In-home child care in Florida is governed by state law (FS 402.302), not county zoning. A family day care home may care for a maximum of six children, and most Santa Rosa County providers register annually with DCF unless a county ordinance requires licensing.
Under FS 402.302, a family day care home is an occupied residence where child care is regularly provided for children from at least two unrelated families, with a maximum of six children (including the operator's own preschool children), and no more than three under 18 months. A large family child care home may serve up to 12 children with added staff and licensing. Florida lets family day care providers register annually with the Department of Children and Families unless the county requires licensure by ordinance. As a residential accessory use, an in-home daycare still follows LDC 5.02.07 home-occupation standards for parking, noise, and no exterior business signage.
Operating over the child-count limit, or without required DCF registration/licensing, is enforced by the Department of Children and Families and can also draw local code-enforcement action.
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See how Santa Rosa County's home daycare rules stack up against other locations.
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