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9 permits · verified 2026-10-10

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

In short

A childcare centre in Washtenaw County, MI 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. Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Corporations, Securities and Commercial Licensing Bureau charges $50 one-time filing, non-refundable for the articles of organization (llc). 5 of the 9 are charged as a range or formula rather than a flat fee. Verified 2026-10-10 against the issuing agencies’ published fee schedules.

Permits particular to a childcare centre in Washtenaw County

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Child Care Facility Environmental Health Inspectiononly if it applies to youWashtenaw County Health Department, Environmental Health DivisionInspection of private childcare facilities, children's camps and child caring institutions: $290 on municipal sewer and water, $481 on a private well and/or sewage disposal system. Child day care home (1-6 residents) $290; (7+ residents) $290 municipal / $481 private. Plan review for new facilities or additions $119; re-inspection within 6 months $170 (2026 Environmental Health Fee Schedule, effective January 1, 2026).per inspection2026-10-10
Child Care Centre LicenseMichigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement and Potential, Child Care Licensing Bureau$150–$300 original application, banded by capacity; renewal is exactly halfa six-month original license first, then two years2026-09-03

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 Washtenaw County

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Commercial Onsite Sewage and Type II Well Permits (conditional — premises on a private well or septic system)only if it applies to youWashtenaw County Health Department, Environmental Health DivisionVaries — formula on the Washtenaw County pageper permit2026-10-10
Commercial Driveway Approach Permit (county road right-of-way)only if it applies to youWashtenaw County Road CommissionVaries — formula on the Washtenaw County pageper permit2026-10-10

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

MI 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
Articles of Organization (LLC)only if it applies to youMichigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Corporations, Securities and Commercial Licensing Bureau$50 one-time filing, non-refundableno expiry, but an annual statement is due every 15 February2026-09-03
Articles of Incorporationonly if it applies to youMichigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Corporations, Securities and Commercial Licensing Bureau$60 one-time minimum — a $10 fee plus an organization fee from $50, banded by authorised sharesno expiry, but an annual report is due every 15 May2026-09-03
General Business License — Michigan state positiononly if it applies to youMichigan Department of Agriculture and Rural DevelopmentNo feenot applicable at state level2026-09-03
Sales Tax LicenseMichigan Department of TreasuryNo feeissued yearly, valid January to December2026-09-03
Annual Report or Annual Statementonly if it applies to youMichigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Corporations, Securities and Commercial Licensing BureauVaries — formula on the MI pageannual — 15 February for an LLC, 15 May for a corporation2026-09-03

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 Washtenaw County?

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 Washtenaw County, MI, 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:

Child Care Facility Environmental Health Inspection: Inspection of private childcare facilities, children's camps and child caring institutions: $290 on municipal sewer and water, $481 on a private well and/or sewage disposal system. Child day care home (1-6 residents) $290; (7+ residents) $290 municipal / $481 private. Plan review for new facilities or additions $119; re-inspection within 6 months $170 (2026 Environmental Health Fee Schedule, effective January 1, 2026).

Child Care Centre License: $150–$300 original application, banded by capacity; renewal is exactly half

The other 3 variable fees belong to permits that apply to every type of business here; their formulas are set out on the Washtenaw County permits page and the MI state page.

Which offices issue these permits in Washtenaw County?

Permits for a childcare centre in Washtenaw County, MI come from 6 separate offices: Washtenaw County Health Department, Environmental Health Division, Washtenaw County Road Commission, Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Corporations, Securities and Commercial Licensing Bureau, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Michigan Department of Treasury, Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement and Potential, Child Care Licensing Bureau. 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 Washtenaw County 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 Washtenaw County: Child Care Facility Environmental Health Inspection and Child Care Centre License.

Child Care Facility Environmental Health Inspection

The Washtenaw County Health Department's 2026 Environmental Health Fee Schedule lists child care environmental health inspections under its 'Department of Health & Human Services Inspection Program'. An inspection of a private childcare facility, children's camp or child caring institution is $290 if the facility is on municipal sewer and water and $481 if it is on a private well and/or sewage disposal system. An inspection of a child day care home with 1-6 residents is $290, and with 7 or more residents $290 or $481 on the same basis. The figure is from the Washtenaw County Health Department's 2026 Environmental Health Fee Schedule, the county fee schedule linked from the Environmental Health Division's Applications, Forms & Fees page, which states that its fees are effective January 1, 2026. The schedule also lists a $119 plan review for new facilities or additions and $170 for a re-inspection performed within 6 months of the original inspection. Contact Washtenaw County Environmental Health at 734-222-3800 to arrange an inspection.

Child Care Centre License

Four capacity bands — $150 up to twenty children, then $200, $250 and $300 above a hundred — and the renewal is exactly half the original in every band, which the public application page does not show at all; those figures live on the renewal form and in statute. Get the agency right, because most guidance is stale: child care licensing moved from the regulatory affairs department to the new lifelong education department, and content naming LARA is out of date. A home-based provider pays far less, $50 for a family home of up to six children or $100 for a group home of seven to twelve, and homes are licensed to the individual rather than to a business. A group home also needs local zoning approval. Fees are non-refundable even if the license is refused, and licensing takes three to twelve months for a centre.

The other 2 local permits in the tables apply to every type of business in Washtenaw County, MI; what each one involves is set out on the Washtenaw County permits page. The 5 state-level registrations apply to every type of business across MI and are covered on the MI state page.

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

The closest match is a auto repair shop, which shares 0 of these permits. A childcare centre also needs Child Care Facility Environmental Health Inspection and Child Care Centre License. A auto repair shop needs Pollution Prevention (P2) Program Annual Fee (conditional — 56 gallons / 450 pounds or more; county-wide, including cities), Motor Vehicle Repair Facility Registration and Mechanic Certification, which a childcare centre does not.

Permits particular to each business type in Washtenaw County, MI, compared with a childcare centre
BusinessIts own permitsShared with a childcare centreOnly a childcare centre needsOnly it needs
Auto repair shops3023
Coffee shops6026
Contractors and trades2022
Fitness studios1021
Food trucks7027
Restaurants6026
Retail stores3023
Salons and barbers3023
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 Washtenaw County permits page and the MI state page. Confirmed by Editorial Team.

  1. 2026 Environmental Health Fee Schedule (fees effective January 1, 2026)Washtenaw County Health Department, Environmental Health Division · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-10
  2. Environmental Health — Applications, Forms & FeesWashtenaw County Health Department · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-10
  3. Michigan MiLEAP — apply for a child care centre licenseMichigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement and Potential · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-03
  4. Michigan MiLEAP — apply for a child care home licenseMichigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement and Potential · 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.