Home Daycare Permit Requirements in Miami, FL

1. EIN (Employer Identification Number)

   Required if you have employees or operate as an LLC/corporation. Also needed for accepting Child Care Development Fund (CCDF) subsidy payments. Free to obtain from the IRS.

   Official government source

   Free·Immediate (online application)

   Free

   Immediate (online application)

1. Florida DCF — Family Day Care Home License

   Required to operate a family day care home in Florida (an occupied residence regularly caring for children from at least two unrelated families for payment). Capacity depends on age mix, up to a maximum of 10 children (s. 402.302(8), F.S.). Homes must be licensed by the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) in counties that require licensing, and must register annually with DCF elsewhere (s. 402.313, F.S.). Requirements include a 30-clock-hour introductory child care course with competency exam before caring for children, Level 2 background screening for child care personnel and household members age 12 and older, and annual in-service training. Annual renewal required.

   Official government source

   License/registration fee not stated in statute — verify the current fee with the DCF child care licensing office·8–16 weeks from application submission to license issuance

   License/registration fee not stated in statute — verify the current fee with the DCF child care licensing office

   8–16 weeks from application submission to license issuance

2. Florida DCF — Large Family Child Care Home License

   Required to operate a large family child care home in Florida, which may serve a maximum of 8 children from birth to 24 months, or a maximum of 12 children when no more than 4 are under 24 months (s. 402.302(11), F.S.). Licensed by DCF. The home must first have operated as a licensed family day care home for 2 consecutive years, with an operator who has held a child development associate (CDA) credential or its equivalent for at least 1 year (s. 402.3131, F.S.). At least two full-time child care personnel must be on the premises during hours of operation, the operator must complete an approved 40-clock-hour introductory course in group child care, and all personnel and household members age 12+ require background screening.

   Official government source

   License fee not stated in statute — verify the current fee with the DCF child care licensing office·8–16 weeks

   License fee not stated in statute — verify the current fee with the DCF child care licensing office

   8–16 weeks

3. Background Screening (FDLE Level 2)

   Florida law requires Level 2 background screening (ch. 435, F.S., via the DCF Background Screening Clearinghouse) for child care personnel and for household members of family day care homes. Adults are fingerprinted for FDLE/FBI criminal history checks; household members aged 12-18 are checked against delinquency records without fingerprinting (s. 402.313(3), F.S.). Screening also covers sexual offender/predator registries and central abuse hotline records.

   Official government source

   $80–$100 per person (fingerprinting + processing fees)·2–4 weeks

   $80–$100 per person (fingerprinting + processing fees)

   2–4 weeks

4. Pre-Licensing Introductory Child Care Training (40 Hours for Facilities)

   Florida requires all child care facility personnel to complete a DCF-approved 40-clock-hour introductory course in child care (s. 402.305(2)(d), F.S.), covering state regulations, health and safety, child abuse identification/reporting, and child development. Family day care home operators instead complete a 30-clock-hour introductory course with a competency exam (s. 402.313, F.S.).

   Official government source

   $50–$150·Completed before license issuance

   $50–$150

   Completed before license issuance

5. Pediatric CPR and First Aid Certification

   Florida child care facilities must have at least one staff person with current in-person CPR training present at all times that children are present, and minimum standards cover first aid treatment, emergency procedures, and pediatric CPR (s. 402.305(7), F.S.). Approved providers include the American Red Cross and American Heart Association. Many operators certify all caregivers as best practice, but the statutory minimum is one trained person on site at all times.

   Official government source

   $50–$100·Same day (courses available locally and online)

   $50–$100

   Same day (courses available locally and online)

1. Miami-Dade County Zoning Compliance — Home-Based Child Care

   Home-based daycare facilities in Miami-Dade County must comply with zoning regulations. Family day care homes (serving 5 or fewer children) are a permitted accessory use in residential zones and do not require a separate zoning permit in most residential districts. Large family child care homes (6–10 children) require a zoning certificate from Miami-Dade Regulatory and Economic Resources. Contact Miami-Dade RER at 305-375-2800 to confirm your zoning classification.

   Official government source

   Free for small family day care (1–5 children); $150–$300 for zoning certificate if required for large family (6–10 children)·1–4 weeks for zoning certificate

   Free for small family day care (1–5 children); $150–$300 for zoning certificate if required for large family (6–10 children)

   1–4 weeks for zoning certificate

2. Miami-Dade County Local Business Tax Receipt

   All businesses operating in unincorporated Miami-Dade County must obtain a Local Business Tax Receipt (formerly Occupational License) from the Miami-Dade Tax Collector. If located in the City of Miami, obtain from the City of Miami Business License Division instead.

   Official government source

   $50–$150 annually·1–2 weeks

   $50–$150 annually

   1–2 weeks

Official Sources

• Florida DCF — Child Care Providers
• Florida DCF — Family Day Care Home
• Miami-Dade Tax Collector — Business Tax Receipts
• Miami-Dade — Permits & Inspections

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