Family day care homes in Palm Coast are licensed or registered by the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) under FS 402.313 and FAC Chapter 65C-20. Capacity under FS 402.302(8) is up to 10 children with strict age-mix limits (no more than 4 under 12 months, no more than 6 preschool). Flagler County follows the state registration option, so a family day care home in Palm Coast operates as a DCF-registered family child care home. The activity is a permitted home occupation under FS 559.955.
Family day care is governed by Florida Statutes Chapter 402 and Florida Administrative Code Chapter 65C-20. FS 402.302(8) defines a 'family day care home' as an occupied residence in which child care is regularly provided for children from at least two unrelated families, capped at 10 children including the operator's own children under 13. Specific age-mix limits: maximum 4 infants from birth to 12 months; maximum 3 infants plus other children for a total of 6; or maximum 6 preschoolers if all are over 12 months; or a total of 10 children if no more than 5 are preschool age and no more than 2 are under 12 months. FS 402.313 allows counties to either (a) follow the state registration system or (b) require full DCF licensing through county ordinance. Flagler County (which contains Palm Coast) follows the state registration option — operators register annually with DCF, complete 30 hours of mandatory training (Family Child Care Home Rules, Behavioral Observation, Identifying Child Abuse), CPR/First Aid certification, and pass background screening through DCF. A Large Family Child Care Home (up to 12 children with a qualified employee) is a separate license type under FS 402.3131 and requires full licensing rather than just registration. Locally, the family day care is also a home-based business protected by FS 559.955, so Palm Coast cannot prohibit it in residential zones or impose stricter local standards than for a non-business residence. Standard LDC Section 4.12 home occupation rules apply but cannot exceed the FS 559.955 residential cap. ITT/HOA covenants are preserved and may restrict day care use.
Operating an unregistered or unlicensed family day care home is a violation of FS 402.319 enforced by DCF: misdemeanor of the first degree, civil penalties up to $100/day, and possible cease-and-desist order. Local violations of LDC Section 4.12 are enforced by Palm Coast Code Enforcement at residential standards.
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