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11 permits · verified 2026-10-12

What permits do you need to open a childcare centre in Kent County De?

In short

A childcare centre in Kent County De, DE has 2 permits that apply to every business of this type, plus 9 more that depend on your premises, signage or how you are set up. Kent County Department of Planning Services, Planning Division charges $50 per zoning certificate of use ("Certificate of use: $50", Kent County Code §128-42A(8)(b)) for the zoning certificate of use (where kent county enforces zoning). 5 of the 11 are charged as a range or formula rather than a flat fee. Verified 2026-10-12 against the issuing agencies’ published fee schedules.

Permits particular to a childcare centre in Kent County De

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Home Occupation, Home-Based Contractor Establishment or Home Professional Office Approval (administrative PC/C review)only if it applies to youKent County Department of Planning Services, Planning DivisionKent County Code §128-42A(1)(e)[1]: "Home occupation/professional office/home-based contractor's establishment/school bus parking: $300 (plus $250 if public hearing required)"; §128-42A(1)(h): "Second and each subsequent review: $150."per approval, subject to the conditions of approval for the use2026-10-12
Child Care LicenseDelaware Department of Education, Office of Child Care LicensingNo feeconfirm the license term for standard centers and family child care homes with the Office of Child Care Licensing2026-09-04

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 Kent County De

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Kent County Building Permit (commercial construction, fit-out, renovation, signs, demolition)only if it applies to youKent County Department of Planning Services, Division of Inspections and EnforcementVaries — formula on the Kent County De pageKent County Code §105-4G: a permit becomes invalid unless work starts within 180 days after issuance, or if work is suspended or abandoned for 180 days (written extensions of up to 180 days each may be granted); §105-4H: once work has begun, a permit is valid for one year from issuance; §105-4I: work must be completed and pass final inspection within two years, and after the first 12 months a permit may be renewed for one additional twelve-month period ($50 renewal permit, §128-42C(1)(s))2026-10-12
Business Certificate of Occupancy and Temporary Certificate of Occupancyonly if it applies to youKent County Department of Planning Services, Division of Inspections and EnforcementVaries — formula on the Kent County De pagecertificate of occupancy: issued once for the building and occupancy classification, until the occupancy changes; temporary certificate: issued in thirty-day increments2026-10-12
Zoning Certificate of Use (where Kent County enforces zoning)only if it applies to youKent County Department of Planning Services, Planning Division$50 per zoning certificate of use ("Certificate of use: $50", Kent County Code §128-42A(8)(b))continues in effect as long as the use is in complete conformity with Chapter 205; a certificate is required for each use, and it continues in effect when the ownership of the property changes as long as the use does not change (§205-52F)2026-10-12
Sewer Connection Permit and Main System Capital Improvement Fee (Kent County central sewer)only if it applies to youKent County Department of Public WorksVaries — formula on the Kent County De pagethe sewerage connection permit is valid for 18 months after receipt of payment by the Department of Public Works, then becomes null and void (Table 128-I-1(5))2026-10-12

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

DE 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
Certificate of Formation (LLC)only if it applies to youDelaware Department of State, Division of Corporations$110 one-time filingperpetual, but a flat $300 tax is owed every year2026-09-04
Certificate of Incorporationonly if it applies to youDelaware Department of State, Division of Corporations$109 minimum one-time filing; rises with a larger authorized-share structureperpetual, but an annual report and franchise tax are due every year2026-09-04
LLC Annual Taxonly if it applies to youDelaware Department of State, Division of Corporations$300 a year, flatannual — due every June 12026-09-04
Business LicenseDelaware Division of Revenue$75 a year for most classifications, $90 for general retailers; each additional location adds $25 or $40annual, expiring December 31 — a 3-year license may be bought after the first year at exactly three times the annual fee2026-09-04
Annual Report and Franchise Taxonly if it applies to youDelaware Department of State, Division of CorporationsVaries — formula on the DE pageannual — due every March 12026-09-04

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 Kent County De?

There is no single figure, and any site quoting one is rounding away the part that matters. Of the 11 records listed for a childcare centre in Kent County De, DE, 2 apply to every business of this type and 9 are conditional. Adding every fee on the page together would overstate what most operators pay, because it would include permits they never need.

