How to Start a Daycare Center in Georgia: DECAL Child Care Learning Center License and Fees

October 29, 2026

If you plan to care for seven or more children outside your home, you need a Child Care Learning Center (CCLC) license from the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL). DECAL uses the Bright from the Start brand, and it licenses child care programs across the state. This guide covers the order in which to do the work, the documents DECAL asks for, the annual license fee scale, and the mistakes that send applications back.

Disclaimer: This is informational content, not legal, tax or licensing advice. Requirements change, and DECAL's current rules control. Talk with a qualified attorney and a CPA before you sign a lease or commit money to equipment, and confirm each requirement with DECAL before you file.

Choose the right license first

Two Georgia child care licenses fit small programs. A Family Child Care Learning Home serves 3 to 6 children. A Child Care Learning Center serves 7 or more. This page covers centers only. If you plan a smaller home-based program, read how to start a home daycare business in Georgia instead, because the application, floor plan and fee are different.

Set up the business before you apply

DECAL checks your business records, so the entity, tax and local steps come first. Do them in this order.

1. Form your entity with the Secretary of State. An LLC files Articles of Organization and a corporation files Articles of Incorporation. Each costs $110 total ($100 filing fee plus a $10 service charge), online through eCorp or on paper. Online filings take about 7 to 10 business days, and paper filings take about 15 business days. Expedited review costs $120 for 2 business days, $275 for same-day review if received by noon, or $1,200 for one hour on business days. You can reserve a name for 30 days for $35. The name on your DECAL application must match the state record exactly. For the LLC steps, see how to start an LLC in Georgia.
2. Register for taxes if you need to. Register with the Department of Revenue through the Georgia Tax Center if you sell taxable goods or have employees. Sales tax registration is free. Georgia does not issue a state business license, and the sales tax registration is not one. Georgia levies no franchise tax on a typical single-member or partnership LLC. Corporations, and LLCs taxed as corporations, owe a net worth tax of $0 to $5,000 depending on net worth. For the broader tax picture, see Georgia business taxes.
3. File a trade name if you will operate under a different name. Trade names (DBAs) are filed with the Clerk of Superior Court in the county where the business is chiefly carried on, not with the Secretary of State. Expect a clerk fee of about $165 plus a newspaper notice published once a week for two weeks. Confirm the exact amount with your county clerk.
4. Name a registered agent with a Georgia street address. The agent must be a Georgia resident or a corporation authorized to do business in Georgia, and the registered office cannot be a P.O. box or mail drop. Your entity cannot serve as its own agent.
5. Get zoning approval before you sign a lease. Zoning approval must come from the proper local agency and be dated within the last 12 months when you file with DECAL. Apply for it before you commit to a building.
6. Get the local occupation tax certificate. Georgia's local business license is called an occupation tax certificate. A city issues it for businesses inside city limits, and the county issues it for unincorporated areas. Each of Georgia's 159 counties and about 537 cities sets its own formula, deadlines and prerequisites. Private employers with more than 10 employees must file an E-Verify affidavit to get the certificate (O.C.G.A. 36-60-6). See Georgia business license requirements and Georgia E-Verify requirements.
7. Carry workers' compensation at three or more workers. The requirement counts part-time workers. Read Georgia workers' compensation requirements before you hire.

The DECAL application, in order

Everything is filed through DECAL's online KOALA portal. DECAL does not accept email or fax submissions. Decide which approvals your center needs, because the list below depends on your building, your food service and whether you transport children. If an approval you hold is older than DECAL allows, get written confirmation from the agency that issued it.

