Sarasota County, FL Home Business: Home Daycare (2026)

313(1) lets counties adopt their own family day care home licensing ordinance in place of state registration, and Sarasota County has done so since 1991 under Ordinance No. 92-020, now Sarasota County Code Chapter 62, Article VI. Anyone operating a Family Child Care Home, defined as an occupied residence caring for children from at least two unrelated families for a fee, must hold a valid license from the Director of the Sarasota County Health Department before opening (Sec. 62-176(a)). Licenses are renewed annually, must be posted with the latest inspection report in view of the public, cannot be transferred between owners or locations, and must state the licensed hours and days of operation (Sec.

62-176(c)-(e)). S. 313(4) requires operators to complete an approved 30-clock-hour introductory child care course and pass a competency examination before caring for children, plus one continuing education unit (10 clock hours) annually under subsection (5). C. 009 (Sec. 62-174). Sarasota's ordinance also bans wading pools, sets a required indoor temperature of 68 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit for infants, requires a written emergency evacuation plan, and requires every vehicle used to transport children be inspected every six months (Secs. 62-177 to 62-180). Advertising a home daycare without printing its county license number is itself a violation (Sec.

62-182). Operators may seek a variance from the Board of County Commissioners, except from the state-standards section, by filing a written application and fee with the Health Department showing hardship unique to the home (Sec. 62-185). S. 313(12) protects licensed homes from being billed commercial utility rates.