Daycare / Child Care Center Permit Requirements in Fayetteville, AR

1. EIN (Employer Identification Number)

   Required if you have employees or operate as an LLC or corporation. Free from the IRS.

   Official government source

   Free·Immediate (online application)

   Free

   Immediate (online application)

1. Arkansas Sales and Use Tax Permit — Department of Finance and Administration

   Any business selling taxable goods or taxable services in Arkansas must obtain a gross receipts (sales) tax permit before transacting business, and a separate permit is required for each business location under Ark. Code 26-52-201. The permit is issued by the Department of Finance and Administration's Sales and Use Tax Section. The state sales and use tax rate is 6.500%, with city and county rates added on top — in Little Rock, for example, the combined rate is 8.625% (6.5% state, 1% Pulaski County, 1.125% city).

   Official government source

   $50.00 sales tax permit fee, paid electronically when the registration is submitted.·Register online through the Arkansas Taxpayer Access Point at atap.arkansas.gov. Registration questions go to the Sales and Use Tax Section at 501-682-7104, Ledbetter Building, 1816 W 7th St, Room 1330, Little Rock.

   $50.00 sales tax permit fee, paid electronically when the registration is submitted.

   Register online through the Arkansas Taxpayer Access Point at atap.arkansas.gov. Registration questions go to the Sales and Use Tax Section at 501-682-7104, Ledbetter Building, 1816 W 7th St, Room 1330, Little Rock.

2. Arkansas Child Care Background Check Requirement

   All staff, volunteers, and (for family child care homes) household members at Arkansas child care facilities must clear criminal background checks before working with children. Licensed programs request state and federal criminal checks through the DESE Office of Early Childhood's online background check system; the Child Maltreatment Central Registry check is requested separately through DCFS. Child care licensing and background check oversight sit with DESE's Office of Early Childhood, not the Department of Human Services.

   Official government source

   $25 per state and FBI criminal background check and $10 per Arkansas Central Registry child abuse and neglect check; the Arkansas Sex Offender Registry check is free. Programs also pay a $150 annual subscriber account fee for the online system·Providers are invoiced monthly for checks requested; DESE does not publish a fixed turnaround for results

   $25 per state and FBI criminal background check and $10 per Arkansas Central Registry child abuse and neglect check; the Arkansas Sex Offender Registry check is free. Programs also pay a $150 annual subscriber account fee for the online system

   Providers are invoiced monthly for checks requested; DESE does not publish a fixed turnaround for results

1. Arkansas Office of Early Childhood (DESE) — Child Care License

   Child care centers in Arkansas are licensed by the Office of Early Childhood, part of the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE); the program is no longer under the Department of Human Services. A license is required for centers caring for six or more children from more than one family, and homes caring for 6–16 children are licensed separately. Health and fire department approval, city zoning approval, staff background checks, and compliance with the Minimum Licensing Requirements for Child Care Centers are all required.

   Official government source

   The Office of Early Childhood does not publish a license application fee; budget instead for staff background checks and for the required health, fire, and zoning approvals·Depends on how quickly health, fire, and zoning approvals and background checks clear; call the Child Care Licensing Unit at 501-682-8590 for current processing times

   The Office of Early Childhood does not publish a license application fee; budget instead for staff background checks and for the required health, fire, and zoning approvals

   Depends on how quickly health, fire, and zoning approvals and background checks clear; call the Child Care Licensing Unit at 501-682-8590 for current processing times

2. City of Fayetteville Business License

   Fayetteville requires a business license for every business operating inside city limits, including home-based businesses and businesses headquartered elsewhere that operate in the city. Applications and renewals are filed through the city's Civic Access portal and administered by the Business License office in Development Services.

   Official government source

   $31 new license (home-based), $98 (non-home-based/commercial), $127 (short-term rental); $10 annual renewal ($35 for short-term rentals) plus a $30 late fee if not renewed by October 31·Apply within 60 days of opening to avoid additional fees; licenses expire October 31 each year and renewals open September 1

   $31 new license (home-based), $98 (non-home-based/commercial), $127 (short-term rental); $10 annual renewal ($35 for short-term rentals) plus a $30 late fee if not renewed by October 31

   Apply within 60 days of opening to avoid additional fees; licenses expire October 31 each year and renewals open September 1

3. City of Fayetteville Building and Fire Safety Inspection

   A child care center inside Fayetteville city limits must pass building and fire inspections administered by the City of Fayetteville Building Safety Division before state licensing; Washington County has no inspection authority inside city limits. Inspections are part of the building permit process rather than a separately purchased service.

   Official government source

   No separate inspection fee - inspections are covered by the building permit fee (valuation-based, $55 minimum); a reinspection is $125·Inspections are scheduled through Building Safety; the city does not publish a fixed turnaround

   No separate inspection fee - inspections are covered by the building permit fee (valuation-based, $55 minimum); a reinspection is $125

   Inspections are scheduled through Building Safety; the city does not publish a fixed turnaround

Official Sources

• Arkansas Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education — Child Care License
• City of Fayetteville Business Licensing Office

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