Osceola County, FL Home Business: Home Daycare (2026)
Key Facts
- State agency
- Dept. of Children and Families
- Registration
- Annual with DCF
- Max children
- 10 total
- Preschool limit
- No more than 5 preschool
- Statute
- FS 402.302, 402.313
Summary
Running a family day care home in Florida means registering with (or being licensed by) the Department of Children and Families. State law caps a family day care home at a maximum of 10 children, including the caregiver's own young children.
"Family day care home" means an occupied residence in which child care is regularly provided for children from at least two unrelated families and which receives a payment, fee, or grant for any of the children receiving care, whether or not operated for profit.
Full Breakdown
Under FS 402.302, a family day care home is an occupied residence providing child care for children from at least two unrelated families for a fee. FS 402.313 requires such homes to register annually with DCF, or to be licensed if the county has adopted a licensing ordinance. Child capacity is capped: up to 10 children, of whom no more than 5 may be preschool age and no more than 2 under 12 months. Osceola County zoning treats an in-home daycare as a home occupation; background screening and safety standards apply statewide.
Violations & Fines
Operating an unregistered or unlicensed family day care home, or exceeding the child-capacity limits, is enforced by the Department of Children and Families and can result in fines and closure.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many children can I watch in a home daycare?
Do I have to register my home daycare?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Osceola County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Osceola County to another location·View the Florida home business overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.