Social Services

Day Care - How to become licensed

You've decided to open a day care business in your home, so what do you do next? In Sherburne County, the next step is to get licensed. In order to become licensed, you must do the following:

  1. Attend Orientation.  At that session you will be given general information about how to qualify for a license, what is expected of licensed providers, the food programs, fire inspections, and basic business and tax requirements. You will also get the forms and instructions necessary to apply for licensure. The Orientation session is free and there is no registration requirement - feel free to simply show up on the date you choose!

    Daycare Licensing Orientations for 2013
    • Thursday, January 10
    • Thursday, March 7
    • Thursday, May 2
    • Thursday, June 27
    • Thursday, August 22
    • Thursday, October 17
    • Thursday, December 12

    Meetings are held from 8am – 11am in the Board Room at the Sherburne County Government Center, and you must stay for the entire session to meet this licensing requirement. No child care is provided, so please make other arrangements for your own children.  Please bring a writing utensil with you.  Also, we cannot guarantee a food vendor on the date of your orientation.  Therefore, if you will be here over the lunch hour, please feel free to bring a sack lunch.

    Directions to the Sherburne County Government Center  

  2. Obtain training.  Prior to becoming licensed for family child care, you will need to show proof of the following training:

    Infant/child CPR training & First Aid training
    must be approved by American Red Cross or American Heart Association
    Sudden Infant Death Syndrome training & Shaken Baby Syndrome training PDF
    required if caring for any infant, including your own 
    Child Passenger Safety training 
    required if transporting daycare children age 8 or younger

    For your convenience, SIDS and Shaken Baby Syndrome training* will be held on the dates of the orientation session. 
    *Please note that separate registration/payment are required for these trainings.  See schedule for registration/payment directions.

  3. Complete and return Application materials
    These will be explained in detail at the orientation session, and includes:
    • Application
    • Background Check Consent
    • Initial Licensing Evaluation
    • Fact Sheet
    • Privacy Rights Notice
    • Either a Certificate of Occupancy, or a $50 money order/cashier's check made out to "DPS – State Fire Marshal."
    • Licensing inspection and Background Study fee of $150 made payable to Sherburne County Social Services (this can be a personal check, unlike the Fire Marshal Check)
    • Licensing Fee Policy (pdf)
  4. Make changes to meet requirements set forth by the Day Care Rule
    In some instances, you will need to make some adjustments to your home, but for the most part, you will only need to check and update safety measures and purchase equipment. You may need to put smoke detectors on all levels of your home, have a fire extinguisher in cooking areas, unload and store firearms and ammunition in a separately locked, inaccessible area, keep knives and sharp objects as well as poisons and medications in inaccessible areas, and have a first aid kit, among other things. You will also need to provide appropriate equipment for children in your care, such as toys, places to nap, outdoor equipment, etc. Toys and equipment may be new, used, commercial, or homemade as long as they are appropriate for the ages of the children and activities for which they will be used. Equipment must also be safe, in good repair, and lead-free. A safety/sanitation checklist will be provided at orientation.
  5. Have a physical exam
    An adult caregiver shall be physically able to care for children. The applicant shall supply documentation to the agency with the license application that the applicant has had a physical examination from a licensed physician within 12 months prior to initial licensure and is physically able to care for children. The applicant shall supply documentation to the agency with the license application that all adult caregivers who are assisting with care on a regular basis (more than 30 days) have had a physical examination from a licensed physician within 12 months prior to employment. Forms to document this will be supplied at orientation.
  6. Maintain pets
    All household pets housed within the residence shall be maintained in good health and limited to dogs, cats, fish, guinea pigs, gerbils, rabbits, hamsters, rats, and mice. Birds who are clear of chlamydia psittaci are also acceptable.
  7. Fire Marshal Code Inspection
    In some cases, a Fire Marshal will need to inspect your home prior to the licensor coming out. Please note that there is a $50 fee for this inspection. Minnesota State Fire Marshall
  8. Call to request a licensing home visit
    Once the necessary paperwork has been submitted to Sherburne County, you have received your background check clearance letter, and you feel your house will meet day care requirements, then you must call the licensor to schedule a home visit. The licensor will inspect your house, review your application for licensing, and discuss any relevant issues or concerns.