Who is required to become licensed?

Effective January 1, 1991, all Family Day Care Homes in Broward County were required to become licensed. To operate without a license in Broward County is considered a misdemeanor of the first degree, and is punishable by law.

Section 402.302(5), Florida Statues, reads as follows: "Family Day Care Homes" (Family Child Care Homes) means an occupied residence in which child care is regularly provided for children from at least two unrelated families and which receives a payment, fee, or grant for any of the children receiving care, whether or not operated for profit. A family day care home sha ll be allowed to provide care for one of the following groups of children, which includes those children under 13 years of age who are related to the caregiver.

• a) A maximum of four children birth to 12 months of age.
• b) A maximum of three chi ldren from birth to 12months of age, and other children, for a maximum total of six children.
• c) A maximum of six preschool children if all are older than 12 months of age.
• d) A maximum of 19 children if no more than five are preschool age and of those 5, no more than two are under 12 months of age.

Child care licensing staff is ava ilable to assist you at any time during the period of licensure to ensure compliance.

Any non-compliance with numbers and ages of children is subject to a fine, not to exceed $100, as found in S.402.313, Florida Statues.

If you have any questions, please contact the Broward County Child Care licensing and Enforcement Section at {954)​