What is the cheapest state to get a daycare license?

New York charges no initial licensing fee for childcare centers. Texas and Florida also have low initial fees ($35–$100). However, low licensing fees don't necessarily mean lower total startup costs — background checks, training, and facility standards vary significantly.

Are daycare licensing fees refundable if my application is denied?

In most states, licensing application fees are non-refundable, even if your application is denied or you withdraw before inspection. Always confirm the refund policy with your state licensing agency before submitting payment.

What costs are not included in the licensing fee?

The licensing fee covers only the government processing cost. Separate costs include background checks ($50–$100 per staff member), required training and certifications ($100–$500 per person), liability insurance ($1,000–$3,000/year), and any facility modifications required by the inspector ($2,000–$20,000 depending on your space).

State-by-State Research

How Much Does a Daycare License Cost?

State-by-State Guide

Last updated: April 2026

Researched by the TotReady Research Team

Key finding: Initial childcare licensing fees range from $0 in states like New York to $200 or more in California. However, the total first-year cost including background checks, training, insurance, and facility modifications typically ranges from $3,000 to $25,000.

Childcare Licensing Fees by State

Fees shown are estimates based on published state agency fee schedules. Actual costs may vary by program capacity, license type, and local jurisdiction. Verify with your state licensing agency before submitting an application.

State	Initial License Fee	Annual Renewal	Background Check	Total First-Year Est.
California	$100–$200	$100	$100/person	$400–$600
Texas	$35–$100	$35–$100	$50/person	$200–$350
Florida	$0–$100	$0–$100	$75/person	$150–$375
New York	$0 (no fee)	$0	$100/person	$200–$400
Illinois	$0–$100	$0–$100	$75/person	$150–$375
Pennsylvania	$0–$100	$0	$30–$75/person	$100–$325
Ohio	$0–$50	$0	$50–$75/person	$100–$275
Georgia	$25–$75	$25–$75	$50–$100/person	$150–$350
North Carolina	$25–$100	$25–$100	$50/person	$150–$350
Michigan	$0–$50	$0	$75/person	$100–$275
New Jersey	$0–$100	$0	$75/person	$100–$325
Virginia	$0–$50	$0	$50–$100/person	$100–$300
Washington	$50–$150	$50–$150	$50–$75/person	$200–$450
Arizona	$100–$200	$100–$200	$75/person	$300–$550
Massachusetts	$0–$50	$0	$50–$75/person	$100–$275

California

Initial fee: $100–$200
Annual renewal: $100
Background check: $100/person
First-year estimate: $400–$600

Community Care Licensing Division. Fee varies by capacity. Background checks via DOJ/FBI.

Texas

Initial fee: $35–$100
Annual renewal: $35–$100
Background check: $50/person
First-year estimate: $200–$350

DFPS Child Care Licensing. Fee based on licensed capacity. FBI check required.

Florida

Initial fee: $0–$100
Annual renewal: $0–$100
Background check: $75/person
First-year estimate: $150–$375

DCF Child Care Services. Some counties have additional local fees. Level 2 background check required.

New York

Initial fee: $0 (no fee)
Annual renewal: $0
Background check: $100/person
First-year estimate: $200–$400

OCFS does not charge a licensing fee. Background checks include fingerprinting via state police.

Illinois

Initial fee: $0–$100
Annual renewal: $0–$100
Background check: $75/person
First-year estimate: $150–$375

DCFS licensing. Fees vary by program type. CANTS background check required.

Pennsylvania

Initial fee: $0–$100
Annual renewal: $0
Background check: $30–$75/person
First-year estimate: $100–$325

DHS Office of Child Development. Renewal is free in most cases. Three-clearance background check system.

Ohio

Initial fee: $0–$50
Annual renewal: $0
Background check: $50–$75/person
First-year estimate: $100–$275

ODJFS Child Care Policy. No initial fee for most center types. FBI/BCI checks required.

Georgia

Initial fee: $25–$75
Annual renewal: $25–$75
Background check: $50–$100/person
First-year estimate: $150–$350

DECAL licensing. Fees based on capacity tier. Fingerprint-based background check.

North Carolina

Initial fee: $25–$100
Annual renewal: $25–$100
Background check: $50/person
First-year estimate: $150–$350

NCDHHS Division of Child Development. Star-rated license system. FBI check required.

Michigan

Initial fee: $0–$50
Annual renewal: $0
Background check: $75/person
First-year estimate: $100–$275

LARA Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. Central Registry clearance plus fingerprinting.

New Jersey

Initial fee: $0–$100
Annual renewal: $0
Background check: $75/person
First-year estimate: $100–$325

DCF Office of Licensing. Fees vary by capacity. Fingerprint-based check via state police.

Virginia

Initial fee: $0–$50
Annual renewal: $0
Background check: $50–$100/person
First-year estimate: $100–$300

DSS licensing. Fees based on capacity. Background check includes central registry search.

Washington

Initial fee: $50–$150
Annual renewal: $50–$150
Background check: $50–$75/person
First-year estimate: $200–$450

DCYF licensing. Fees vary significantly by capacity bracket. FBI check required.

Arizona

Initial fee: $100–$200
Annual renewal: $100–$200
Background check: $75/person
First-year estimate: $300–$550

DES Child Care licensing. Fingerprint clearance card required for all staff ($67).

Massachusetts

Initial fee: $0–$50
Annual renewal: $0
Background check: $50–$75/person
First-year estimate: $100–$275

EEC licensing. Background check includes CORI + SORI + fingerprinting.

State notes

California: Community Care Licensing Division. Fee varies by capacity. Background checks via DOJ/FBI.

Texas: DFPS Child Care Licensing. Fee based on licensed capacity. FBI check required.

