Utah Launch Guide

How to Start a Daycare in Utah (2026)

Last updated: June 2026

Researched by the TotReady Research Team

Opening a licensed daycare in Utah means applying to the Utah Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Division of Licensing and Background Checks (DLBC), Office of Licensing — 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 Utah's licensing statutes.

Utah Daycare Licensing: Fees & Key Numbers

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

Application fee
Utah charges a single $62.00 "License or Certificate Fee" that applies to both new and renewal applications for any program type (family child care home, residential certificate, or center); new centers pay an additional one-time $200.00 New Center Fee plus a $1.75 per-child capacity fee (Center Per Child Fee), while family child care homes pay no such add-ons (Utah Child Care Licensing Fee Schedule, effective July 1, 2025).
Annual renewal fee
The license/certificate renewal fee is $62.00, the same flat fee as a new application; centers additionally pay the $1.75-per-child Center Per Child Fee at renewal, and a $31.00 late-renewal fee (homes and centers) applies if a renewal request is received 1-30 days after expiration, plus $0.75 per child for centers (Utah Child Care Licensing Fee Schedule, effective July 1, 2025).
Pre-service training
Utah requires a 2-1/2 hour (2.5-hour) pre-service training offered by the Office of Licensing before a caregiver becomes involved with child care, for both family child care homes and centers (Utah Admin. Code R430-90-7 [Licensed Family Child Care] and R381-100-7 [Child Care Centers]).
Annual training
Caregivers must complete at least 20 hours of child care training each year based on the facility's license date, prorated to at least 1-1/2 hours per month for staff hired partway through the licensing year; in family child care homes at least half of the required annual training must be interactive (i.e., at least 10 of the 20 hours) (Utah Admin. Code R430-90-7 and R381-100-7).
License-exempt threshold
In Utah, residential (in-home) child care for eight or fewer qualifying children is exempt from licensing (and may instead seek a Residential Child Care Certificate), while a Licensed Family Child Care license is required once a person provides residential child care for nine or more unrelated children; center-based child care requires a license at five or more children; care for less than four hours a day or on a sporadic basis is also exempt, and an unlicensed/uncertified in-home provider may never exceed 10 children total or more than two children under three years old (Utah Code 26B-2-403, 26B-2-404, 26B-2-405; Utah Admin. Code R430-90-3).
Family child care capacity
A Utah Licensed Family Child Care home may serve up to 8 children in care with one caregiver and 9 to 16 children with two caregivers (maximum capacity 16); when caring for children younger than two, there must be at least one caregiver for every three children younger than two, each caregiver may care for no more than two children younger than 18 months, and at least two caregivers are required if more than three children younger than two are present and more than six children are in care (Utah Admin. Code R430-90-10).
Indoor square footage
Utah requires at least 35 square feet of indoor space per child in care, plus an outdoor play area of at least 40 square feet per child using the area at one time, for both family child care homes (Utah Admin. Code R430-90-9 [Facility]) and child care centers (Utah Admin. Code R381-100-9 [Facility]).
Inspection schedule
The Office of Licensing may schedule both announced and unannounced inspections to follow statute, contract, and federal (CCDF) requirements for each program category; licensed child care centers are subject to annual licensing inspection plus unannounced monitoring and complaint investigations (Utah Admin. Code R380-600-7 — Inspection and Investigation Process). Anonymous complaints, and complaints about conditions that occurred six or more months before the complaint is received, are generally not investigated for child care licensing providers. Fire and food-service/health inspections are separately required (R381-100-4 — Fire and Other Health Inspections).

The 8 Steps to Open a Daycare in Utah

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

  1. Research your state's rules

    Confirm whether your program needs a license in Utah. In Utah, residential (in-home) child care for eight or fewer qualifying children is exempt from licensing (and may instead seek a Residential Child Care Certificate), while a Licensed Family Child Care license is required once a person provides residential child care for nine or more unrelated children; center-based child care requires a license at five or more children; care for less than four hours a day or on a sporadic basis is also exempt, and an unlicensed/uncertified in-home provider may never exceed 10 children total or more than two children under three years old (Utah Code 26B-2-403, 26B-2-404, 26B-2-405; Utah Admin. Code R430-90-3).

    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. Utah requires a 2-1/2 hour (2.5-hour) pre-service training offered by the Office of Licensing before a caregiver becomes involved with child care, for both family child care homes and centers (Utah Admin. Code R430-90-7 [Licensed Family Child Care] and R381-100-7 [Child Care Centers]).

    Plan for ongoing training too: Caregivers must complete at least 20 hours of child care training each year based on the facility's license date, prorated to at least 1-1/2 hours per month for staff hired partway through the licensing year; in family child care homes at least half of the required annual training must be interactive (i.e., at least 10 of the 20 hours) (Utah Admin. Code R430-90-7 and R381-100-7).

  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 Utah's facility standards. Utah requires at least 35 square feet of indoor space per child in care, plus an outdoor play area of at least 40 square feet per child using the area at one time, for both family child care homes (Utah Admin. Code R430-90-9 [Facility]) and child care centers (Utah Admin. Code R381-100-9 [Facility]).

    Match your enrollment plan to capacity limits: A Utah Licensed Family Child Care home may serve up to 8 children in care with one caregiver and 9 to 16 children with two caregivers (maximum capacity 16); when caring for children younger than two, there must be at least one caregiver for every three children younger than two, each caregiver may care for no more than two children younger than 18 months, and at least two caregivers are required if more than three children younger than two are present and more than six children are in care (Utah Admin. Code R430-90-10).

