Palm Beach County, FL Building Safety: Childcare Center Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Permitting body
- Child Care Facilities Board (BCC)
- Standard license term
- 1 year, non-transferable
- Provisional license
- Up to 6 months, renews once
- Inspections by
- County Health Department director
- Violation penalty
- Second-degree misdemeanor
Summary
Running a child care facility, large family child care home, or family day care home in Palm Beach County requires a permit from the county's own Child Care Facilities Board, on top of state DCF licensing.
It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to establish, maintain, or operate in Palm Beach County, Florida, a child care facility, large family child care home, or family day care home without first obtaining a permit therefor from a board, to be designated as the Child Care Facilities Board, and without permanently posting such permit in the child care facility, large family child care home, or family day care home. Such Child Care Facilities Board shall be composed of the Board of County Commissioners of Palm Beach County, hereafter referred to as the Board. The Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners of Palm Beach County shall be the Chairman of the Child Care Facilities Board, and the Board shall meet at least once every 3 months at a time and place designated by the Board.
(Laws of Fla., Ch. 59-1698, § 2; Laws of Fla., Ch. 77-620, § 2; Laws of Fla., Ch. 2010-249, § 1)
Full Breakdown
Sec. 14-23 makes it unlawful to establish, maintain, or operate a child care facility, large family child care home, or family day care home in the county without a permit from the Child Care Facilities Board, which is the Board of County Commissioners sitting in that role, and without posting the permit on site. The Director of the Palm Beach County Health Department inspects facilities and issues licenses good for one year, non-transferable (Sec. 14-25). A provisional license can run up to 6 months and be renewed once. Operators must also print their license number in any advertising (Sec. 14-22).
Violations & Fines
Operating without a county permit or advertising services without a posted license number is a second-degree misdemeanor under Sec. 14-32, enforced by the Palm Beach County Environmental Control Officer under Sec. 14-31.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is county permitting separate from Florida DCF licensing?
Can a facility advertise before it's licensed?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Palm Beach County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Palm Beach County to another location·View the Florida building safety overview
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