Dallas County, TX Home Business: Home Daycare (2026)
Key Facts
- County Permit
- None (no county zoning)
- State Authority
- HHSC Child Care Regulation
- Exempt
- ≤3 unrelated children (Listed Home)
- Registered Home
- 4-12 children (state permit)
- HHSC Hotline
- 1-800-862-5252
Summary
Dallas County does not license or zone home daycares: child-care regulation is handled by Texas DFPS / HHSC under Tex. Human Resources Code Ch. 42. Care for up to 3 unrelated children is exempt from state registration; 4-12 children requires a Registered or Licensed Child-Care Home permit from HHSC Child Care Regulation. Inside city limits, the city's home-occupation code may add rules.
Sec. 42.041. REQUIRED LICENSE. (a) No person may operate a child-care facility or child-placing agency without a license issued by the department ... Sec. 42.002. DEFINITIONS. ... (8) "Group day-care home" means a child-care facility that provides care at the residence of the director, owner, or operator of the child-care facility for seven or more children under 14 years of age for less than 24 hours a day, but at least two hours a day, three or more days a week. (9) "Family home" means a home that provides regular care in the caretaker's own residence for not more than six children under 14 years of age, excluding children who are related to the caretaker.
Full Breakdown
Texas counties have no general zoning authority (Tex. Loc. Gov. Code Ch. 232), so Dallas County does not issue home-business permits, certificates of occupancy, or daycare-specific approvals in unincorporated areas. Child-care licensing is exclusively a state function under Tex. Human Resources Code Ch. 42 and 26 TAC Ch. 745, administered by Texas Health & Human Services Child Care Regulation (CCR, formerly DFPS Licensing). Tiers: a Listed Family Home (up to 3 unrelated children) requires only a free listing; a Registered Child-Care Home (4-6 children plus up to 6 school-age part-time, max 12) requires registration, background checks, an orientation, an inspection, and CPR/first-aid training; a Licensed Child-Care Home (7-12 children) requires full licensing with stricter staffing and facility standards.
Smoke alarms are required statewide under Tex. H&S Code Ch. 766. The Dallas County Fire Marshal does not inspect single-family residences used as registered or listed homes, state CCR conducts the safety inspection. ), the city's home-occupation ordinance, signage rules, and parking limits apply on top of state licensing.
Violations & Fines
Operating an unregistered home that exceeds the 3-child exemption is a state offense under Tex. Human Resources Code §42.072 with administrative fines up to $1,000 per day, cease-and-desist orders, and possible criminal referral. Failure to maintain working smoke alarms violates Tex. H&S Code Ch. 766. County-level enforcement is limited to fire-code complaints in unincorporated areas; report concerns to HHSC Child Care Regulation at 1-800-862-5252.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a Dallas County permit to run a home daycare?
How many children can I watch in my home without a state permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Dallas County
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Dallas County to another location·View the Texas home business overview
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