Coral Gables, FL Home Business: Home Daycare (2026)

Coral Gables permits family day care homes in single-family residential zoning districts as listed in Zoning Code Section 4-101. A family day care home may care for up to 5 children including the operator's own under Florida Statute 402.302. A Business Tax Receipt from the city is required before operation. Florida DCF registration is mandatory for anyone caring for children from more than one unrelated family, requiring completion of a 30-hour family day care training course plus a 5-hour early literacy course. Large Family Child Care Homes serving 6-12 children require a separate Florida DCF license and must meet additional staffing ratios with a minimum of two adults present. The home must comply with all local fire safety codes and maintain appropriate fire extinguishers and smoke detectors. Home daycare operations must not alter the residential character of the neighborhood, generate excessive traffic, or create noise that disturbs neighbors. Because Coral Gables enforces strict aesthetic standards through its Board of Architects, any exterior modifications to accommodate a daycare use—such as fencing, play structures, or signage—may require Board review. All pools on the property must have compliant safety barriers per Florida Statute 515. Miami-Dade County Health Department inspections may apply to food preparation areas.