Frequently asked questions

The Florida Department of Children and Families licenses child care facilities, and its standards shape room sizes, outdoor space, restrooms and safety features. The builder is not the licenser. Ask the licensing office which inspections come before opening, since health and fire inspections are usually part of the process.

Zoning or site-plan approval from the city or county, then a building permit under the Florida Building Code with engineer-sealed steel drawings. The local fire marshal reviews the plans under the Florida Fire Prevention Code, and the building has to meet accessibility requirements. The DCF license is a separate step once the building is ready.

The state's child care licensing rules do, not the builder. They set minimum indoor floor area and outdoor play space per child, along with staffing ratios and toilet counts. Settle your planned capacity with the licensing office first, then have the building designed around that number.

Licensing looks at the finished space, its safety features and how the program is run, not at the type of frame. A steel building finished with drywall, standard ceilings and proper heating and cooling is reviewed like other commercial construction.

Small children need more plumbing per room, child-height fixtures, hand sinks at diaper stations, a controlled entry and fenced outdoor play. Life-safety rules for buildings where children are cared for are stricter than for ordinary business space, which can affect exits, alarms and doors to the outside.

No. The builder delivers a building that meets the code and the approved plans; the operator applies for and holds the license. Many owners hire a licensing consultant or talk with the licensing office while the plans are drawn, so the building passes inspection without costly changes.

Check zoning before buying anything. Many counties and cities allow child care only in certain districts or with a special approval, and the lot has to hold the building, parking, a safe drop-off route and the outdoor play area together.