Florida: DCF Child Care Services. Some counties have additional local fees. Level 2 background check required.

New York: OCFS does not charge a licensing fee. Background checks include fingerprinting via state police.

Illinois: DCFS licensing. Fees vary by program type. CANTS background check required.

Pennsylvania: DHS Office of Child Development. Renewal is free in most cases. Three-clearance background check system.

Ohio: ODJFS Child Care Policy. No initial fee for most center types. FBI/BCI checks required.

Georgia: DECAL licensing. Fees based on capacity tier. Fingerprint-based background check.

North Carolina: NCDHHS Division of Child Development. Star-rated license system. FBI check required.

Michigan: LARA Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. Central Registry clearance plus fingerprinting.

New Jersey: DCF Office of Licensing. Fees vary by capacity. Fingerprint-based check via state police.

Virginia: DSS licensing. Fees based on capacity. Background check includes central registry search.

Washington: DCYF licensing. Fees vary significantly by capacity bracket. FBI check required.

Arizona: DES Child Care licensing. Fingerprint clearance card required for all staff ($67).

Massachusetts: EEC licensing. Background check includes CORI + SORI + fingerprinting.

Other States — Coming Soon

TotReady currently has detailed licensing fee data for 15 states. Data for the remaining states is in research and will be added throughout 2026.

AlabamaAlaskaArkansasColoradoConnecticutDelawareHawaiiIdahoIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew MexicoNorth DakotaOklahomaOregonRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeUtahVermontWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming

For states not listed above, contact your state's childcare licensing agency directly. Search for "[your state] childcare licensing fees" or visit your state health or human services department website.

Costs Beyond the Licensing Fee

The application fee is the smallest part of your first-year compliance costs. These additional expenses catch most new center owners off guard.

Cost Category	Typical Range	What It Covers
Pre-licensing inspection	$0–$150	Some states charge a fee for the initial inspection visit. Others roll this into the application fee or waive it entirely.
Training and certifications	$100–$500 per staff member	CPR and First Aid certification ($50–$150), mandatory reporter training (often free online), and director qualification hours vary by state.
Liability insurance	$1,000–$3,000/year	General liability insurance is required in most states before licensing. Commercial umbrella policies add coverage for larger centers.
Facility modifications	$2,000–$20,000	Depending on your space, inspectors may require fencing, bathroom upgrades, smoke detector additions, emergency lighting, or outlet covers. Estimate varies widely by building age and condition.
Zoning and local permits	$50–$500	Many municipalities require a separate business license and zoning approval before the state licensing agency will inspect. Check with your local planning department.
Required documentation	$0–$300	Parent handbooks, staff policies, enrollment forms, and operations manuals are required for most initial inspections. Writing these yourself takes 80+ hours; purchasing templates costs $29–$149.

Pre-licensing inspection

$0–$150

Some states charge a fee for the initial inspection visit. Others roll this into the application fee or waive it entirely.

Training and certifications

$100–$500 per staff member

CPR and First Aid certification ($50–$150), mandatory reporter training (often free online), and director qualification hours vary by state.

Liability insurance

$1,000–$3,000/year

General liability insurance is required in most states before licensing. Commercial umbrella policies add coverage for larger centers.

Facility modifications

$2,000–$20,000

Depending on your space, inspectors may require fencing, bathroom upgrades, smoke detector additions, emergency lighting, or outlet covers. Estimate varies widely by building age and condition.

Zoning and local permits

$50–$500

Many municipalities require a separate business license and zoning approval before the state licensing agency will inspect. Check with your local planning department.

Required documentation

$0–$300

Parent handbooks, staff policies, enrollment forms, and operations manuals are required for most initial inspections. Writing these yourself takes 80+ hours; purchasing templates costs $29–$149.

Realistic first-year total

When you add licensing fees, background checks for all staff, required training, insurance, and at least some facility improvements, most new childcare centers spend $5,000–$15,000 on compliance in their first year — before rent, equipment, or supplies. Centers requiring major facility work can spend $20,000–$50,000.

Frequently Asked Questions About Daycare Licensing Costs

How much does a daycare license cost?: Initial childcare licensing fees range from $0 in states like New York to $200 or more in California. However, the total first-year cost including background checks, training, insurance, and facility modifications typically ranges from $3,000 to $25,000.
What is the cheapest state to get a daycare license?: New York charges no initial licensing fee for childcare centers. Texas and Florida also have low initial fees ($35–$100). However, low licensing fees don't necessarily mean lower total startup costs — background checks, training, and facility standards vary significantly by state.
Are daycare licensing fees refundable if my application is denied?: In most states, licensing application fees are non-refundable, even if your application is denied or you withdraw before inspection. Always confirm the refund policy with your state licensing agency before submitting payment.
What costs are not included in the licensing fee?: The licensing fee covers only the government processing cost. Separate costs include background checks ($50–$100 per staff member), required training and certifications ($100–$500 per person), liability insurance ($1,000–$3,000/year), and any facility modifications required by the inspector ($2,000–$20,000 depending on your space).

Related Guides

How to Start a Daycare: Complete Guide

Step-by-step from deciding your program type through opening day.

Read the guide →

State Childcare Licensing Requirements

Full licensing rules, ratios, and required policies for your state.

Check your state →

Starting a daycare?

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The licensing fee is just the start. The documents your inspector asks for — parent handbook, staff policies, enrollment forms, operations manual — take 80+ hours to write from scratch. The TotReady Startup Bundle gives you all six, state-specific, ready to customize in 30 minutes.

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Licensing fee data is compiled from published state agency schedules and is provided for informational purposes only. Fees change frequently — always verify current amounts with your state's childcare licensing agency before submitting an application. TotReady provides information and document templates, not legal or regulatory advice.