Daycare / Child Care Center Permit Requirements in Providence, RI

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. Rhode Island Division of Taxation — Sales Tax Permit

   Required for all businesses selling tangible personal property or taxable services in Rhode Island. Rhode Island charges a 7% state sales tax with no local sales taxes. Register with the RI Division of Taxation online via the RI Tax Portal.

   Official government source

   Free·Immediate (online)

   Free

   Immediate (online)

2. Rhode Island Child Care Background Check Requirement

   All staff, volunteers and household members at Rhode Island child care facilities must pass a comprehensive criminal background check - a national FBI fingerprint check, plus a separate state BCI check where the fingerprints were taken outside Rhode Island. The requirement sits under the RI Department of Human Services Office of Child Care licensing framework, not DCYF, whose licensing authority under RIGL 42-72.1 covers foster homes, residential facilities and child-placing agencies. Staff must present a signed fingerprint affidavit from their DHS-licensed employer before the Attorney General's office will process the comprehensive check. The BCI handed over on the spot at the Attorney General's office is not the comprehensive check and does not clear anyone to work with children.

   Official government source

   No fee at the RI Attorney General's office in Cranston: from 5 May 2021 through 30 September 2027 RIAG waives all fees for the comprehensive child care background check and bills DHS instead. Local police departments may still charge their own fingerprinting fee.·Not published by DHS; the state BCI is issued immediately at the Attorney General's office, while the comprehensive check is returned afterwards.

   No fee at the RI Attorney General's office in Cranston: from 5 May 2021 through 30 September 2027 RIAG waives all fees for the comprehensive child care background check and bills DHS instead. Local police departments may still charge their own fingerprinting fee.

   Not published by DHS; the state BCI is issued immediately at the Attorney General's office, while the comprehensive check is returned afterwards.

1. Rhode Island Department of Human Services - Child Care Center License

   Child care centers in Rhode Island are licensed by the RI Department of Human Services Office of Child Care, not DCYF. The process includes mandatory Child Care Licensing 101 orientation, background checks, health and fire safety inspections, staff-to-child ratio compliance, and an application filed in the RISES system. Licenses are not transferable when a program is sold.

   Official government source

   DHS publishes no license fee; the real costs are background checks, fire and health inspections, and bringing the facility into compliance.·3-6 months to open a program; DHS takes up to 14 days to review each set of submitted documents.

   DHS publishes no license fee; the real costs are background checks, fire and health inspections, and bringing the facility into compliance.

   3-6 months to open a program; DHS takes up to 14 days to review each set of submitted documents.

2. No Providence General Business License

   Providence does not require a general business license or a fee based on gross revenue. The city's Board of Licenses issues licenses only for specific regulated activities - liquor, entertainment, food establishment, body works, second-hand dealer and second-hand auto, motor vehicle repair, vendor, private detective, pawnbroker, valet, trash hauling and similar. Photography, tutoring and wedding planning are not licensed categories. Check the Board's online licensing portal to see whether your specific activity appears on the list.

   Official government source

   Not applicable - no general Providence business license exists. Fees for the specific regulated categories are set per license type in the Board of Licenses portal.·Not applicable; applications for the specific licenses are scheduled for a hearing before the Board of License Commissioners.

   Not applicable - no general Providence business license exists. Fees for the specific regulated categories are set per license type in the Board of Licenses portal.

   Not applicable; applications for the specific licenses are scheduled for a hearing before the Board of License Commissioners.

3. City of Providence - Life Safety Inspection and Building Sign-off

   A Providence child care center must pass a Life Safety Inspection by the Providence Fire Prevention Division covering fire suppression, egress and general building safety, and must hold a Certificate of Occupancy from the Department of Inspection and Standards covering ADA accessibility and construction compliance. Rhode Island counties have no government, so no county inspection exists.

   Official government source

   Not published as a flat fee by the city.·Not published by the city.

   Not published as a flat fee by the city.

   Not published by the city.

Official Sources

• Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth and Families — Child Care License
• City of Providence Department of Finance — Revenue Division

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