  5. Submit your license application & fee

    File your application with the Utah Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Division of Licensing and Background Checks (DLBC), Office of Licensing — Child Care Licensing and pay the licensing fee. Utah charges a single $62.00 "License or Certificate Fee" that applies to both new and renewal applications for any program type (family child care home, residential certificate, or center); new centers pay an additional one-time $200.00 New Center Fee plus a $1.75 per-child capacity fee (Center Per Child Fee), while family child care homes pay no such add-ons (Utah Child Care Licensing Fee Schedule, effective July 1, 2025).

    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. The Office of Licensing may schedule both announced and unannounced inspections to follow statute, contract, and federal (CCDF) requirements for each program category; licensed child care centers are subject to annual licensing inspection plus unannounced monitoring and complaint investigations (Utah Admin. Code R380-600-7 — Inspection and Investigation Process). Anonymous complaints, and complaints about conditions that occurred six or more months before the complaint is received, are generally not investigated for child care licensing providers. Fire and food-service/health inspections are separately required (R381-100-4 — Fire and Other Health 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 Utah rules. Maintain the staff-to-child ratios at all times: Infant (0-11 months) 1:4 (max group size 8), Younger toddler (12-17 months) 1:4 (max group size 8), Older toddler (18-23 months) 1:5 (max group size 10), Two-year-olds (24-35 months) 1:8 (max group size 16), Three-year-olds 1:12 (max group size 24), Four-year-olds 1:15 (max group size 30), Five years and older / school-age 1:20 (max group size 40)

    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, Utah-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 Utah

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

  • Child care center application (submitted via the DLBC provider portal: provider.dlbc.utah.gov)
  • Background check / clearance submission via the DLBC/Office of Background Processing provider portal (fingerprint-based, BCI/DPS + FBI; required for all covered individuals age 16+, plus household members 12+)
  • Affidavit of Lawful Presence in the United States (may be required; proof of citizenship/lawful presence shown at pre-license inspection)
  • Admission and health assessment form (per R381-100-6 — completed by parent before child is admitted; reviewed, updated, and signed/initialed by parent at least annually)
  • Copy of current business license (or written statement from city that none is required)
  • Copy of current fire inspection (or written statement from fire authority that none is required)
  • Copy of current kitchen/food-service inspection (or written statement from local health department that none is required)
  • Copy of educational credentials for the program director
  • Copy of facility floor plans
  • Immunization record / Utah USIIS documentation or signed exemption (medical, religious, or personal) per R396-100 (for children under 5)

Staff-to-child ratios you must maintain

Utah requires these maximum staff-to-child ratios, enforced by the Utah Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Division of Licensing and Background Checks (DLBC), Office of Licensing — Child Care Licensing: Infant (0-11 months) 1:4 (max group size 8), Younger toddler (12-17 months) 1:4 (max group size 8), Older toddler (18-23 months) 1:5 (max group size 10), Two-year-olds (24-35 months) 1:8 (max group size 16), Three-year-olds 1:12 (max group size 24), Four-year-olds 1:15 (max group size 30), Five years and older / school-age 1:20 (max group size 40).

Skip the 80-hour paperwork grind

Get your Utah licensing kit

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

Starting a Daycare in Utah: FAQs

Do I need a license to start a daycare in Utah?
In Utah, residential (in-home) child care for eight or fewer qualifying children is exempt from licensing (and may instead seek a Residential Child Care Certificate), while a Licensed Family Child Care license is required once a person provides residential child care for nine or more unrelated children; center-based child care requires a license at five or more children; care for less than four hours a day or on a sporadic basis is also exempt, and an unlicensed/uncertified in-home provider may never exceed 10 children total or more than two children under three years old (Utah Code 26B-2-403, 26B-2-404, 26B-2-405; Utah Admin. Code R430-90-3).
How much does it cost to get a daycare license in Utah?
Utah charges a single $62.00 "License or Certificate Fee" that applies to both new and renewal applications for any program type (family child care home, residential certificate, or center); new centers pay an additional one-time $200.00 New Center Fee plus a $1.75 per-child capacity fee (Center Per Child Fee), while family child care homes pay no such add-ons (Utah Child Care Licensing Fee Schedule, effective July 1, 2025). Renewal: The license/certificate renewal fee is $62.00, the same flat fee as a new application; centers additionally pay the $1.75-per-child Center Per Child Fee at renewal, and a $31.00 late-renewal fee (homes and centers) applies if a renewal request is received 1-30 days after expiration, plus $0.75 per child for centers (Utah Child Care Licensing Fee Schedule, effective July 1, 2025).
Who issues daycare licenses in Utah?
Childcare licensing in Utah is handled by the Utah Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Division of Licensing and Background Checks (DLBC), Office of Licensing — 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 Utah?
Utah requires a 2-1/2 hour (2.5-hour) pre-service training offered by the Office of Licensing before a caregiver becomes involved with child care, for both family child care homes and centers (Utah Admin. Code R430-90-7 [Licensed Family Child Care] and R381-100-7 [Child Care Centers]).

Keep researching Utah

Utah Licensing Requirements

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

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How to Start a Daycare: Complete Guide

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

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License-Exemption Thresholds by State

Compare when a license is required across all 50 states.

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Licensing Fees by State

Application and renewal fee data for every state we track.

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Licensing rules change. The figures above are compiled from Utah statutes and agency materials and are provided for informational purposes only — always verify current requirements with the Utah Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Division of Licensing and Background Checks (DLBC), Office of Licensing — Child Care Licensing before applying. TotReady provides information and document templates, not legal advice.