A daycare license in Florida is issued by Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF), Office of Child Care Regulation, which administers childcare licensing statewide. Providers must keep 8 documents on file for staff and children and meet 6 staff-to-child ratios by age group. Renewal: Annual license renewal required. The checklist below covers what belongs in each file and what has to stay current.
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Informational only — not legal advice, and not a statement of what Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF), Office of Child Care Regulation requires today. GetDocsSigned is not affiliated with or endorsed by Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF), Office of Child Care Regulation. Requirements change; confirm with your licensing representative before relying on anything on this page.
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See a ready-made enrollment packet →Florida childcare licensing is administered by the Department of Children and Families (DCF). All facilities providing care for 5 or more children from more than one family must be licensed. Florida requires at least 3 unannounced inspections per year — one of the highest inspection rates in the country. Local county ordinances may impose additional requirements beyond state minimums.
| Age Group | Staff : Children |
|---|---|
| Under 1 year | 1:4 |
| 1 to under 2 | 1:6 |
| 2 to under 3 | 1:11 |
| 3 to under 4 | 1:15 |
| 4 to under 5 | 1:20 |
| 5 and older | 1:25 |
Ratios are set in statute, s. 402.305(4)(a), F.S. Mixed-age groups with children under one year hold 1:4 and with one-year-olds hold 1:6; otherwise the ratio follows the largest age group present (Handbook §2.3.1).
Summary of the requirement as published — not the governing text. Verified September 2026 · Source: Florida DCF Child Care Regulation
CF-FSP 5219, Child Care Application for Enrollment
State enrollment application form required for all enrolled children (Rule 65C-22.001(7)(f)).
DH 3040 Student Health Examination
A current, complete DH 3040 — or a signed professional statement covering the same components — on file within 30 days of enrollment (Handbook §7.2(C)).
DH 680 Certification of Immunization (or DH 681 religious exemption)
On file within 30 days of enrollment and kept current; a DH 680 carrying a temporary medical exemption expires and is cited once out of date (Handbook §7.1(B)).
Know Your Child Care Facility Brochure
State-provided brochure signed by parent acknowledging receipt.
Influenza Virus Brochure
Signed acknowledgment required each August/September.
Emergency Contact and Pickup Authorization
Complete list of emergency contacts and authorized pickup persons.
Emergency Medical Authorization
Parental consent for emergency medical care.
Medication AuthorizationConditional
Written parental authorization for any medication with medication in original labeled container.
GetDocsSigned tracks every one of these per file and flags what’s missing or expiring.
Start freeSummary of the requirement as published — not the governing text. Verified September 2026 · Source: Florida DCF Child Care Regulation
Exemption Policy
Medical exemptions (Form DH 680 Part B/C) and religious exemptions (Form DH 681 from County Health Department) are permitted.
Summary of the requirement as published — not the governing text. Verified September 2026 · Source: Florida DCF Child Care Regulation
Minimum Age
18 years unsupervised. 16 years with supervision of a qualified adult (s. 402.305(2), F.S.).
Background Check
Level 2 background screening — FDLE and FBI fingerprinting plus sex-offender and child-abuse registry checks — completed before a person begins working with children. Re-screened every 5 years, and a break in child care employment of more than 90 days requires a new screening (Handbook §5.1, §5.2).
Lead Teacher Education
Staff Credential required (Child Development Associate/CDA or Florida Child Care Professional Credential/FCCPC). One credentialed staff member per 20 children.
Assistant Education
DCF 40-hour introductory child care training must begin within 90 days of starting in the industry and be complete within 12 months (Handbook §4.2.1). A 5-hour early literacy and language development course is also due within 12 months (§4.2.2).
CPR / First Aid
Pediatric CPR and First Aid certification required. At least one certified staff member on-site at all times.
Continuing Education
10 clock hours (or 1.0 CEU) of in-service training each state fiscal year, July 1 through June 30, once the introductory courses are complete (Handbook §4.2.7).
Director Qualifications
Must hold a valid Florida Child Care Education Program Director Credential. Contact DCF for current credential requirements.
Summary of the requirement as published — not the governing text. Verified September 2026 · Source: Florida DCF Child Care Regulation
Inspection Frequency
At least 3 unannounced inspections per year — one of the highest inspection rates in the United States. A current fire inspection by a certified fire inspector, renewed at least annually, must also be on file with licensing (Handbook §3.8.2(A)).
License Renewal
Annual license renewal required.
Application Process
Contact the DCF regional office. Includes background checks, DCF orientation, facility inspection, and review of program policies.
Licensing Fee
$25–$100+ depending on capacity and county.
Summary of the requirement as published — not the governing text. Verified September 2026 · Source: Florida DCF Child Care Regulation
Summary of the requirement as published — not the governing text. Verified September 2026 · Source: Florida DCF Child Care Regulation
These are the pages this summary was checked against. The agency's published rules govern; where this page and the agency differ, the agency is right.
Ratios, required documents, and inspection schedules vary from state to state. If you operate near a border, run a second location, or are deciding where to open, start with the states in the South Atlantic.
Daycare Enrollment Forms Checklist: Every Document You Need Per Child
The complete list of documents required per child, with state-specific variations.
How to Prepare for a Daycare Licensing Inspection
Step-by-step checklist covering child files, staff records, ratios, and facility safety.
Staff-to-Child Ratios by State: The Complete Comparison
Compare infant, toddler, and preschool ratio requirements across all 50 states.
Daycare Immunization Requirements by State
Required vaccines and exemption policies — medical only, religious, or philosophical.
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