Service overview
There are two types of child care facilities:
- Family Child Care
- Commercial Child Care
To operate a family child care facility, you need the Child Care Facility License issued by Philadelphia’s Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I).
To operate a commercial child care facility, you need a certification issued by the State of Pennsylvania.
Family child care facilities
This type of facility must:
- Be a one- or two-family dwelling.
- Be the child care provider’s primary residence.
- Not serve more than the number of children approved by the Zoning Permit.
- Areas 1 and 2: Maximum of four children
- Area 3: Maximum of six children
- Elsewhere in the city: Maximum of six children, except by special exception that allows a maximum of 12 children
Family child care facility areas
Use the map below to find the area where your business is located.
- Areas 1 and 2
- Area 3
Who
Anyone operating a Family Child Care center needs this license.
Requirements
Other licenses and registrations
- Registration from the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare
- Philadelphia Tax Identification Number (PHTIN)
- Commercial Activity License
- Zoning approval
- License Eligibility Report (LER). This report is issued by the Office of Food Protection after you’ve gotten a Stationary Plan Review and passed your inspection.
Ownership information
Your license will be issued to the legal entity listed on the Commercial Activity License and your Philadelphia Tax Account. Any trade name or “Doing Business As” (DBA) must also be listed on your Commercial Activity License.
Your License Eligibility Report (LER) application must also list the legal entity and trade names, exactly as they appear on your Commercial Activity License (CAL). This information must also correspond to the legal entity and any “Doing Business As” (DBA) or trade names registered with your Philadelphia Tax Account.
If you do not accurately list your legal entity and DBA/trade name information, you may need to amend your LER, CAL, and/or tax account.
Safety and inspections
- Child care businesses need to follow the fire safety requirements.
- A valid lead-free or lead-safe certification must be submitted to the Department of Public Health before this license can be obtained or renewed.
- Commercial child care facilities are regulated by Pennsylvania’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning.
- The Philadelphia Department of Public Health inspects both family and commercial child care facilities.
Where and when
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Cost
A non-refundable application fee of $20 is applied toward the license fee. The balance is due after your facility passes the fire safety inspection.
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How
You can apply for this license online using eCLIPSE or in person at the Permit and License Center.
Online
Applications are reviewed within five business days.
This takes about 15 days.
If you fail the inspection, you must correct the issues. You have 35 days to comply. Once the corrections are complete, contact the district office to schedule a new inspection.
Upon inspection approval, L&I will provide the operator with an approved Residential Day Care Verification of Compliance form.
In person
Your application is reviewed while you wait.
This takes about 15 days.
If you fail the inspection, you must correct the issues. You have 35 days to comply. Once the corrections are complete, contact the district office to schedule a new inspection.
Upon inspection approval, L&I will provide the operator with an approved Residential Day Care Verification of Compliance form.
Fire safety inspections
All family child care facilities need an annual fire safety inspection from the City of Philadelphia.
Renewal requirements
You must renew this license annually. You can renew online through eCLIPSE or in person at the Permit and License Center.
To renew your license:
- You must be current on all City of Philadelphia taxes.
- The property is subject to annual inspection by L&I.