How to Start a Home Daycare in Georgia: Family Child Care Learning Home License

If you want to care for children in your own home for pay, Georgia requires a license once you care for three or more unrelated children. That license is the Family Child Care Learning Home (FCCLH), issued by the Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL, Bright from the Start) under Rule chapter 290-2-3. This guide covers who needs the license, what you need before you apply, the steps in the DECAL KOALA application process, the capacity rules you must plan around, and the annual renewal calendar.

Informational notice: This article is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rules and fees can change, so confirm current requirements with DECAL and the other agencies named here. For complex situations, such as a rented home, a shared household, or plans to hire staff, consult a qualified attorney or CPA.

Know Which License You Need

Georgia recognizes two licenses for child care provided for pay: the FCCLH for homes and the Child Care Learning Center for larger programs. Georgia does not have a "Group Day Care Home" license for 7 to 18 children, so do not look for one. Under Rule 290-2-3-.04:

• Three to six children: If you care for at least three but not more than six children under 13 for pay, who are not related to you and whose parents do not live in your private residence, you need an FCCLH license.
• More than six children: Caring for more than six children for pay requires a Child Care Learning Center license instead, except as the rules provide. Centers are covered at how to start a child care learning center in Georgia, and that process is separate from this one.

Several rules matter from day one. Related children, such as your own children or relatives, are not counted as the unrelated children who trigger the license, but they do count toward the overall capacity cap discussed below. Operating or calling yourself a licensed home without a license is not allowed. The license is not transferable, so a move or a change of provider requires a new license.

What You Need Before You Apply

Gather these items before you start the application. Several of them, especially training and background checks, must be completed before you submit.

• Proof of a qualifying early childhood credential (see Step 1)
• Certificates for DECAL-approved pre-service training, including licensure orientation, a pre-licensure course on provider competencies, and CPR and first aid that includes emergency care for infants and children
• A KOALA portal account for the application and the Disclosure Statement
• Background check paperwork for yourself, every potential employee, every household member age 17 or older, and anyone who will have personal contact with the children
• Written confirmation from your landlord or homeowners association that home child care is allowed, plus your local zoning answer
• A federal Employer Identification Number (EIN), which is free from the IRS
• Your local occupation tax certificate, if your city or county requires one
• A simple sketch of your space and daily schedule, so you can answer an inspector's questions quickly
• A payment method for the annual FCCLH fee of $50

Capacity Rules You Must Plan Around

Capacity is where many new providers make mistakes, so settle it during planning, not during inspection. The rules limit the total number of children under 13 present in the home, and that total includes your own children. Based on the rule summary, the key points are:

• Total cap: The total number of children under 13 in the home, counting your own, is capped at 12, with 35 square feet of space for each child.
• Additional children: You may take up to two additional children aged three or older for two designated one-hour periods a day, but only with DECAL approval.
• Staffing trigger: An employee at least 16 years old must be present when more than 3 infants, more than 6 children under 3, or more than 8 children under 5 are in care.

These conditions have exceptions and details that this summary does not capture. Read Rule 290-2-3-.07 for the exact wording before you finalize your enrollment plan, and confirm any unusual arrangement with DECAL in writing.

Step-by-Step: Starting a Georgia Home Daycare

Step 1: Confirm you meet the provider qualifications

Under Rule 290-2-3-.07, the provider must be at least 21 years old and show evidence of one of these credentials:

• A Child Development Associate (CDA) credential that is kept current
• A Technical Certificate of Credit or Technical College Diploma in Early Childhood Education
• An associate, bachelor's, or master's degree in Early Childhood Education
• A Georgia Professional Standards Commission paraprofessional certificate

A high school diploma alone is not enough. Applicants who applied before July 1, 2009 were treated under different rules, but a new provider must meet the credential requirement above.

Step 2: Check zoning, HOA rules, and your lease

State approval does not override local zoning, a homeowners association (HOA) covenant, or a lease. Check whether your city or county allows home occupations, whether your HOA restricts business activity or drop-off traffic, and whether your lease permits child care. Read the Georgia home-based business zoning and permit rules before you commit to a location. Get the answers in writing if you can, because a verbal approval is hard to prove later.

Step 3: Set up your business basics

Georgia has no general statewide business license. The Secretary of State issues none, and registering for sales tax is not a business license. Your basic setup usually includes these pieces:

• Entity (optional): Many providers operate as a sole proprietor. If you form an LLC, Articles of Organization cost $110 total ($100 fee plus $10 service charge) through the Secretary of State eCorp portal. Online filings take about 7 to 10 business days. Whether to form an entity is a decision to make with an attorney or CPA.
• Trade name: If you operate under a name other than your legal name, you file a trade name registration with the Clerk of Superior Court in the county where the business is chiefly carried on. It is not filed with the Secretary of State. The clerk fee is about $165 plus a newspaper notice published once a week for two weeks, so confirm the exact amount with your county clerk. See the Secretary of State business FAQ for more detail.
• Tax registration: Register with the Georgia Department of Revenue through the Georgia Tax Center if you sell taxable goods or have employees. Registration is free. For the bigger picture, see Georgia business taxes.
• Workers' compensation: Coverage is required once you have three or more workers, including part-time workers. Review the Georgia workers' compensation requirements before you hire an assistant.

Step 4: Get your local occupation tax certificate

The local license most daycare owners mean by "business license" is an occupation tax certificate issued under O.C.G.A. Title 48, chapter 13. If your home is inside a city limit, the city issues it. If you live in unincorporated territory, the county issues it. Georgia has 159 counties and about 537 cities and towns, and each sets its own formula, deadlines, and prerequisites. More than half of Georgians live outside any city, so for many readers the county is the issuer. Ask your city or county clerk what applies to your address.

