license to start a daycare in Oregon?
In Oregon a person may care for no more than three children, in addition to any children who reside with the caregiver, without a child care certification or registration; care for children from only one family, by a relative within the fourth degree by blood or marriage, or on an occasional basis is also excluded from the definition of regulated 'child care' (ORS 329A.250(4)(b)(C),(E),(F),(H); see also the license-exempt list in OAR 414-075-0250).
How much does it cost to get a daycare license in Oregon?
The initial application/filing fee for a Registered Family Child Care home is a non-refundable $30, which may be reduced or waived if the applicant documents income below 100% of the Federal Poverty Level (OAR 414-210-0130(2)); a Certified Child Care Center pays a non-refundable initial fee of $100 plus $2 for each certified space (e.g., $160 for a 30-child capacity) (OAR 414-305-0130(4)(a); Oregon DELC certified-center fee schedule). Renewal: A Registered Family Child Care home pays the same non-refundable $30 filing fee at each renewal, and the registration is valid for no more than two (2) years (OAR 414-210-0130(2) and 414-210-0140(3)); a Certified Child Care Center renews annually at $2 for each licensed capacity space, and the certificate is valid for no more than one (1) year (OAR 414-305-0130(4)(b); certificate term per Oregon DELC certified-center rules).
Who issues daycare licenses in Oregon?
Childcare licensing in Oregon is handled by the Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC), Child Care Licensing Division (CCLD) — formerly the Office of Child Care / Early Learning Division. 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 Oregon?
Oregon does not set a single pre-service clock-hour total; before approval a Registered Family Child Care provider must complete Introduction to Registered Family Child Care Parts I and II, Introduction to Child Care Health & Safety, a minimum of 2 hours of training on Oregon child abuse and neglect law, Safe Sleep for Oregon's Infants, current pediatric CPR and first aid, Foundations for Learning child development training, and a current Oregon food handler's certification (OAR 414-210-0370(1)); at a Certified Child Care Center, all staff must receive an orientation within the first 10 days of hire and before having unsupervised access to children, and complete Introduction to Child Care Health and Safety plus a minimum of 2 hours of recognizing-and-reporting child abuse training within 30 days of hire (OAR 414-305-0370(1)-(2)).

Keep researching Oregon

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Licensing rules change. The figures above are compiled from Oregon statutes and agency materials and are provided for informational purposes only — always verify current requirements with the Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC), Child Care Licensing Division (CCLD) — formerly the Office of Child Care / Early Learning Division before applying. TotReady provides information and document templates, not legal advice.