Daycare / Child Care Center Permit Requirements in Burlington, VT

Complete permit and license guide for starting a daycare / child care center in Burlington, Chittenden County, Vermont.

Verified 2026-09-07 6 stops $500–$2,000 est. 8–16 weeks to obtain all licenses and pass inspections
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Not legal advice. Requirements may change — always verify with your local government authority before applying. Key agencies and fees on this page were re-checked against official government sources on .

Federal — start here

1 stop

  1. EIN (Employer Identification Number)

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

    Official government source

    FreeImmediate (online application)

State of Vermont

2 stops

  1. Vermont Department of Taxes — Sales Tax Registration

    Required for all businesses selling tangible personal property or taxable services in Vermont. Vermont charges a 6% state sales tax; meals and lodging are taxed at 9%. Register with the Vermont Department of Taxes online.

    Official government source

    FreeImmediate (online via myVTax)

  2. Vermont Child Care Record Check Requirement

    All staff, volunteers, and — for family child care homes — household members at Vermont child care programs must clear background record checks. The licensee submits a Records Check Authorization form to the Child Development Division, which issues a Fingerprint Authorization Certificate; the individual is then fingerprinted at a location the Division designates, and results go to the Division. The check covers Vermont criminal, child protection and adult protection registries plus an FBI fingerprint-based check, and must be repeated at least once every five years.

    Official government source

    The Child Development Division's licensing regulations set no record-check fee; confirm any current fingerprinting charge with the Child Care Licensing line at 1-800-649-2642, option 3.Varies; the Division is building a digital background check system targeting a five-day turnaround for most individuals.

City of Burlington / Chittenden County

3 stops

  1. Vermont Child Development Division — Child Care Licence

    Child care centers in Vermont must be licensed by the Child Development Division of the Department for Children and Families. The Licensing Regulations for Center Based Child Care and Preschool Programs require a separate application for each site, records check authorizations (and fingerprinting where required) for all staff at least every five years, evidence of continuous insurance, compliance with fire, health, building and lead-law requirements, and staff-to-child ratio and professional development standards. The Division inspects each licensed program at least once every 365 days.

    Official government source

    $0 — the Child Development Division's licensing regulations set no application or licence fee. Separate costs apply for staff record checks and fingerprinting, fire-safety and health inspections, and bringing the facility into compliance.The regulations require only a “timely decision” after a complete application; no processing time is published. Call the Child Care Licensing line at 1-800-649-2642, option 3.

  2. Burlington Business License (not required for most businesses)

    Burlington's City Clerk/Treasurer does not issue a general business licence, and there is no gross-receipts-based city business tax certificate. The office licenses exactly four categories: cannabis, liquor, peddler, and taxi. Fitness studios, tutoring, cleaning services, salons, contractors, food trucks, child care, pet services, photography, and professional services are not required to hold a blanket city business licence. Check whether your business falls into one of the four licensed categories; otherwise the relevant approvals are trade- or use-specific — a zoning permit or Certificate of Occupancy from the Department of Permitting & Inspections, a state Health Department food licence, or a state professional licence from the Office of Professional Regulation.

    Official government source

    $0 — no general business licence exists in BurlingtonN/A — there is no application to file unless your business is cannabis, liquor, peddling, or taxi

  3. Burlington Building and Fire Safety Inspection

    Child care centres must satisfy fire safety, egress, ADA accessibility, and building-code requirements before the Vermont Department for Children and Families will license them — DCF's Center-Based Child Care and Preschool Program regulations (2.3.8.6 and 5.10.1.2) require compliance with all applicable Vermont Division of Fire Safety requirements and the ADA. In Burlington the review is done by the Department of Permitting & Inspections (Trades Division and Fire Marshal's Office), which enforces the Vermont Fire & Building Safety Code under Burlington Code of Ordinances chapters 8 and 13. There is no Chittenden County building or fire department; Vermont counties operate no regulatory agencies.

    Official government source

    Construction permit: $30 minimum for projects up to about $2,858 of construction cost, otherwise $8.50 per $1,000 of construction cost plus a $15 recording fee, plus $10 if a building Certificate of Occupancy is required. A change-of-use zoning permit is $15 filing fee + $107.Permits and inspections are scheduled through Burlington's OpenGov permitting portal; DCF will not issue a child care licence until fire-safety requirements are met.

Terminus

Open for business — est. $500–$2,000 · 8–16 weeks to obtain all licenses and pass inspections

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