Fla. Stat. 402.308
Issuance of license


(1)

ANNUAL LICENSING.Every child care facility in the state shall have a license which shall be renewed annually.

(2)

CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP.Every child care facility shall reapply for and receive a license prior to the time a new owner assumes responsibility for the facility. The department shall grant or deny the reapplication for license within 45 days from the date upon which the child care facility reapplies.

(3)

STATE ADMINISTRATION OF LICENSING.In any county in which the department has the authority to issue licenses, the following procedures shall be applied:Application for a license or for a renewal of a license to operate a child care facility shall be made in the manner and on the forms prescribed by the department. The applicant’s social security number shall be included on the form submitted to the department. Pursuant to the federal Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, each applicant is required to provide his or her social security number in accordance with this section. Disclosure of social security numbers obtained through this requirement shall be limited to the purpose of administration of the Title IV-D program for child support enforcement.Prior to the renewal of a license, the department shall reexamine the child care facility, including in that process the examination of the premises and those records of the facility as required under s. 402.305, to determine that minimum standards for licensing continue to be met.The department shall coordinate all inspections of child care facilities. A child care facility is not required to implement a recommendation of one agency that is in conflict with a recommendation of another agency if such conflict arises due to uncoordinated inspections. Any conflict in recommendations shall be resolved by the secretary of the department within 15 days after written notice that such conflict exists.The department shall issue or renew a license upon receipt of the license fee and upon being satisfied that all standards required by ss. 402.301-402.319 have been met. A license may be issued if all the screening materials have been timely submitted; however, a license may not be issued or renewed if any of the child care personnel at the applicant facility have failed the screening required by ss. 402.305(2) and 402.3055.

(a)

Application for a license or for a renewal of a license to operate a child care facility shall be made in the manner and on the forms prescribed by the department. The applicant’s social security number shall be included on the form submitted to the department. Pursuant to the federal Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, each applicant is required to provide his or her social security number in accordance with this section. Disclosure of social security numbers obtained through this requirement shall be limited to the purpose of administration of the Title IV-D program for child support enforcement.

(b)

Prior to the renewal of a license, the department shall reexamine the child care facility, including in that process the examination of the premises and those records of the facility as required under s. 402.305, to determine that minimum standards for licensing continue to be met.

(c)

The department shall coordinate all inspections of child care facilities. A child care facility is not required to implement a recommendation of one agency that is in conflict with a recommendation of another agency if such conflict arises due to uncoordinated inspections. Any conflict in recommendations shall be resolved by the secretary of the department within 15 days after written notice that such conflict exists.

(d)

The department shall issue or renew a license upon receipt of the license fee and upon being satisfied that all standards required by ss. 402.301-402.319 have been met. A license may be issued if all the screening materials have been timely submitted; however, a license may not be issued or renewed if any of the child care personnel at the applicant facility have failed the screening required by ss. 402.305(2) and 402.3055.

(4)

LOCAL ADMINISTRATION OF LICENSING.In any county in which there is a local licensing agency approved by the department, the following procedures shall apply:Application for a license or for renewal of license to operate a child care facility shall be made in the manner and on the forms prescribed by the local licensing agency.Prior to the renewal of a license, the agency shall reexamine the child care facility, including in that process the examination of the premises and records of the facility as required in s. 402.305 to determine that minimum standards for licensing continue to be met.The local agency shall coordinate all inspections of child care facilities. A child care facility is not required to implement a recommendation of one agency that is in conflict with a recommendation of another agency if such conflict arises due to uncoordinated inspections. Any conflict in recommendations shall be resolved by the county commission or its representative within 15 days after written notice that such conflict exists.The local licensing agency shall issue a license or renew a license upon being satisfied that all standards required by ss. 402.301-402.319 have been met. A license may be issued or renewed if all the screening materials have been timely submitted; however, the local licensing agency shall not issue or renew a license if any of the child care personnel at the applicant facility have failed the screening required by ss. 402.305(2) and 402.3055.

(a)

Application for a license or for renewal of license to operate a child care facility shall be made in the manner and on the forms prescribed by the local licensing agency.

(b)

Prior to the renewal of a license, the agency shall reexamine the child care facility, including in that process the examination of the premises and records of the facility as required in s. 402.305 to determine that minimum standards for licensing continue to be met.

