Who needs a child care center license in Tennessee?
Issued by Tennessee Department of Human Services, Child Care Services, at step 4 of 6 in the opening sequence: get the permits for your kind of business.
A license is required to care for five or more unrelated children three or more hours a day; a center is the largest class, above family and group homes. Apply with the zoning and fire approvals, the health inspection, the floor plan and the director’s credentials; background checks cover every staff member, and the Department issues a temporary license before the first full license. The licensing rules were rewritten in 2025 and 2026.
Draft. This row was drafted from the agency’s own page and has not yet been confirmed against it. Confirm it with the agency before you pay anything.
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 Tennessee Department of Human Services, Child Care Services.
Sources and dates
Department of Human Services summary of licensing requirements for child care agencies (February 2026); rules chapter 1240-04-01 (revised November 2025); Tennessee Code 37-5-502. Checked against the agency’s page on the date shown; cities add their own fees.
Questions about opening here.
No. In Tennessee it is listed for daycares.
No. In Tennessee it is listed for daycares.
No. In Tennessee it is listed for daycares.
No. In Tennessee it is listed for daycares.
No. In Tennessee it is listed for daycares.
No. In Tennessee it is listed for daycares.
No. In Tennessee it is listed for daycares.
No. In Tennessee it is listed for daycares.
No. In Tennessee it is listed for daycares.
No. In Tennessee it is listed for daycares.
No. In Tennessee it is listed for daycares.
No. In Tennessee it is listed for daycares.
No. In Tennessee it is listed for daycares.
No. In Tennessee it is listed for daycares.
No. In Tennessee it is listed for daycares.
No. In Tennessee it is listed for daycares.
No. In Tennessee it is listed for daycares.
No. In Tennessee it is listed for daycares.
Yes. A license is required to care for five or more unrelated children three or more hours a day; a center is the largest class, above family and group homes.
No. In Tennessee it is listed for daycares.
Tennessee Department of Human Services, Child Care Services.
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 care center license in Tennessee? | DoorWorthy
