Dothan, AL Home Business: Home Daycare (2026)

The City of Dothan's business license fee schedule at Sec. 18-22 lists 'Day Care Facility - Child' under NAICS code 624411 as a licensed business classification, separate from 'Day Care Facility - Adult' under code 62442, which carries a flat $50.00 fee. A child day care with more than two but fewer than six children pays a $25.00 license fee, while one with more than six children pays $75.00, and the schedule flags that proof of state certification is required when state law calls for it, along with a Health Department permit or inspection.

Because Chapter 18 licenses any activity conducted for gain within the city, a home-based day care operator falls under this same license classification once she cares for children outside her immediate family for compensation. Chapter 14's building code also touches home day care physically: Sec. 14-30 adopts the International Residential Code's Appendix M, titled 'Home day care-R-3 occupancy,' as part of the city's residential building rules, meaning a home converted to licensed day care use can trigger the occupancy-classification and life-safety standards that appendix sets for that use.

Applicants should expect the Planning and Development Department's building official to weigh in on any related construction or occupancy change alongside the business license process administered under Chapter 18.