Florida regulates family and large family child care homes uniformly under Chapter 402, setting capacity limits, training, and inspection requirements applicable statewide.
Fla. Stat. 402.313 governs family day care homes (up to 10 children) and 402.3131 covers large family child care homes (up to 12 children with an assistant). Operators must register or license with the Department of Children and Families (DCF), complete the 40-hour Introductory Child Care Training, hold valid CPR/First Aid certification, and submit to Level 2 background screening under Chapter 435. While zoning approval may be locally required, the operational standards (ratios, training, inspections, screenings) apply uniformly across Florida.
Operating an unlicensed or unregistered family day care home is a misdemeanor of the first degree. DCF may issue cease-and-desist orders, fines up to $100 per day, and revoke licenses for noncompliance.
See how Vero Beach's home daycare rules stack up against other locations.
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