1. Complete the Child Care Licensing Orientation. Register through the Georgia Professional Development System (GaPDS), finish the course, and upload the certificate. The certificate must be dated within the last 24 months.
2. Show active, compliant registration with the Secretary of State. Upload the certificate, the articles, and the operating agreement (LLC) or bylaws (corporation). The names on the application must match the state record.
3. Provide proof of ownership or a lease. Upload the deed or the signed lease for the building. If a homeowners association governs the property, upload its approval letter.
4. Submit a notarized affidavit of lawful presence. Attach a copy of the verification document. DECAL will not issue a license until lawful presence verification is complete.
5. Upload zoning approval. The approval must be from the proper local agency and dated within the last 12 months.
6. Submit a floor plan and a site plan. Both must meet DECAL's checklists. Show room sizes, exits, bathrooms, and outdoor play space. Have a professional draw the plans if your layout is complex.
7. Submit your operations plan. Use DECAL's Operations Plan Checklist. If you do not use DECAL's sample employee, orientation and enrollment forms, submit your own versions that cover the same items.
8. Provide fire safety documentation. Upload a State or local Fire Marshal inspection and a building Certificate of Occupancy.
9. Submit a staff profile sheet. List the director and every staff member. Each person needs a satisfactory criminal record check on file.
10. Document staff credentials. Lead teachers must meet DECAL's credential rules. Examples DECAL names include a Technical Certificate of Credit (TCC), a Child Development Associate (CDA), diploma transcripts, an associate or bachelor's degree, or a professional learning plan. For the director, upload a copy of the completed 40-hour director training and the director's credentials. Also upload current CPR and first aid certification for the required staff and a 10-year work history for the director. Confirm which credential path applies to each person before you file.
11. Upload building, food and transportation documents. Provide a current water bill for the center address. If the water bill does not show sewer service, upload a septic inspection dated within the last 12 months. If the center serves food, upload the food service permit and the latest inspection report. If the center transports children, upload the driver and director training certificates, a vehicle inspection passed within 12 months, the vehicle registration, and proof of insurance.

Annual license fees

DECAL sets the annual fee by licensed capacity. These are the fees on DECAL's fee page at decal.ga.gov.

Licensed capacity	Annual license fee
Up to 25 children	$50
26 to 50 children	$100
51 to 100 children	$150
101 to 200 children	$200
Over 200 children	$250

All licenses expire December 31. DECAL collects the next year's fee starting November 1, and the payment is due December 1. For example, 2027 licenses are due December 1, 2026. Pay on time. A late fee equal to half the license fee is added after December 31. Separately, state law lets DECAL impose a late fee of up to $250 if you do not pay within 30 days of the due date.

What happens after you submit

DECAL states that processing takes a minimum of 60 days for centers. The clock starts only after DECAL has received, screened and confirmed your application. An incomplete application can be returned, closed or denied. Before you file, check every upload against the checklist, confirm that each date falls inside its window, and make sure names match your state record.

For questions, call 404-657-5562 and ask for the Consultant of the Day.

Compliance rules to read before you fix your plan

Staff ratios, group sizes and space requirements are set in DECAL's center rules, and they depend on the ages of the children you enroll. Read the current rules on decal.ga.gov by searching for licensing rules before you choose your age mix, hire staff, or finalize your floor plan.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Signing a lease before zoning approval. If the zoning answer comes back negative, you may have a lease you cannot use.
• Mismatched names. A name on the application that differs from the Secretary of State record can stall your file.
• Sending documents by email or fax. DECAL does not accept them. Use KOALA.
• Using an old orientation certificate. The certificate must fall within the last 24 months.
• Paying the wrong local authority. A business inside a city pays the city for its occupation tax certificate, not the county.
• Skipping the septic inspection. If your water bill does not show sewer service, the septic inspection is required.
• Forgetting workers' compensation. The requirement applies at three or more workers, including part-time staff.
• Missing the December 1 payment date. Late fees apply even when your license is otherwise in good standing.

What to expect

A complete package filed on the first pass may move through screening with fewer returns, although DECAL does not promise a set timeline beyond its 60-day minimum for centers. Many applicants find that the planning steps, especially zoning, the building documents and staff credentials, take longer than the paperwork itself. Plan your opening date around the processing minimum, and do not schedule enrollment or payroll until you have a clear answer from DECAL.

Next steps

Start with the entity filing and the zoning request, because both affect your lease and your building choice. Then complete the orientation, collect staff credentials and criminal record checks, and build your operations plan. Confirm each requirement with DECAL on decal.ga.gov or at 404-657-5562. Consult a qualified attorney and CPA for your specific situation before you commit to a lease, a loan or a hiring plan.

Disclaimer: This article is informational only and is not legal, tax or licensing advice. Fees, deadlines and rules are subject to change. Verify current requirements with the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning, the Secretary of State, and the Department of Revenue before you act.