Who needs a child development center license in District of Columbia?
Issued by Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE), Division of Early Learning, Licensing and Compliance Unit, at step 4 of 6 in the opening sequence: get the permits for your kind of business.
1 of the 20 kinds of business in District of Columbia
Attend the licensing orientation, then apply with the certificate of occupancy for daycare use, the fire and health approvals, the floor plan and the director’s credentials; background checks, including fingerprinting, cover every staff member before the licensing inspection. The Department of Buildings publishes its own guide to the zoning and construction steps for a childcare operation.
Checked Oct 21, 2026 against the agency’s page.
Step 4 of 6: Get the permits for your kind of business
1Set up the business
2Register for tax
3Approve the space
4Get the permits for your kind of business
5Alcohol permits
6Before the first hire
Issued by Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE), Division of Early Learning, Licensing and Compliance Unit.
Sources and dates
OSSE final rulemaking on the licensing of child development facilities, 5-A DCMR chapter 1, section 108 (fees); OSSE licensing process pages. Checked against the agency’s page on the date shown; cities add their own fees.
Questions about opening here.
No. In District of Columbia it is listed for daycares.
No. In District of Columbia it is listed for daycares.
No. In District of Columbia it is listed for daycares.
No. In District of Columbia it is listed for daycares.
No. In District of Columbia it is listed for daycares.
No. In District of Columbia it is listed for daycares.
No. In District of Columbia it is listed for daycares.
No. In District of Columbia it is listed for daycares.
No. In District of Columbia it is listed for daycares.
No. In District of Columbia it is listed for daycares.
No. In District of Columbia it is listed for daycares.
No. In District of Columbia it is listed for daycares.
No. In District of Columbia it is listed for daycares.
No. In District of Columbia it is listed for daycares.
No. In District of Columbia it is listed for daycares.
No. In District of Columbia it is listed for daycares.
No. In District of Columbia it is listed for daycares.
No. In District of Columbia it is listed for daycares.
Yes. Attend the licensing orientation, then apply with the certificate of occupancy for daycare use, the fire and health approvals, the floor plan and the director’s credentials; background checks, including fingerprinting, cover every staff member before the licensing inspection.
No. In District of Columbia it is listed for daycares.
Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE), Division of Early Learning, Licensing and Compliance Unit.
Step 4 of 6, get the permits for your kind of business. The steps before it: set up the business, register for tax and approve the space.
Who needs a child development center license in District of Columbia?
