Florissant, MO Building Safety: Childcare Center Rules (2026)

Article XIV of Chapter 605 defines a 'child day care center' as a facility, other than the provider's own residence, where a person holds themselves out as caring for more than four children for any part of a 24-hour day, for compensation or otherwise, except centers run by a school system or as a customer or employee convenience by a business; such centers are also barred from operating inside a 'shopping center' under the Article's definitions. 383 makes it unlawful to establish, maintain or operate a child day care center, or advertise as being able to, without holding both a Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services license and a City of Florissant license, with narrow exceptions for relatives caring for no more than four other children, court-appointed guardians, short-term hosting of a friend's children under 90 days, boarding or summer camp schools, and State- or County-run institutions.

385, and every employee, agent or independent contractor performing services at the center must authorize a criminal record check through the Florissant Police Department and the Missouri State Highway Patrol. The Director must deny a license where an application is false or incomplete, where fees are unpaid, or where the operator, an employee, or anyone regularly on the premises has committed an act showing unfitness to care for children, including molestation, abuse, theft or fraud. The application fee is $100 per center, but an owner operating multiple day care centers in Florissant never pays more than $500 in total application fees. 393.