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10 permits · verified 2026-09-28

What permits do you need to open a childcare centre in Baldwin County Al?

In short

A childcare centre in Baldwin County Al, AL has 3 permits that apply to every business of this type, plus 7 more that depend on your premises, signage or how you are set up. Alabama Secretary of State, Business Services charges $200 one-time filing for the certificate of formation (llc). 6 of the 10 are charged as a range or formula rather than a flat fee. Verified 2026-09-28 against the issuing agencies’ published fee schedules.

Permits particular to a childcare centre in Baldwin County Al

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
General County Privilege License — Other Business Classifications (retail, childcare, fitness)Baldwin County Probate Office, Licensing Division (Judge of Probate Harry D'Olive Jr.)Priced by the specific Title 40-12 classification that applies to the business (for example general mercantile/retail dealers, or another classification not broken out as its own Baldwin County record); the Probate Office's Licensing Division and the ALDOR Handbook of Privilege and Store Licenses determine the applicable classification and its combined state+county feeannual; due October 1, delinquent November 1 (§40-12-26); 15% delinquency penalty plus 6% annual interest (§40-12-10(e))2026-09-28
Day Care Centre or Day Care Home LicenseAlabama Department of Human Resources, Child Care Services DivisionNo fee2 years, for centres and homes alike2026-09-03

Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.

Local permits that apply to every type of business in Baldwin County Al

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Special County Privilege License Tax (1% of Gross Receipts)Baldwin County Commission (county governing body)Varies — formula on the Baldwin County Al pagerecurring, tied to the business's ongoing gross receipts; administered under the County Commission's authority to levy this tax under Act 83-5322026-09-28
Building Permit — Unincorporated Baldwin Countyonly if it applies to youBaldwin County Building Inspection DepartmentVaries — formula on the Baldwin County Al pageone-time, per permit2026-09-28
Zoning / Land-Use Review — Unincorporated Baldwin Countyonly if it applies to youBaldwin County Planning & Zoning DepartmentVaries — formula on the Baldwin County Al pageper application2026-09-28

Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.

AL registrations that apply to every type of business

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
State and County Business Privilege Licenseonly if it applies to youAlabama Department of Revenue, Business and License Tax DivisionVaries — formula on the AL pageannual — 1 October to 30 September, delinquent 1 November2026-09-03
Certificate of Formation (LLC)only if it applies to youAlabama Secretary of State, Business Services$200 one-time filingperpetual — Alabama abolished the annual report in 20242026-09-03
Certificate of Incorporationonly if it applies to youAlabama Secretary of State, Business Services$200 one-time filingperpetual — Alabama abolished the annual report in 20242026-09-03
Corporation Annual Report (abolished)only if it applies to youAlabama Secretary of State, Business ServicesNo feenot applicable — the filing no longer exists2026-09-03
Business Privilege Taxonly if it applies to youAlabama Department of Revenue, Sales and Use Tax DivisionVaries — formula on the AL pageannual — due when the matching federal return is due2026-09-03

Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.

How much does it actually cost to permit a childcare centre in Baldwin County Al?

There is no single figure, and any site quoting one is rounding away the part that matters. Of the 10 records listed for a childcare centre in Baldwin County Al, AL, 3 apply to every business of this type and 7 are conditional. Adding every fee on the page together would overstate what most operators pay, because it would include permits they never need.

6 of the 10 are charged as a range or a formula set by the issuing agency, and 2 have no fee published at all. The ones particular to this business that vary:

General County Privilege License — Other Business Classifications (retail, childcare, fitness): Priced by the specific Title 40-12 classification that applies to the business (for example general mercantile/retail dealers, or another classification not broken out as its own Baldwin County record); the Probate Office's Licensing Division and the ALDOR Handbook of Privilege and Store Licenses determine the applicable classification and its combined state+county fee

The other 5 variable fees belong to permits that apply to every type of business here; their formulas are set out on the Baldwin County Al permits page and the AL state page.

