Connecticut Daycare License Renewal — Timeline, Fee, and What the OEC Checks

How Long a Connecticut Family Child Care License Lasts

A family child care home license in Connecticut is valid for four years. The OEC sends renewal paperwork before your license expires, but the responsibility to file on time sits with you. If you continue caring for more than three unrelated children after the license lapses, you would be operating an unlicensed daycare in violation of state law.

The renewal fee is $40, the same as the initial application. Governor Lamont has proposed eliminating occupational licensing fees, but as of 2026 the $40 charge under CGS § 19a-87b remains in effect.

What You Need for Renewal

The renewal packet isn't as heavy as the initial application, but it still requires up-to-date documentation across several categories.

Current training certifications. Keep your CPR and first aid certificates current and on file with the OEC. If your medication administration certification has lapsed (oral/topical/inhalant approvals expire every three years; injectable approvals expire annually), recertify before administering those medications.

Updated background checks. The OEC may require refreshed fingerprint clearances and DCF registry checks for you and any household members who've turned 16 since your last application. If a new household member age 16 or older has moved into your home, they'll need the full screening — state and national criminal history, DCF abuse registry, and sex offender registry checks.

Child health and immunization records. Infants, toddlers, and preschoolers need a health assessment completed within the prior 12 months, along with immunization documentation for each enrolled child. Homeless children get a 90-day enrollment grace period.

Updated enrollment and emergency information. Parent contact details, emergency contacts, scheduled care hours, and allergy/medical disclosures must be current. The OEC expects these records to be on-site and immediately accessible during any visit.

The Unannounced Annual Inspection

Renewal or not, the OEC conducts at least one unannounced inspection every year. Licensing specialists check child-to-staff ratios, the physical environment, safe sleep compliance, training records, and child documentation.

The results — including any cited violations, corrective action plans, and substantiated complaints from the past five years — go onto the eLicensing public database. Families can look up your compliance history, and a pattern of violations during your current license term can complicate renewal.

The best renewal strategy is treating every day like inspection day. Keep your records current, your training certifications active, and your physical space compliant. When the analyst walks in unannounced, you want the only surprise to be the knock on your door.

Timing Your Renewal Right

Start the renewal process early. Background check processing can take time — fingerprints have historically taken over 90 days to clear — so don't wait until the last minute if new household members need screening.

If you've had any changes to your home (renovations, new pool, different heating system), address those proactively. A physical change that triggers a code issue during a renewal inspection can delay your license and force you to reduce enrollment while you remediate.

The Connecticut Home Daycare Process Guide includes a renewal preparation timeline that maps out exactly when to schedule recertifications, update records, and submit paperwork so nothing falls through the cracks.

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