9 permits · verified 2026-10-20
What permits do you need to open a childcare centre in Delaware County Oh?
In short
A childcare centre in Delaware County Oh, OH has 5 permits that apply to every business of this type, plus 4 more that depend on your premises, signage or how you are set up. Ohio Secretary of State, Business Services Division charges $99 one-time filing for the articles of organization (llc). 6 of the 9 are charged as a range or formula rather than a flat fee. Verified 2026-10-20 against the issuing agencies’ published fee schedules.
Permits particular to a childcare centre in Delaware County Oh
| Permit | Issuing agency | Fee | Renews | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food Service Operation / Retail Food Establishment License | Delaware Public Health District | Combined DPHD + state fee, 2026 schedule. Commercial under 25,000 sq ft: Risk I $314, Risk II $352, Risk III $646, Risk IV $812. Commercial over 25,000 sq ft: Risk I $443, Risk II $466, Risk III $1,576, Risk IV $1,668. Non-commercial under 25,000 sq ft: Risk I $157, Risk II $176, Risk III $323, Risk IV $406. Non-commercial over 25,000 sq ft: Risk I $221.50, Risk II $233, Risk III $788, Risk IV $834. Each total includes the state fee of $28 (commercial) or $14 (non-commercial), which is not a DPHD charge. A late renewal adds a penalty of 25% of the renewal fee. | one licensing period, March 1 to the last day of February (ORC 3717.01(P)); a license issued to a new operation after December 1 runs to the end of the next licensing period (ORC 3717.43(C)(1)(a)) | 2026-10-20 |
| Child Care Centre License | Ohio Department of Children and Youth | $50 one-time application | continuous — no renewal cycle | 2026-09-03 |
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 Delaware County Oh
| Permit | Issuing agency | Fee | Renews | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial Plumbing Permit and Plan Review | Delaware Public Health District | Varies — formula on the Delaware County Oh page | per project | 2026-10-20 |
| Commercial Building Permit and Plan Examination | Delaware County Department of Building Safety | Varies — formula on the Delaware County Oh page | a permit is invalid if work has not commenced within twelve months of issuance; one twelve-month extension is granted if the owner requests it at least ten days before expiration and pays any required fee | 2026-10-20 |
| Commercial Electrical, HVAC, Gas Piping and Fire Protection Permitsonly if it applies to you | Delaware County Department of Building Safety | Varies — formula on the Delaware County Oh page | per project; the Building Code's twelve-month permit validity and single twelve-month extension apply | 2026-10-20 |
| Certificate of Use and Occupancy | Delaware County Department of Building Safety | Varies — formula on the Delaware County Oh page | issued once all required inspections are approved; a temporary or time-limited certificate runs for the period the building official sets | 2026-10-20 |
| County Zoning Certificate (Marlboro, Radnor and Thompson Townships)only if it applies to you | Delaware County Department of Building Safety | Varies — formula on the Delaware County Oh page | per project | 2026-10-20 |
Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.
OH registrations that apply to every type of business
| Permit | Issuing agency | Fee | Renews | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Articles of Organization (LLC)only if it applies to you | Ohio Secretary of State, Business Services Division | $99 one-time filing | no expiry — Ohio requires no annual report | 2026-09-03 |
| Initial Articles of Incorporationonly if it applies to you | Ohio Secretary of State, Business Services Division | $99 one-time filing, minimum — see notes on authorised shares | no expiry — Ohio requires no annual report | 2026-09-03 |
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 Delaware County Oh?
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 Delaware County Oh, OH, 5 apply to every business of this type and 4 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 5 that always apply, 1 carry a flat fee, coming to $50.00. That is a floor, not a total. 6 of the 9 are charged as a range or a formula set by the issuing agency, and 0 have no fee published at all. The ones particular to this business that vary:
Food Service Operation / Retail Food Establishment License: Combined DPHD + state fee, 2026 schedule. Commercial under 25,000 sq ft: Risk I $314, Risk II $352, Risk III $646, Risk IV $812. Commercial over 25,000 sq ft: Risk I $443, Risk II $466, Risk III $1,576, Risk IV $1,668. Non-commercial under 25,000 sq ft: Risk I $157, Risk II $176, Risk III $323, Risk IV $406. Non-commercial over 25,000 sq ft: Risk I $221.50, Risk II $233, Risk III $788, Risk IV $834. Each total includes the state fee of $28 (commercial) or $14 (non-commercial), which is not a DPHD charge. A late renewal adds a penalty of 25% of the renewal fee.
