Daycare / Child Care Center Permit Requirements in Rutland, VT

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

Verified 2026-09-07 6 stops $500–$2,000 est. 8–16 weeks to obtain all licenses and pass inspections
Get my personalized route — $14.99

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 Rutland / Rutland 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. Rutland Business License (not required for most businesses)

    The City of Rutland does not issue a general business licence. The City Clerk's business licence covers only specific categories — restaurants, bars, delis, hotels, circuses/shows/carnivals, and peddlers — plus liquor, tobacco, outside-consumption, and entertainment permits, with liquor and tobacco applications going through the Vermont Department of Liquor and Lottery. Businesses outside those categories, including salons, contractors, child care, fitness, professional services, pet services, and photography, are not required to hold a Rutland business licence. The licence year for those that do need one runs May 1 to April 30, and renewals are checked against delinquent water, sewer, and rooms-and-meals taxes.

    Official government source

    $0 — no general business licence exists in RutlandN/A — there is no application to file unless your business is in one of the specifically licensed categories

  3. City of Rutland Building Permit and Fire Safety Compliance (Child Care)

    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 the licensee to meet all applicable Vermont Division of Fire Safety requirements and the ADA, to comply with Division of Fire Safety inspection reports, and to keep fire systems inspected and extinguishers tagged. In Rutland the local review is done by the City's Building Department and Fire Department; Rutland County has no building or fire department, because Vermont counties operate no regulatory agencies.

    Official government source

    City of Rutland building permit $50 application plus recording fees; zoning permit $50 + $5 notice fee, with $0.20 per square foot for a change of use. State Division of Fire Safety construction permit fees are set separately.Not published by the City; 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

Want this mapped to your exact business and structure, in filing order?

Get my personalized route — $14.99

Official Sources

Related Guides