If you have more than 10 employees, a private employer must file an E-Verify affidavit to get the local certificate (O.C.G.A. 36-60-6). Learn more in the Georgia business license guide and the Georgia E-Verify requirements guide.

Step 5: Complete pre-service training before you apply

The person responsible for day-to-day operations must complete DECAL-approved pre-service training before the application is submitted. This is not something to finish after you apply. The training covers licensure orientation, a pre-licensure course on provider competencies, and CPR and first aid that includes emergency care for infants and children. Confirm that each course is on DECAL's approved list before you pay for it, and keep the completion certificates with your application documents.

Step 6: Complete background checks

A satisfactory comprehensive records check determination must be on file for you and for every potential employee. The check is fingerprint-based and includes sex offender and child abuse registry searches. It also applies to anyone age 17 or older who lives in the home and anyone who has personal contact with the children. Start this early, because it is one of the steps most likely to delay your application.

Step 7: Create your KOALA account and submit the application

Apply through DECAL's KOALA portal. Family providers must also complete the Disclosure Statement in KOALA. The license fee cannot be paid until the Disclosure Statement is complete, so do not expect to pay the fee on the first screen. Enter your information carefully, attach your training certificates, and confirm that every household member and employee has been listed for background checks.

Step 8: Plan for the processing timeline

DECAL states a minimum processing time of 45 days for family homes after the application is received and confirmed. Plan your start date around this window, not around the day you submit. Do not sign family enrollment agreements or announce an opening date until you have your license in hand.

Step 9: Prepare for the pre-licensing inspection

After processing begins, DECAL conducts an on-site pre-licensing inspection. DECAL can deny the application if conditions threaten the health or safety of children. Before the inspector arrives, walk through your home against the rule text in Rule chapter 290-2-3. Check the space each child will use, the safety of rooms and outdoor areas, your sleeping and diapering areas, and the capacity and staffing rules discussed above. Fix problems before the visit, not after.

Step 10: Check subsidy options with DECAL

If you plan to serve families who receive subsidies, ask DECAL about the CAPS program and how providers enroll. Program rules can change, so confirm eligibility and current requirements directly with DECAL instead of relying on a third-party summary.

Step 11: Pay the fee and receive your license

The annual FCCLH fee is $50, which is also the first tier of DECAL's fee scale for programs with a capacity of 25 or fewer. Renewal runs on a fixed calendar, so put the dates in your planner:

Date	What happens
November 1	DECAL begins collecting fees for the next calendar year
December 1	The annual fee is due
December 31	All licenses expire
After December 31	A late fee equal to half the annual fee applies, and the rule allows a late fee of up to $250 for payments made within 30 days of the due date
More than 30 days late	The license is revoked if fees remain unpaid

If you open late in the year, expect to renew almost immediately. Confirm the current fee schedule, late fee rules, and KOALA renewal steps with DECAL each year.

Tips for a Smoother Launch

• Start the background checks and training first. These are the longest lead items and both must be done before you submit.
• Keep a running compliance binder. Store training certificates, background check results, zoning letters, HOA approvals, and your floor plan in one place. Inspectors and renewal reviews go faster when records are organized.
• Document every household change. A new adult moving in, a new employee, or a change in capacity can trigger new requirements. Ask DECAL how a change affects your license.
• Calendar the renewal dates now. November 1, December 1, and December 31 come around every year whether or not you are busy with families.
• Budget for growth limits. The 12-child total cap includes your own children, so a family with young kids may have less room than expected.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Caring for the third unrelated child before you are licensed. The license requirement starts at three unrelated children, so waiting for the license should happen before you take any paid enrollments.
• Assuming that no state business license means no paperwork. You may still need a local occupation tax certificate, zoning approval, workers' compensation coverage, and a trade name filing.
• Filing a trade name with the Secretary of State. Trade names go to the Clerk of Superior Court in your county.
• Forgetting household members in the background check. Anyone age 17 or older who lives in the home must be included.
• Counting only unrelated children. Your own children count toward the 12-child total.
• Starting training after you apply. Required training must be finished before the application is submitted.
• Skipping the HOA or lease check. A DECAL license does not override a private restriction on business use.
• Missing the December 1 fee. Late payments add cost, and fees unpaid for more than 30 days can result in revocation.
• Assuming the license moves with you. The license is not transferable, so a move requires a new license at the new address.

What Results to Expect

A realistic plan treats the license as a milestone, not a launch date. Training, background checks, and paperwork take time, and the DECAL processing window is at least 45 days after the application is confirmed. A pre-licensing inspection may add time if corrections are needed. Many providers find that the process goes more smoothly when they prepare early and keep their records organized, though outcomes depend on your home, your local rules, and how quickly you respond to DECAL requests.

Holding a license may help you reach families who want to confirm that a provider meets state standards, and it may support future subsidy participation if you qualify. Enrollment, income, and business results depend on many factors, including your location, your schedule, and your local demand, so plan conservatively and avoid promising families a start date before your license is issued.

Next Steps

1. Confirm your credential and age requirement.
2. Check your zoning, HOA rules, and lease in writing.
3. Complete DECAL-approved pre-service training and CPR and first aid.
4. Start background checks for every required person.
5. Set up your EIN, local certificate, and any tax or insurance registrations that apply to you.
6. Create your KOALA account, complete the Disclosure Statement, and submit the application.
7. Prepare your home for the pre-licensing inspection.

This article is informational only and is not legal or tax advice. Confirm current requirements, fees, and deadlines with DECAL at decal.ga.gov, the Georgia Secretary of State at sos.ga.gov/corporations-division, and your local city or county clerk. Consult a qualified attorney or CPA before making decisions about entity structure, taxes, leases, or hiring staff.