(c)

The local agency shall coordinate all inspections of child care facilities. A child care facility is not required to implement a recommendation of one agency that is in conflict with a recommendation of another agency if such conflict arises due to uncoordinated inspections. Any conflict in recommendations shall be resolved by the county commission or its representative within 15 days after written notice that such conflict exists.

(d)

The local licensing agency shall issue a license or renew a license upon being satisfied that all standards required by ss. 402.301-402.319 have been met. A license may be issued or renewed if all the screening materials have been timely submitted; however, the local licensing agency shall not issue or renew a license if any of the child care personnel at the applicant facility have failed the screening required by ss. 402.305(2) and 402.3055.

(5)

ISSUANCE OF LOCAL OCCUPATIONAL LICENSES.No county or municipality shall issue an occupational license which is being obtained for the purpose of operating a child care facility regulated under this act without first ascertaining that the applicant has been licensed to operate such facility at the specified location or locations by the department or local licensing agency. The department or local licensing agency shall furnish to local agencies responsible for issuing occupational licenses sufficient instruction for making the above required determinations.

Source: Section 402.308 — Issuance of license, https://www.­flsenate.­gov/Laws/Statutes/2024/0402.­308 (accessed Aug. 7, 2025).

402.04
Award of scholarships and stipends
402.05
Requisites for holding scholarship and stipend
402.06
Notes required of scholarship holders
402.07
Payment of notes
402.12
National Community Mental Health Centers Act
402.16
Proceedings by department
402.17
Claims for care and maintenance
402.18
Welfare trust funds
402.19
Photographing records
402.20
County contracts authorized for services and facilities for mental health and developmental disabilities
402.22
Education program for students who reside in residential care facilities operated by the Department of Children and Families or the Agency for Persons with Disabilities
402.24
Recovery of third-party payments for medical services
402.26
Child care
402.33
Department authority to charge fees for services provided
402.34
Body corporate
402.35
Employees
402.40
Child welfare training and certification
402.41
Educational materials and training concerning HIV infections and AIDS
402.47
Foster grandparent and retired senior volunteer services to high-risk and handicapped children
402.49
Mediation process established
402.56
Children’s cabinet
402.57
Direct-support organizations
402.62
Strong Families Tax Credit
402.70
Interagency agreement between Department of Health and Department of Children and Families
402.71
Transfer of funds, positions, and budget authority within department
402.73
Contracting and performance standards
402.80
Office of Community Partners
402.81
Pharmaceutical expense assistance
402.82
Electronic benefits transfer program
402.86
Rulemaking authority for refugee assistance program
402.87
Services to immigrant survivors of human trafficking, domestic violence, and other serious crimes
402.88
Persons with Disabilities Registry
402.115
Sharing confidential or exempt information
402.161
Authorization for sale of property
402.164
Legislative intent
402.165
Florida Statewide Advocacy Council
402.166
Florida local advocacy councils
402.167
Duties of state agencies that provide client services relating to the Florida Statewide Advocacy Council and the Florida local advocacy councils
402.181
State Institutions Claims Program
402.185
Productivity enhancing technology
402.261
Child care tax credits
402.301
Child care facilities
402.302
Definitions
402.305
Licensing standards
402.306
Designation of licensing agency
402.307
Approval of licensing agency
402.308
Issuance of license
402.309
Provisional license or registration
402.310
Disciplinary actions
402.311
Inspection
402.312
License required
402.313
Family day care homes
402.314
Supportive services
402.315
Funding
402.316
Exemptions
402.317
Prolonged child care
402.318
Advertisement
402.319
Penalties
402.402
Child protection and child welfare personnel
402.403
Child Protection and Child Welfare Personnel Tuition Exemption Program
402.404
Child Protection and Child Welfare Personnel Student Loan Forgiveness Program
402.715
Office of Quality
402.731
Department of Children and Families certification programs for employees and service providers
402.881
Adult safe houses
402.3025
Public and nonpublic schools
402.3026
Full-service schools
402.3054
Child enrichment service providers
402.3055
Child care personnel requirements
402.3115
Elimination of duplicative and unnecessary inspections
402.3125
Display and appearance of license
402.3131
Large family child care homes
402.7305
Department of Children and Families
402.7306
Administrative monitoring of child welfare providers, and administrative, licensure, and programmatic monitoring of mental health and substance abuse service providers
402.30501
Modification of introductory child care course for community college credit authorized

Current through Fall 2025

§ 402.308. Issuance of license's source at flsenate​.gov