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9 permits · verified 2026-09-28

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

In short

A childcare centre in Jefferson County Al, AL has 2 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). 5 of the 9 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 Jefferson County Al

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
JCDH Daycare Center Health Permitonly if it applies to youJefferson County Department of Health, Food Protection and Environmental Health programs$150–$350 a year, by enrollment — under 20 children $150, 21 to 40 children $200, 41 or more children $350 (JCDH Food & Lodging Fee Codes); plan review is separate, $150 under 40 children or $350 for 41 or moreannual2026-09-28
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 Jefferson County Al

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Development Services Building / Zoning Permit (unincorporated county)only if it applies to youJefferson County Department of Development Services, Building Division (ePermitJC)Varies — formula on the Jefferson County Al pageone-time, per permit or application2026-09-28
Jefferson County Entity Business License TaxJefferson County Revenue Department, Business License SectionVaries — formula on the Jefferson County Al pageannual2026-09-28

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 Jefferson County Al?

There is no single figure, and any site quoting one is rounding away the part that matters. Of the 9 records listed for a childcare centre in Jefferson County Al, AL, 2 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.

5 of the 9 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:

JCDH Daycare Center Health Permit: $150–$350 a year, by enrollment — under 20 children $150, 21 to 40 children $200, 41 or more children $350 (JCDH Food & Lodging Fee Codes); plan review is separate, $150 under 40 children or $350 for 41 or more

The other 4 variable fees belong to permits that apply to every type of business here; their formulas are set out on the Jefferson County Al permits page and the AL state page.

Which offices issue these permits in Jefferson County Al?

Permits for a childcare centre in Jefferson County Al, AL come from 7 separate offices: Jefferson County Department of Health, Food Protection and Environmental Health programs, Jefferson County Department of Development Services, Building Division (ePermitJC), Jefferson County Revenue Department, Business License Section, 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 Jefferson County Al that other businesses do not?

2 of the 2 permits particular to a childcare centre here apply to no other business type we cover in Jefferson County Al: JCDH Daycare Center Health Permit and Day Care Centre or Day Care Home License.

JCDH Daycare Center Health Permit

A Jefferson County childcare center that prepares or serves food on-site needs this JCDH daycare center health permit, in addition to its state Department of Human Resources childcare license — the state's own minimum standards for day care centers require a copy of a current health department food permit whenever food is prepared on-site, or written health-department approval of the food-service plan when food is served but prepared elsewhere. JCDH's own fee schedule prices this by enrollment: $150 a year for under 20 children, $200 for 21 to 40, and $350 for 41 or more, with a separate plan review fee of $150 or $350 by the same size break. A childcare center that neither prepares nor serves any food on-site would not trigger this particular JCDH permit, though it would still need its state DHR 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.

The other 2 local permits in the tables apply to every type of business in Jefferson County Al, AL; what each one involves is set out on the Jefferson 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 Jefferson County Al?

The closest match is a auto repair shop, which shares 0 of these permits. A childcare centre also needs JCDH Daycare Center Health Permit and Day Care Centre or Day Care Home License. A auto repair shop needs Garage and Repair Shop Privilege License and Store License, which a childcare centre does not.

Permits particular to each business type in Jefferson County Al, AL, compared with a childcare centre
BusinessIts own permitsShared with a childcare centreOnly a childcare centre needsOnly it needs
Auto repair shops2022
Coffee shops4024
Contractors and trades3023
Fitness studios1021
Food trucks3023
Restaurants4024
Retail stores3023
Salons and barbers2022
Veterinary clinics1021

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 that apply to every type of business are listed on the Jefferson County Al permits page and the AL state page. Confirmed by Editorial Team.

  1. Jefferson County Department of Health — Food and Lodging Fee CodesJefferson County Department of Health · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-08
  2. Food Protection programJefferson County Department of Health · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-28
  3. 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
  4. 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.