Daycare / Child Care Center Permit Requirements in Baton Rouge, LA

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. Louisiana Department of Revenue — Sales Tax Registration

   Required for all businesses selling taxable goods or services in Louisiana. The Louisiana state sales tax rate is 5%. Sellers must apply for a sales tax certificate with the Louisiana Department of Revenue. Louisiana also has parish- and municipal-level sales taxes collected separately by local collectors, so the combined rate varies by parish and you must register with each applicable local collector in addition to the state.

   Official government source

   No registration fee is published by the Louisiana Department of Revenue.·Not published by the Louisiana Department of Revenue; the '1-5 business days' figure has no official source.

   No registration fee is published by the Louisiana Department of Revenue.

   Not published by the Louisiana Department of Revenue; the '1-5 business days' figure has no official source.

2. Louisiana Child Care Criminal Background Check (CCCBC)

   Child care licensing in Louisiana is administered by the Louisiana Department of Education, not the Department of Children and Family Services. Every owner, operator, staff member and volunteer at a licensed child care center — and, for family child care and in-home settings, other adults living in the home — must have a satisfactory Child Care Criminal Background Check determination on file before having access to children. The check is fingerprint-based and runs through the Department's Child Care Criminal Background Check system, covering state criminal history, an FBI national fingerprint check, and the state child abuse and neglect and sex offender registries. Fingerprinting has been handled by IDEMIA since May 8, 2023; providers set up an account and can issue No Charge Authorization Codes to cover an applicant's fee.

   Official government source

   LDOE does not publish a per-person amount — the fee is charged by IDEMIA at the fingerprinting appointment, so the '$25-$75' band has no official source. A provider may pay on the applicant's behalf using a No Charge Authorization Code drawn on the provider's account. Confirm the current amount when scheduling.·Not published by LDOE. The determination must be complete and satisfactory before the person has unsupervised access to children, so start the check well before a hire's first day rather than relying on the unsourced '1-4 weeks' estimate.

   LDOE does not publish a per-person amount — the fee is charged by IDEMIA at the fingerprinting appointment, so the '$25-$75' band has no official source. A provider may pay on the applicant's behalf using a No Charge Authorization Code drawn on the provider's account. Confirm the current amount when scheduling.

   Not published by LDOE. The determination must be complete and satisfactory before the person has unsupervised access to children, so start the check well before a hire's first day rather than relying on the unsourced '1-4 weeks' estimate.

1. Louisiana Department of Education — Child Care Center License

   Child care centers in Louisiana must be licensed through the Louisiana Department of Education's Early Childhood Care and Education Division (Child Care Facility Licensing) — not a 'Bureau of Family Support,' which is a Department of Children and Family Services function unrelated to child care licensing. Licensure requires background checks, health and fire safety inspections, and compliance with staff-to-child ratio requirements.

   Official government source

   Annual child care facility licensing fee by licensed capacity: $25 for 15 or fewer children, $100 for 16-50, $175 for 51-100, and $250 for 101 or more. All fees are paid through the Department's online system.·Not published by the Department; the '6-12 weeks' figure has no official source. Licensure follows background checks and health and fire-safety inspections.

   Annual child care facility licensing fee by licensed capacity: $25 for 15 or fewer children, $100 for 16-50, $175 for 51-100, and $250 for 101 or more. All fees are paid through the Department's online system.

   Not published by the Department; the '6-12 weeks' figure has no official source. Licensure follows background checks and health and fire-safety inspections.

2. City of Baton Rouge / Parish of East Baton Rouge Department of Finance — Business License

   All businesses in East Baton Rouge Parish must obtain an Occupational License from the Finance Department's Revenue Collection Division (225-389-3084), renewed annually and posted at the place of business. Some businesses additionally need approval from Permits & Inspections and/or the health authority, and a zoning clearance or Certificate of Occupancy carries a separate fee. Certain categories are exempt by ordinance (for example manufacturers except on retail sales, and several enumerated professions).

   Official government source

   A one-time registration fee of $50 if the business opens January 1–June 30 or $25 if it opens July 1–December 31. The annual tax is computed from gross receipts using the classification tables in the Occupational License Tax Ordinance and can exceed $500 for larger businesses — it is not a $50–$500 band.·Apply at least one month before opening. A temporary certificate is mailed after processing; after 30 days of operation you report gross receipts and the permanent license issues. Renewals are due January 1 and delinquent after March 1 (5% penalty per 30 days to a 25% maximum, plus 15% annual interest).

   A one-time registration fee of $50 if the business opens January 1–June 30 or $25 if it opens July 1–December 31. The annual tax is computed from gross receipts using the classification tables in the Occupational License Tax Ordinance and can exceed $500 for larger businesses — it is not a $50–$500 band.

   Apply at least one month before opening. A temporary certificate is mailed after processing; after 30 days of operation you report gross receipts and the permanent license issues. Renewals are due January 1 and delinquent after March 1 (5% penalty per 30 days to a 25% maximum, plus 15% annual interest).

3. East Baton Rouge Parish / Baton Rouge Building and Fire Safety Inspection

   A child care center in Baton Rouge must pass building and fire-safety review as part of the Certificate of Occupancy process run by the City-Parish Permits & Inspections Division, with the Fire Prevention inspection conducted by the Baton Rouge Fire Department. Any build-out also requires commercial building, plan review and MEP trade permits. State child care licensing is separate and is handled by the Louisiana Department of Education.

   Official government source

   $275 for occupancy: $125 Commercial Occupancy permit plus the $150 Fire Prevention Fee for Occupancy, plus the $25 technology fee charged on all permits. Reinspections are $75 each; a Fire Prevention reinspection is $150.·Not published by Permits & Inspections; issuance follows inspection scheduling and any required corrections — confirm with the division (225-389-3000).

   $275 for occupancy: $125 Commercial Occupancy permit plus the $150 Fire Prevention Fee for Occupancy, plus the $25 technology fee charged on all permits. Reinspections are $75 each; a Fire Prevention reinspection is $150.

   Not published by Permits & Inspections; issuance follows inspection scheduling and any required corrections — confirm with the division (225-389-3000).

Official Sources

• Louisiana Department of Education — Child Care Center License
• City of Baton Rouge / Parish of East Baton Rouge Department of Finance

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