Jump to:
Section
Overview
If you would like to open up a child care center you will need to obtain a license for your facility. We require the owner and/or operator of a child care facility to complete a two-part consultation class prior to initial licensing. All first time directors/operators are also required to complete Part II of this consultation within 90 days of employment.
Eligibility
These are highlights of licensing requirements
Facility requirements:
- Indoor play space of at least 35 square feet per child of usable child care space
- Outdoor play space of at least 100 square feet of usable space per child for at least 1/2 of your indoor capacity
- Outdoor play space must have at least 1,000 square feet regardless of indoor capacity
- Outdoor play space shall have a safe and adequate fence or wall at a minimum of 4 feet in height
- One sink and one toilet for every 15 children
- Pass inspections and receive approval by:
- Zoning
- Building, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing inspectors from Hillsborough County or City of Tampa, Plant City, or Temple Terrace depending on where your facility is located
- Fire inspector
- Health inspector
- Written verification of water and sewer or satisfactory well water verification, and septic tank capacity verification
Staffing requirements
- You and all of your child care staff must have a background screening prior to working on site
- This consists of a local law enforcement check, a state criminal records check, and a FBI check
- One staff person for every 50 children or increment thereof present at the facility at all times
- Must have verification of completion of the Red Cross First Aid Child Care Course, or its equivalent and the Infant / Child CPR Course
- One staff person for every 50 children or increment thereof with verification of completion of present at the facility at all times.
- Staff person responsible for planning and food preparation must complete the nutrition and food management courses
- All child care personnel are initially required to take the following:
- Department of Children and Families 30-clock hour introductory child care course
- 10-hour module based on developmentally appropriate practices for children
- five-hour literacy course
- After the initial classes, all personnel are required to take 10 hours of annual in-service training every year thereafter
- At least one staff person with a CDA credential or equivalent for every 20 children
- The director of the center must have a Florida Director's Credential
Fees
Fees for consultation classes:
- $60 for Parts I and II
- $30 for Part II only
License fees:
Initial and renewals: $125 for the first 10 children and $2 for each additional child
How To
- Complete the Child Care Consultation Registration form, including the questions on the bottom of the page
- Print clearly and complete the entire form
- Submit the form and appropriate fees made by check or money payable to Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners to:
- Hillsborough County Child Care Licensing
3152 Clay Mangum Lane
Tampa, FL 33618 - We must receive the applicable fee and completed application form in order for us to process your request and sign you up for the next available consultation classes
- Hillsborough County Child Care Licensing
- Contact Hillsborough County Development Services at (813) 272-5600 to verify that you can operate a child care facility on your potential site
- If the site is not appropriately zoned, you will need a zoning review for a change of use
- At the time of your initial inspection, submit the following:
- Child Care Center Licensing Application
- Legal/letter-size floor plan showing square footage of each room, designation of each room (infants, toddler, preschool, after-school), kitchen, office, sinks and toilets, etc.
- A legal/letter-size outside playground design that shows total square footage
- Two reference letters from persons who have known the applicant two years or more
What's Next
- When all requirements are met, we will issue you a license
- You may not take children into your care until you have received the license