North Carolina Daycare Application Process Step by Step

You have finished the pre-licensing workshop, passed background checks, and modified your home. Now you are staring at the actual application packet, wondering what goes where and how long it all takes. The DCDEE application process for a family child care home in North Carolina is not complicated, but it is exacting — one missing attachment resets your timeline.

Assemble the Application Packet

The DCDEE provides a physical application form specific to family child care homes. You will need to gather and attach every supporting document before mailing anything:

• Completed application form (signed and dated)
• Pre-licensing workshop certificate
• Criminal Background Check Qualification Letters for you and every household member age 16 and older
• Zoning compliance letter or home occupation permit from your municipality
• HOA approval letter or landlord written permission (if applicable)
• Health questionnaire from a licensed healthcare provider
• Tuberculosis (TB) skin test results (within the past 12 months)
• Pet vaccination records (current rabies certificates for all dogs and cats)
• First Aid and Pediatric CPR certification cards
• ITS-SIDS training certificate (if you plan to care for infants)
• Floor plan showing designated care areas, outdoor play space, and emergency exits

Mail the complete packet to the DCDEE Regulatory Services Section at 2201 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-2200. Do not deliver it to the physical headquarters at 1915 Health Services Way — the mailing address is different from the office address.

The DCDEE Consultant Visit

After your application is received and reviewed for completeness, the DCDEE assigns a Lead Child Care Consultant to your case. The consultant contacts you to schedule an on-site pre-licensing inspection.

During the visit, the consultant walks through every room of your home that children will use. They verify that indoor activity space meets the 25-square-foot-per-child minimum, that your outdoor play area is fenced at least four feet high with impact-absorbing surfacing under tall equipment, and that smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, and childproofing measures are all in place. They also review your records binder — enrollment forms, emergency contact sheets, and the written Plan of Care template you will use for each family.

If the consultant finds deficiencies, you get a written list and a specific correction deadline. You do not automatically fail. Most issues are fixable: a missing outlet cover, an improperly stored cleaning product, a smoke detector that needs relocation. Correct everything within the stated window and the consultant re-inspects.

The $52 Annual License Fee

Once you pass the inspection and the DCDEE issues your initial temporary license, you pay a $52 annual license fee through the DCDEE online payment portal. This fee applies equally to family child care homes and centers located in a residence — it does not scale with your capacity. The fee is typically due by December 3 each calendar year.

Post your license in a visible location inside the care area. North Carolina law requires it to be displayed where parents can see it during drop-off and pickup.

Timeline: Start to License

The entire process, from registering for the pre-licensing workshop to holding your license, typically runs 13 to 17 weeks. Here is a realistic breakdown:

• Weeks 1–4: Pre-licensing workshop, zoning verification, landlord/HOA permissions
• Weeks 5–8: Home modifications, outdoor area fencing, safety equipment installation
• Weeks 9–12: Background checks (allow 2–4 weeks for fingerprint processing through ABCMS), health certifications, First Aid/CPR course
• Weeks 13–17: Application submission, consultant assignment, on-site inspection, corrections if needed, license issuance

The bottleneck is almost always the background check turnaround. If you have household members who lived out of state within the past five years, add time for those separate registry checks to clear.

What Comes After the License

Your one-star license lets you operate legally and accept private-pay families. To accept state child care subsidy vouchers (SCCA), you will need to earn at least a three-star rated license — that is a separate application process involving an NCRLAP environmental assessment. For the full sequence of steps from application through subsidy enrollment, the North Carolina Home Daycare Licensing Guide walks you through each phase with its own checklist.

See more North Carolina guides →