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7 permits · verified 2026-10-08

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

In short

A childcare centre in Monmouth County, NJ has 2 permits that apply to every business of this type, plus 5 more that depend on your premises, signage or how you are set up. New Jersey Department of the Treasury, Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services charges $75 a year; $30 for a nonprofit for the annual report. 2 of the 7 are charged as a range or formula rather than a flat fee. Verified 2026-10-08 against the issuing agencies’ published fee schedules.

Permits particular to a childcare centre in Monmouth County

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Childcare/Preschool Immunization Re-Inspection Fee (County Health Department Member Towns)only if it applies to youMonmouth County Health Department (Office of Public Health), Monmouth County Board of Health$100–$500 per re-inspection: first $100, second within two years $250, third within two years $500; initial inspection carries no fee (Board of Health Ordinance 1-2020, Section V)per re-inspection2026-10-08
Child Care Centre LicenseNew Jersey Department of Children and Families, Office of Licensing$110–$250 for three years, banded by licensed capacity3 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.

NJ 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
Annual Reportonly if it applies to youNew Jersey Department of the Treasury, Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services$75 a year; $30 for a nonprofitannual — due the last day of the entity's anniversary month2026-09-03
General Business License — New Jersey Business Action Center Positiononly if it applies to youNew Jersey Department of the Treasury, Division of Revenue and Enterprise ServicesNo feeset by the municipality2026-09-03
Certificate of Incorporationonly if it applies to youNew Jersey Department of the Treasury, Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services$100 one-time filingno expiry, but an annual report is due each anniversary month2026-09-03
Certificate of Formation (LLC)only if it applies to youNew Jersey Department of the Treasury, Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services$100 one-time filingno expiry, but an annual report is due each anniversary month2026-09-03
Business Registration (Form NJ-REG)New Jersey Department of the Treasury, Division of Revenue and Enterprise ServicesNo feeone-time registration — no renewal2026-09-03

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 Monmouth County?

There is no single figure, and any site quoting one is rounding away the part that matters. Of the 7 records listed for a childcare centre in Monmouth County, NJ, 2 apply to every business of this type and 5 are conditional. Adding every fee on the page together would overstate what most operators pay, because it would include permits they never need.

2 of the 7 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:

Childcare/Preschool Immunization Re-Inspection Fee (County Health Department Member Towns): $100–$500 per re-inspection: first $100, second within two years $250, third within two years $500; initial inspection carries no fee (Board of Health Ordinance 1-2020, Section V)

Child Care Centre License: $110–$250 for three years, banded by licensed capacity

Which offices issue these permits in Monmouth County?

Permits for a childcare centre in Monmouth County, NJ come from 3 separate offices: Monmouth County Health Department (Office of Public Health), Monmouth County Board of Health, New Jersey Department of the Treasury, Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services, New Jersey Department of Children and Families, Office of Licensing. 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 Monmouth 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 Monmouth County: Childcare/Preschool Immunization Re-Inspection Fee (County Health Department Member Towns) and Child Care Centre License.

Childcare/Preschool Immunization Re-Inspection Fee (County Health Department Member Towns)

This is a county re-inspection charge, not a license. Monmouth County Board of Health Ordinance 1-2020 states that the Board of Health enforces N.J.A.C. 8:57-4, "Immunization of Pupils in School", to ensure that children are up to date on mandated vaccinations before attending childcare and preschools. Section V states that there is no fee for the initial inspection of childcare centers and preschools, and sets Childcare/Preschool Immunization Re-Inspection fees of $100.00 for the first re-inspection, $250.00 for a second within two years and $500.00 for a third within two years. Unpaid fees after thirty days lead to a municipal court summons and a penalty of not less than $100.00, per the same section. The fee applies only in the 34 member municipalities listed on the Health Department's About page: Aberdeen, Allentown, Asbury Park, Atlantic Highlands, Avon, Belmar, Bradley Beach, Eatontown, Englishtown, Farmingdale, Hazlet, Highlands, Holmdel, Howell, Keansburg, Keyport, Lake Como, Little Silver, Manasquan, Marlboro, Matawan, Middletown, Millstone, Neptune City, Neptune Township, Oceanport, Ocean Township, Red Bank, Roosevelt, Shrewsbury Borough, Shrewsbury Township, Union Beach, Upper Freehold and West Long Branch. Freehold Borough is served by the Freehold Area Health Department, according to that department's own page.

Child Care Centre License

Six capacity bands from $110 at six to fifteen children up to $250 above a hundred and eighty, and the figure buys three years rather than one — which makes New Jersey among the cheapest states per year for a licensed centre. The same amount applies to an initial license and a renewal, with no separate application, inspection or late fee. A Head Start centre or a school-age programme that charges parents nothing pays a flat $110. Banding is on licensed capacity, not enrolment, and a license is needed for six or more children under thirteen. Apply at least forty-five days before opening or expiry. A temporary license may precede the regular one at no extra cost but eats into the three years. Family child care is different in kind as well as price: it is voluntary registration through a county sponsoring organisation at $25 for three years, and the money is the organisation's rather than the state's.

The 5 state-level registrations apply to every type of business across NJ and are covered on the NJ state page.

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

The closest match is a auto repair shop, which shares 0 of these permits. A childcare centre also needs Childcare/Preschool Immunization Re-Inspection Fee (County Health Department Member Towns) and Child Care Centre License. A auto repair shop needs County Planning Board Site Plan and Subdivision Review (Development Review Committee), Automotive Repair Shop Licensing — Motor Vehicle Commission Position (New Jersey) and Auto Body Repair Facility License, which a childcare centre does not.

Permits particular to each business type in Monmouth County, NJ, compared with a childcare centre
BusinessIts own permitsShared with a childcare centreOnly a childcare centre needsOnly it needs
Auto repair shops3023
Coffee shops5025
Contractors and trades5025
Fitness studios1021
Restaurants5025
Retail stores4024

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 Monmouth County permits page and the NJ state page. Confirmed by Editorial Team.

  1. Monmouth County Board of Health Ordinance No. 1-2020, Program and Service Fee OrdinanceMonmouth County Board of Health, New Jersey · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-08
  2. Monmouth County MCHD Board of Health Ordinances pageMonmouth County, New Jersey · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-08
  3. Monmouth County Health Department, About page (municipalities served)Monmouth County, New Jersey · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-08
  4. Freehold Area Health Department, About UsFreehold Area Health Department, New Jersey · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-08
  5. New Jersey Administrative Code title 3A, chapter 52 — manual of requirements for child care centers, including the three-year licensing fee tableNew Jersey Department of Children and Families · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-03
  6. New Jersey Administrative Code title 3A, chapter 54 — manual of requirements for family child care registrationNew Jersey Department of Children and Families · 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.