Williamson County, TX Home Business: Home Daycare (2026)
Key Facts
- Regulator
- Texas HHS, not county
- License trigger
- Care for compensation
- Listed family home
- Up to 3 children
- Registered family home
- Up to 6 children
- County role
- None
Summary
Operating a child-care home for pay in Williamson County requires a license, registration, or listing from Texas Health and Human Services under Human Resources Code Chapter 42. The county itself neither licenses nor zones home daycares in unincorporated areas.
No person may operate a child-care facility or child-placing agency without a license issued by the department.
Full Breakdown
Child care is regulated by the state, not the county. Human Resources Code Section 42.041 bars operating a child-care facility without a license from the Department of Family and Protective Services, administered through Texas Health and Human Services. Home-based care is tiered: a listed family home covers up to three unrelated children, a registered family home up to six, and a licensed child-care home up to twelve, each with its own state requirements for background checks, safety, and inspection. Williamson County issues no separate daycare permit and cannot zone the use in unincorporated areas.
Violations & Fines
Operating an unlicensed or unregistered child-care home is a state offense; Texas Health and Human Services can order the home closed, seek civil penalties, and refer criminal charges under Chapter 42.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a license to run a daycare from my home?
Does Williamson County regulate home daycares?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Williamson County
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Williamson County to another location·View the Texas home business overview
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