Whenever you take responsibility for someone else’s children, you can expect the state to keep a very close eye on you and your operation. Like other states, Texas enforces multiple rules and many regulations and, in some ways, is stricter than other states. You can’t, for example, operate a child care center in your own home in Texas. Since September of 2003, the address of your care location must be different from the address of your residence.

Texas law requires that you take a day care center pre-application class before you apply for a day care license. There are two separate classes, one for those intending to operate 24-hour care facilities and another for day care. Contact your nearest Child Care Licensing Office to sign up. There are many licensing offices located around the state and in most major cities.

Day care requires a minimum of 24 hours of training within 90 days of opening your center. You’ll also have to attend ongoing classes for 30 hours a year if you’re personally directing your own day care center. Otherwise, your director must attend.

Submit an application to the state for a day care license – Form 2910 – along with Form 3010, a fee schedule. It costs $35 to apply for a day care license as of 2017, and the fee is nonrefundable. You can get forms for both the application and the schedule at your nearby Child Care Licensing Office, or you can apply online at the Department of Health and Human Services website if you open an account with the state.

The application asks for information such as how you’ve set up your business entity – whether you plan to operate as a sole proprietor, a partnership or a corporation – as well as how many children you plan to accommodate and what services you’ll offer. You must disclose if you’ve ever been turned down for a license before and provide proof of liability insurance. You must also submit to a fingerprint and criminal history check.

Texas law imposes rules for your day care premises, and you should become familiar with them before you start setting up your location. For example, each child you care for must have his own storage space for personal belongings. These spaces don’t necessarily have to be constructed as part of the building or require special furniture. You can use laundry baskets as long as you have one dedicated to each child. This not only gives kids a sense of belonging and a home base in the midst of a new environment, but it can also help contain communicable illnesses and infestations. You should receive a packet with a full list of the rules when you take your training class. Otherwise, ask your local licensing office for one.

The state will inspect your premises before you open, and you can expect a visit from your local fire prevention official as well. Annual sanitation inspections are required after you open.