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11 permits · verified 2026-10-14

What permits do you need to open a childcare centre in Johnson County Ia?

In short

A childcare centre in Johnson County Ia, IA has 1 permit that applies to every business of this type, plus 10 more that depend on your premises, signage or how you are set up. Johnson County Planning, Development and Sustainability charges $250 per site plan review application, including Administrator-approved site plans, as published on the county's PDS Fee Schedule page for the site plan review (unincorporated johnson county). 5 of the 11 are charged as a range or formula rather than a flat fee. Verified 2026-10-14 against the issuing agencies’ published fee schedules.

Permits particular to a childcare centre in Johnson County Ia

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Child Care Centre LicenseIowa Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Child Care$50–$150 banded by licensed capacity24 months2026-09-04

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 Johnson County Ia

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Electrical, Plumbing and Mechanical Permits (Johnson County Planning, Development and Sustainability)only if it applies to youJohnson County Planning, Development and SustainabilityVaries — formula on the Johnson County Ia pageas for building permits: work must begin within 180 days of issuance; written 180-day extensions may be granted (Building Permits FAQ)2026-10-14
Site Plan Review (unincorporated Johnson County)only if it applies to youJohnson County Planning, Development and Sustainability$250 per site plan review application, including Administrator-approved site plans, as published on the county's PDS Fee Schedule pageper project2026-10-14
Building Permit (Johnson County Planning, Development and Sustainability)only if it applies to youJohnson County Planning, Development and SustainabilityVaries — formula on the Johnson County Ia pagework must begin within 180 days of issuance and may not be suspended or abandoned for more than 180 days; the building official may grant written extensions of 180 days (Building Permits FAQ)2026-10-14
Change of Occupancy Permit (Johnson County Planning, Development and Sustainability)only if it applies to youJohnson County Planning, Development and Sustainability$50 per change of occupancy permit, as published on the county's Building Permit Fee Schedule page; the certificate of occupancy issued after inspection is listed there at no chargeper change of occupancy; a new certificate of occupancy is issued after the inspection is approved2026-10-14
Conditional Use Permit (Board of Adjustment, unincorporated Johnson County)only if it applies to youJohnson County Planning, Development and Sustainability$250 per conditional use permit application to the Board of Adjustment, as published on the county's PDS Fee Schedule page ($50 more for any modification after publication that requires republication)per application2026-10-14
Private Sewage Disposal (Septic) Construction Permit and Commercial/Industrial Use Permitonly if it applies to youJohnson County Public HealthVaries — formula on the Johnson County Ia pageconstruction permit expires 1 year from issue, with one extension of up to 1 year on request (§4.06); commercial/industrial use permit renewed annually (§4.09(A))2026-10-14

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

IA 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 Organization (LLC)only if it applies to youIowa Secretary of State, Business Services Division$50 one-time filingperpetual, but a biennial report is due every two years2026-09-04
Articles of Incorporationonly if it applies to youIowa Secretary of State, Business Services Division$50 one-time filingperpetual, but a biennial report is due every two years2026-09-04
General Business License — Iowa positiononly if it applies to youIowa Economic Development Authority, Business License Information CenterNo feenot applicable2026-09-04
Biennial Reportonly if it applies to youIowa Secretary of State, Business Services DivisionVaries — formula on the IA pagean LLC files between 1 January and 1 April of every odd year; a corporation files in the same window of every even year2026-09-04

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 Johnson County Ia?

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 Johnson County Ia, IA, 1 apply to every business of this type and 10 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 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:

Child Care Centre License: $50–$150 banded by licensed capacity

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

Which offices issue these permits in Johnson County Ia?

Permits for a childcare centre in Johnson County Ia, IA come from 5 separate offices: Johnson County Planning, Development and Sustainability, Johnson County Public Health, Iowa Secretary of State, Business Services Division, Iowa Economic Development Authority, Business License Information Center, Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Child Care. 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 Johnson County Ia that other businesses do not?

1 of the 1 permit particular to a childcare centre here applies to no other business type we cover in Johnson County Ia: Child Care Centre License.

Child Care Centre License

A regulatory fee scaling in five even steps by capacity — $50 for a centre up to twenty children, rising through $75, $100 and $125 to $150 for anything over a hundred and fifty — charged once at issuance and again at every renewal, on a full 24-month license rather than an annual one. A registered child development home, the smaller in-home category, is a separate license type on the same 24-month cycle; statute permits a fee of up to $150 or $187 depending on category, though the agency's own guidance is widely reported to charge nothing in practice for that category — confirm the current position directly rather than assuming either figure.

The other 6 local permits in the tables apply to every type of business in Johnson County Ia, IA; what each one involves is set out on the Johnson County Ia permits page. The 4 state-level registrations apply to every type of business across IA and are covered on the IA state page.

How does a childcare centre compare with other businesses in Johnson County Ia?

The closest match is a auto repair shop, which shares 0 of these permits. A childcare centre also needs Child Care Centre License. A auto repair shop needs Automotive Repair Shop Licensing — Iowa position, which a childcare centre does not.

Permits particular to each business type in Johnson County Ia, IA, compared with a childcare centre
BusinessIts own permitsShared with a childcare centreOnly a childcare centre needsOnly it needs
Auto repair shops1011
Coffee shops5015
Contractors and trades4014
Fitness studios3013
Food trucks4014
Restaurants5015
Retail stores4014
Salons and barbers3013
Veterinary clinics1011

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 Johnson County Ia permits page and the IA state page. Confirmed by Editorial Team.

  1. Iowa Department of Health and Human Services — child care centres and preschools licensing standards, revised July 2025Iowa Department of Health and Human Services · 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.