Home Daycare Permit Requirements in Charlotte, NC

1. EIN (Employer Identification Number)

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

   Official government source

   Free·Immediate (online)

   Free

   Immediate (online)

1. NC DHHS Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) - Home Daycare License

   Required by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) to operate a family child care home. The license application requires a home inspection, criminal background checks for all household members age 15 and older, pre-licensure training, first aid and CPR certification, and a health assessment. Fees, exact capacity thresholds, and training hours vary — confirm current requirements directly with DCDEE (ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov).

   Official government source

   Confirm current fees with NC DCDEE (ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov)·Confirm current processing timeline with NC DCDEE

   Confirm current fees with NC DCDEE (ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov)

   Confirm current processing timeline with NC DCDEE

2. Criminal Background Checks (all household members 15+)

   Required by NC DCDEE as part of the family child care home license application for the operator and for household members over 15 years old (G.S. 110-90.2(a)(2)c). Includes fingerprinting and state and federal criminal history checks, plus NC Sex Offender Registry and Responsible Individual List checks.

   Official government source

   Fee not published in statute — confirm the current per-person cost with NC DCDEE·2-4 weeks

   Fee not published in statute — confirm the current per-person cost with NC DCDEE

   2-4 weeks

3. First Aid and CPR Certification for Family Child Care Home Licensure

   Required by NC DCDEE before a family child care home license is issued. Under 10A NCAC 09 .1702(b)(2) the applicant must submit documentation of completing a First Aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) course within the 12 months before applying — the course must be appropriate for the ages of children in care. If caring for infants 12 months and younger, ITS-SIDS training completed within the prior 12 months is also required. After licensure, 10A NCAC 09 .1703(a) requires the operator to renew First Aid and CPR on or before the expiration of each certification (ITS-SIDS renews every three years). Distance learning is not accepted for First Aid or CPR; blended courses from an approved training organization are, and a completion card or certificate is required.

   Official government source

   $50-$150 per course from an approved training organization; NC DCDEE does not set or charge this fee.·1-2 days for the course itself. The certification must be no more than 12 months old at the time of license application.

   $50-$150 per course from an approved training organization; NC DCDEE does not set or charge this fee.

   1-2 days for the course itself. The certification must be no more than 12 months old at the time of license application.

4. NC Secretary of State Business Entity Registration

   Required if operating as an LLC, corporation, or partnership in North Carolina. Most home daycare providers operate as sole proprietors, but entity registration provides liability protection.

   Official government source

   $125 (domestic LLC or corporation filing fee; foreign/out-of-state entity registration is $250)·10-15 business days (NC Secretary of State's posted turnaround for entity creation filings)

   $125 (domestic LLC or corporation filing fee; foreign/out-of-state entity registration is $250)

   10-15 business days (NC Secretary of State's posted turnaround for entity creation filings)

1. City of Charlotte Zoning Compliance for Home-Based Daycare

   Operating a home daycare in Charlotte requires compliance with Charlotte's Unified Development Ordinance (UDO, effective June 1, 2023), administered by Charlotte Planning, Design & Development, in addition to state licensing of the child care home by NC DCDEE. North Carolina's zoning statutes (G.S. Chapter 160D) contain no exemption for child care homes — the residential-use protection in G.S. 160D-907 applies to family care homes for persons with disabilities, not to daycare. Confirm your address's current UDO district and whether a conditional use permit or other approval is required with Planning, Design & Development.

   Official government source

   fees vary; confirm with Charlotte Planning, Design & Development·varies; confirm with Charlotte Planning, Design & Development

   fees vary; confirm with Charlotte Planning, Design & Development

   varies; confirm with Charlotte Planning, Design & Development

Official Sources

• NC Division of Child Development and Early Education
• City of Charlotte - Planning, Design and Development
• NC Secretary of State - Business Registration

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