Portland, ME Home Business: Home Daycare (2026)

Under 22 M.R.S. § 8301-A, a 'family child care provider' is a person who provides day care in that person's home on a regularly scheduled basis for compensation to between 4 and 12 children under 13 years of age who are not the provider's own children or residents of the household. A person caring for 3 or fewer additional children (or 4 if at least 2 are siblings, with no more than 3 under age 2) is not required to be licensed as a family child care provider. Licensed providers must pay licensing fees, comply with rules adopted by the commissioner covering operational standards, meet fire-safety requirements, and submit to unannounced inspections at least once during the license term (between 6 and 18 months after issuance). The State may investigate complaints and suspend licenses for up to 10 days if conditions immediately threaten children's health and safety. Within Portland, a licensed family child care home is regulated as a home occupation under Code § 14-410 — the residential character of the dwelling must remain primary; signage and customer traffic limits apply; and any drop-off/pick-up parking demand must be met off the street and outside a required front yard.