Of the 2 that always apply, 1 carry a flat fee, coming to $75.00. That is a floor, not a total. 5 of the 11 are charged as a range or a formula set by the issuing agency, and 1 has no fee published at all. The ones particular to this business that vary:

Home Occupation, Home-Based Contractor Establishment or Home Professional Office Approval (administrative PC/C review): Kent County Code §128-42A(1)(e)[1]: "Home occupation/professional office/home-based contractor's establishment/school bus parking: $300 (plus $250 if public hearing required)"; §128-42A(1)(h): "Second and each subsequent review: $150."

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

Which offices issue these permits in Kent County De?

Permits for a childcare centre in Kent County De, DE come from 6 separate offices: Kent County Department of Planning Services, Division of Inspections and Enforcement, Kent County Department of Planning Services, Planning Division, Kent County Department of Public Works, Delaware Department of Education, Office of Child Care Licensing, Delaware Department of State, Division of Corporations, Delaware Division of Revenue. 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 Kent County De 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 Kent County De: Child Care License.

Home Occupation, Home-Based Contractor Establishment or Home Professional Office Approval (administrative PC/C review)

In the Kent County zoning use table, "Home occupations", "Home-based contractor establishment, no outdoor storage" and "Professional office (home-based)" are PC/C uses; under §205-53A(5) "PC/C" indicates a use permitted through an administrative review process that can be subject to formal conditional use review, with specific conditions of approval. Section 205-55 defines a HOME-BASED CONTRACTOR ESTABLISHMENT as a residential parcel with a contractor's business, owned and operated by the owner-occupants, as an accessory use, and defines a FAMILY CHILD-CARE HOME as a dwelling licensed or qualified to be licensed by the State of Delaware, limited to six full-time and three part-time or latch key children (nine in all), that "shall be approved by kent County Levy Court as an authorized home occupation". Home occupations may not change the outside appearance of the dwelling, generate traffic, parking, sewerage or water use beyond what is normal, create objectionable noise, smoke, fumes, odour, dust or electrical interference, or store or display anything outside; §205-55 lists unsuitable uses including child-care centres of more than nine children, automobile service or repair, and on-premises veterinarian services. Under §205-423 (added 4-25-2023 by Ord. No. 23-06) the application includes a plot plan, a description of the use, a floor plan and any signage, and the applicant notifies all property owners within 200 feet by certified mail; if a letter of objection is received, the application is processed as a conditional use needing Levy Court approval. As set in Kent County Code §128-42A(1)(e)[1] and (h): $300, plus $250 if a public hearing is required, and $150 for each second or later review. The Planning Division handles these applications at (302) 744-2471. A home business inside one of the 20 municipalities applies to that town.

Child Care License

No fee, because Delaware's own Office of Child Care Licensing states plainly that there is no charge for the license itself — the only costs involved come from third-party inspections the regulations still require, such as a fire marshal inspection, a lead-risk assessment or radon testing, each billed separately by the inspecting party rather than by the licensing office.

The other 4 local permits in the tables apply to every type of business in Kent County De, DE; what each one involves is set out on the Kent County De permits page. The 5 state-level registrations apply to every type of business across DE and are covered on the DE state page.

How does a childcare centre compare with other businesses in Kent County De?

The closest match is a contractor or trade, which shares 1 of these permits. A childcare centre also needs Child Care License. A contractor or trade needs Contractor Business License, Plumbing or HVACR License and Electrician License, which a childcare centre does not.

Permits particular to each business type in Kent County De, DE, compared with a childcare centre
BusinessIts own permitsShared with a childcare centreOnly a childcare centre needsOnly it needs
Contractors and trades4113
Auto repair shops2022
Coffee shops3023
Fitness studios0020
Food trucks3023
Restaurants3023
Retail stores2022
Salons and barbers1021
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 Kent County De permits page and the DE state page. Confirmed by Editorial Team.

  1. Kent County Code §128-42 (Department of Planning Services fees), amended through Ord. No. 25-12 (5-27-2025)Kent County, Delaware (via ecode360) · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-12
  2. Kent County Code Chapter 205, Article V (Use regulations), including §205-52, §205-53 and §205-55Kent County, Delaware (via ecode360) · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-12
  3. Kent County Code Chapter 205, Article XXIX, including §205-416, §205-417 and §205-423Kent County, Delaware (via ecode360) · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-12
  4. Planning ServicesKent County Department of Planning Services · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-12
  5. Municipal Information (building permits)Kent County Levy Court · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-12
  6. Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing — FAQ confirming there is no fee for a child care licenseDelaware Department of Education · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-04

Related

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