Which offices issue these permits in Baldwin County Al?

Permits for a childcare centre in Baldwin County Al, AL come from 8 separate offices: Baldwin County Probate Office, Licensing Division (Judge of Probate Harry D'Olive Jr.), Baldwin County Commission (county governing body), Baldwin County Building Inspection Department, Baldwin County Planning & Zoning Department, Alabama Department of Revenue, Business and License Tax Division, Alabama Secretary of State, Business Services, Alabama Department of Revenue, Sales and Use Tax Division, Alabama Department of Human Resources, Child Care Services Division. No single office issues them all, which is why an opening means filing in several places rather than one.

What does a childcare centre need in Baldwin County Al that other businesses do not?

1 of the 2 permits particular to a childcare centre here applies to no other business type we cover in Baldwin County Al: Day Care Centre or Day Care Home License.

Day Care Centre or Day Care Home License

No fee, and this is a genuine zero rather than a gap: the two licensing chapters contain no dollar figure at all except the criminal penalties for operating without a license, and the application form names no fee beyond the criminal history check. The license runs two years for every category — a day care centre, a nighttime centre, a day care home taking up to six children, or a group day care home taking seven to twelve with at least two adults supervising. A six-month permit is available where standards are not yet fully met. One large exemption to know about: a preschool that is an integral part of a local church ministry or a religious nonprofit elementary school need not be licensed, but must notify the department thirty days before opening, submit to inspection, carry a million dollars of liability cover per occurrence, and post publicly that it is not regulated or licensed by the department.

Shared with other businesses in Baldwin County Al

  • General County Privilege License — Other Business Classifications (retail, childcare, fitness) — Baldwin County Probate Office, Licensing Division (Judge of Probate Harry D'Olive Jr.), Priced by the specific Title 40-12 classification that applies to the business (for example general mercantile/retail dealers, or another classification not broken out as its own Baldwin County record); the Probate Office's Licensing Division and the ALDOR Handbook of Privilege and Store Licenses determine the applicable classification and its combined state+county fee, annual; due October 1, delinquent November 1 (§40-12-26); 15% delinquency penalty plus 6% annual interest (§40-12-10(e)). Also required for retail stores and fitness studios; what it involves is set out on the fitness studios page.

The other 3 local permits in the tables apply to every type of business in Baldwin County Al, AL; what each one involves is set out on the Baldwin County Al permits page. The 5 state-level registrations apply to every type of business across AL and are covered on the AL state page.

How does a childcare centre compare with other businesses in Baldwin County Al?

The closest match is a fitness studio, which shares 1 of these permits. A childcare centre also needs Day Care Centre or Day Care Home License. A fitness studio needs Public Swimming Pool / Spa Permit and Massage Parlor License, which a childcare centre does not.

Permits particular to each business type in Baldwin County Al, AL, compared with a childcare centre
BusinessIts own permitsShared with a childcare centreOnly a childcare centre needsOnly it needs
Fitness studios3112
Retail stores3112
Auto repair shops3023
Coffee shops6026
Contractors and trades3023
Food trucks4024
Restaurants6026
Salons and barbers5025
Veterinary clinics2022

Sources

Every figure for the permits explained on this page was read from one of these government pages on the date shown. Sources for the permits shared with other businesses are listed with their explanations on the fitness studios page. Sources for the permits that apply to every type of business are listed on the Baldwin County Al permits page and the AL state page. Confirmed by Editorial Team.

  1. Alabama Administrative Code chapter 660-5-26 — day care centre and nighttime centre licensing, with the two-year termAlabama Department of Human Resources · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-03
  2. Alabama Administrative Code chapter 660-5-27 — day care home and group day care home licensingAlabama Department of Human Resources · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-03

Related

Commercial Compliance Hub publishes information, not legal advice. Requirements change — confirm anything you rely on with the issuing agency before you file.