Open the official state resources
Start with the state licensing information linked on this page. Find the office that regulates family or home-based child care in the county or region where you live.
Provider PathBy Holly’s Growing Minds StudioEspañolFL guide
FL home child care
How to start a home daycare in Florida.
Begin with Florida DCF’s current provider and staff resources. Confirm whether your proposed operation follows the family-home registration, family-home licensing, large-family-home, or center route, and whether a local licensing agency serves your address. Use the training requirements for that specific category and role. Training, exams, credentials, and the licensing or registration application are separate steps.
Source review: September 13, 2026
Reviewed background-check resources, center resources, home-provider resources, provider-start guidance, rules navigation, professional-development guidance. This was a targeted review of the linked public guidance, not a complete review of every rule or local requirement.
Individual courses, staff qualifications, local approvals and account submissions have not been certified by this review. Confirm those details with the responsible agency.
Free state paperwork guide
Forms & records for Florida.
Check the county first: Florida has both licensed and registered home pathways, and some counties administer local licensing.
- CARES Family Day Care Home License Application Guide
Create and submit a family-home license application.
Official source ↗ - Application for Family Day Care Home Registration · CF-FSP 5099
Register or renew; document household and substitute plan.
Official source ↗ - Registered Family Child Care Home Health and Safety Checklist · CF-FSP 5274
Complete home safety self-evaluation and share with families.
Official source ↗ - Attestation of Good Moral Character · CF-FSP 1649A
Document criminal-history/moral-character attestation.
Official source ↗ - Family Day Care Home List of Children in Care
List children cared for.
Official source ↗ - In-service Training Record requirement · CF-FSP 5268A
Document annual in-service training.
Official source ↗
Paperwork sources reviewed September 14, 2026. The full guide identifies provider types, use instructions, format choices, and review limits.
Your starting roadmap
Seven steps to organize the process.
This roadmap shows what most applicants need to ask about. It does not replace Florida’s current packet, regulations or licensing representative.
Prepared byHolly
Teacher, former in-home provider, and family child care specialist with more than 35 years in early childhood.
Source standardReview scope matters
How Provider Path is researched →Targeted source review dated September 13, 2026. The source-review note identifies the scope and limits. Confirm your category and location before applying.
Confirm which provider type applies
Ask whether your program will be licensed, registered, certified or legally license-exempt. The answer can depend on capacity, children’s ages, relationship to the children and whether care happens in your own home.
Request the application and orientation
Ask how to receive the current application packet and whether orientation is required before applying. Follow the state’s order instead of completing training, fingerprints or home changes too early.
Build your paperwork and training file
Confirm the required identification, education, health records, references, household information, emergency plans, insurance, training and local approvals. Keep copies of every document and certificate.
Complete background checks as directed
Ask exactly who must be checked, which forms are required and where approved fingerprinting is completed. Requirements may include caregivers, substitutes, employees and household members.
Prepare the home for inspection
Use the current state rules to review exits, alarms, sleeping and play spaces, outdoor areas, pets, water safety, medications, supervision, emergency plans and any local fire, zoning or health requirements.
Submit, inspect and follow up
Submit the complete packet in the order your licensing office requires. Prepare for the home visit, correct any remaining items and wait for written approval before operating when a license or registration is required.
Questions for your first call
Write these answers down.
The first conversation with the licensing office can save you from paying for the wrong training, inspection or home changes.
- Which home child care category fits my planned capacity?
- Do I need orientation before receiving or submitting the packet?
- Which documents and training certificates are submitted together?
- Who needs background checks, and when should fingerprints be completed?
- Which local fire, health, zoning or business approvals apply?
- Is liability insurance required, and what coverage limit or proof must I provide?
- May I operate before final written approval?
Official starting links
Use current sources for the final answer.
Choose training for your setting and role.
Select DCF training guidance for the actual setting and role: registered home, licensed family home, large family home, or child care facility, and operator, employee or substitute. Training, exams, credentials and the application are separate steps.
Before enrolling, confirm the exact course, provider category, staff role, format, required topics and hours, completion deadline, renewal and accepted certificate. Check pediatric CPR and first aid separately; a general online child-development or health-and-safety course is not a substitute for the certification your agency accepts.
Provider starting point
Florida DCF: provider and staff start guidance
Identify your provider category and the office responsible for your application.
Open resource ↗Home child careDCF family child care home registration
Use the family or home child care guidance for the category you plan to operate.
Open resource ↗Program categoriesDCF licensing: facilities and licensed homes
Choose the guidance for your category: child care facility, licensed family child care home, or large family child care home.
Open resource ↗Rules and standardsFlorida child care laws and requirements
Choose the current rules for your program category and confirm the effective edition with the agency.
Open resource ↗Background checksFlorida DCF background screening
Confirm who must be checked, the required documents and the timing before arranging checks.
Open resource ↗Professional developmentFlorida DCF training and credentialing
Find professional-development guidance and confirm the exact course, format and certificate for your role.
Open resource ↗Inspection recordsFlorida provider and inspection search
Use the state’s search starting point to understand monitoring records and how licensed programs are displayed.
Open inspection resource ↗Child care assistanceFlorida subsidy resources
Find the state program that helps eligible families pay for care and ask how providers participate.
Open assistance resources ↗Meal reimbursementFlorida CACFP finder
Start with the USDA and state directories for family day care home sponsors and program contacts.
Find food-program contacts →Insurance regulatorFlorida insurance department
Verify companies and agents, find consumer help, and ask state insurance questions.
Open state regulator directory ↗Business protection guideHome daycare insurance questions
Check state requirements, home-policy exclusions, child-capacity eligibility, and provider options.
Open insurance guide →Program setupEquipment and supplier guide
Compare professional and budget sources, then track verified items, quotes, purchases, and recall checks.
Plan equipment purchases →After written approvalMarketing and enrollment guide
Build a clear program description and a responsible 30-day plan for filling openings.
Plan responsible promotion →