Small home child care in Florida is regulated by the state Department of Children and Families, not by Manatee County. A family day care home cares for a limited number of children and must register annually with DCF unless a local ordinance requires full licensing.
Under FS 402.302, a family day care home provides child care in the provider's residence for a small number of children, and a large family child care home may serve more with added staff and standards. Statewide, providers register annually with DCF under FS 402.313, which serves as an alternative to full licensure unless a county ordinance requires licensing. Beyond state child-care rules, a home daycare is a home occupation, so Manatee County's residential-appearance, traffic, and size limits still apply, and city limits follow the city's zoning. Background screening and safety standards are enforced by DCF.
Operating an unregistered or over-capacity home daycare violates state child-care law and DCF can impose penalties; zoning violations are separately enforced by Manatee County Code Enforcement.
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