Daycare / Child Care Center Permit Requirements in Bangor, ME

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. Maine Revenue Services — Sales Tax Registration

   Required for all businesses selling tangible personal property or taxable services in Maine. Maine charges a 5.5% state sales tax (food and lodging have different rates). Register with Maine Revenue Services online.

   Official government source

   Free·Immediate (online)

   Free

   Immediate (online)

2. Maine Background Check Requirement

   All staff, volunteers, and household members (for family daycares) in Maine child care facilities must undergo criminal background checks (state SBI and FBI, via IdentoGO fingerprinting) coordinated through Maine DHHS Office of Child and Family Services (OCFS). There is no cost to providers.

   Official government source

   Free (no cost to providers)·Results mailed within 21 days of completion; renew every 5 years

   Free (no cost to providers)

   Results mailed within 21 days of completion; renew every 5 years

1. Maine Child Care Facility License (DHHS Office of Child and Family Services)

   Child care centers in Maine must be licensed by the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Child and Family Services (OCFS), under the Child Care Facility Licensing Rule (10-148 CMR Ch. 32). Licensing requires background checks for all staff and household members, a pre-licensing inspection, and compliance with staff-to-child ratio, space and program standards. Applications are filed through the OCFS provider portal.

   Official government source

   $240 application fee for a full license or its biennial renewal; $120 for a provisional or temporary license (10-148 CMR Ch. 32 s.3). Nursery schools pay $10.·Full licenses run two years; allow time for the pre-licensing inspection and background checks before opening

   $240 application fee for a full license or its biennial renewal; $120 for a provisional or temporary license (10-148 CMR Ch. 32 s.3). Nursery schools pay $10.

   Full licenses run two years; allow time for the pre-licensing inspection and background checks before opening

2. Bangor Business Licenses (only for specific regulated activities)

   Bangor has no general business license and no fee based on gross revenues. The City Clerk licenses only the activities enumerated in the City Code and fee schedule - for example victualers (eating places), lunch wagons, liquor, taverns, amusement devices, bowling, theaters, carnivals and circuses, innkeepers, pawnbrokers, secondhand and precious-metals dealers, taxis, mobile home parks, flammable liquid and explosives dealers, and marijuana establishments. If your activity is not on that list you need no city business license, only zoning and code compliance.

   Official government source

   Fees are set per license type in the City of Bangor Schedule of Fees - for example victualer $248 (no tables or under 2,000 sq ft) or $684 (over 2,000 sq ft), amusement device $60, taxi cab $118, pawnbroker $154, tavern $297. Fees rise each July 1 with the CPI-U.·Apply to the City Clerk before opening; licenses tied to inspections are issued after those are complete

   Fees are set per license type in the City of Bangor Schedule of Fees - for example victualer $248 (no tables or under 2,000 sq ft) or $684 (over 2,000 sq ft), amusement device $60, taxi cab $118, pawnbroker $154, tavern $297. Fees rise each July 1 with the CPI-U.

   Apply to the City Clerk before opening; licenses tied to inspections are issued after those are complete

3. Bangor Building and Fire Safety Inspection (Child Care)

   A child care centre in Bangor must pass building and fire safety inspections by the City of Bangor Code Enforcement Office and Fire Department as part of obtaining a Certificate of Occupancy, and separately a life safety inspection by the Office of the State Fire Marshal, which is a condition of the DHHS child care licence. Penobscot County runs no building or fire inspection programme - Maine counties have no such function.

   Official government source

   Certificate of Occupancy $31 where no construction is involved or work is under $2,500, $122 for $2,501-$7,500, $185 for $7,501-$175,000, $244 for $175,001-$300,000, $486 for $300,001-$1,000,000 and $723 above that (City of Bangor Schedule of Fees). Bangor publishes no separate standalone inspection fee, and no fee is published for the State Fire Marshal day care life safety inspection.·Schedule the City inspections through Code Enforcement (207-992-4200) and the State Fire Marshal inspection before the DHHS licence can issue

   Certificate of Occupancy $31 where no construction is involved or work is under $2,500, $122 for $2,501-$7,500, $185 for $7,501-$175,000, $244 for $175,001-$300,000, $486 for $300,001-$1,000,000 and $723 above that (City of Bangor Schedule of Fees). Bangor publishes no separate standalone inspection fee, and no fee is published for the State Fire Marshal day care life safety inspection.

   Schedule the City inspections through Code Enforcement (207-992-4200) and the State Fire Marshal inspection before the DHHS licence can issue

Official Sources

• Maine Child Care Licensing — Child Care Center License
• City of Bangor City Clerk

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