The other 5 variable fees belong to permits that apply to every type of business here; their formulas are set out on the Delaware County Oh permits page and the OH state page.
Which offices issue these permits in Delaware County Oh?
Permits for a childcare centre in Delaware County Oh, OH come from 4 separate offices: Delaware Public Health District, Delaware County Department of Building Safety, Ohio Secretary of State, Business Services Division, Ohio Department of Children and Youth. No single office issues them all, which is why an opening means filing in several places rather than one.
- Delaware Public Health DistrictIssues 2 permits on this page: Food Service Operation / Retail Food Establishment License, Commercial Plumbing Permit and Plan Review470 S. Sandusky St., Delaware, OH 43015 · 740-368-1700www.delawarehealth.org
- Delaware County Department of Building SafetyIssues 4 permits on this page: Commercial Building Permit and Plan Examination, Commercial Electrical, HVAC, Gas Piping and Fire Protection Permits, Certificate of Use and Occupancy, County Zoning Certificate (Marlboro, Radnor and Thompson Townships)1610 State Route 521, PO Box 8006, Delaware, Ohio 43015 · (740) 833-2200buildingsafety.co.delaware.oh.us/commercial
- Ohio Secretary of State, Business Services DivisionIssues 2 permits on this page: Articles of Organization (LLC), Initial Articles of Incorporation22 North Fourth Street, Columbus, OH 43215 · (877) 767-6446bsportal.ohiosos.gov
- Ohio Department of Children and YouthIssues 1 permit on this page: Child Care Centre Licenseoclqs.force.com
What does a childcare centre need in Delaware County Oh 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 Delaware County Oh: Child Care Centre License.
Child Care Centre License
$50 once, and the license then runs indefinitely — Ohio issues a continuous license rather than one that expires, so there is no renewal fee. Oversight comes from inspection instead: at least one every state fiscal year. The $50 is charged again if the centre moves, which must be applied for thirty days ahead, or if the owner changes; it is never refunded or transferred. Note the agency changed: child care licensing moved from Job and Family Services to the Department of Children and Youth, and the rules were renumbered from OAC 5101:2-12 to 5180:2-12 on 2 January 2025, so older guidance names the wrong department. A family child care provider — types A and B alike, both now state-licensed rather than county-certified — pays $25 on the same continuous basis.
Shared with other businesses in Delaware County Oh
- Food Service Operation / Retail Food Establishment License — Delaware Public Health District, Combined DPHD + state fee, 2026 schedule. Commercial under 25,000 sq ft: Risk I $314, Risk II $352, Risk III $646, Risk IV $812. Commercial over 25,000 sq ft: Risk I $443, Risk II $466, Risk III $1,576, Risk IV $1,668. Non-commercial under 25,000 sq ft: Risk I $157, Risk II $176, Risk III $323, Risk IV $406. Non-commercial over 25,000 sq ft: Risk I $221.50, Risk II $233, Risk III $788, Risk IV $834. Each total includes the state fee of $28 (commercial) or $14 (non-commercial), which is not a DPHD charge. A late renewal adds a penalty of 25% of the renewal fee., one licensing period, March 1 to the last day of February (ORC 3717.01(P)); a license issued to a new operation after December 1 runs to the end of the next licensing period (ORC 3717.43(C)(1)(a)). Also required for restaurants, coffee shops, retail stores and fitness studios; what it involves is set out on the coffee shops page.
The other 5 local permits in the tables apply to every type of business in Delaware County Oh, OH; what each one involves is set out on the Delaware County Oh permits page. The 2 state-level registrations apply to every type of business across OH and are covered on the OH state page.
How does a childcare centre compare with other businesses in Delaware County Oh?
The closest match is a fitness studio, which shares 1 of these permits. A childcare centre also needs Child Care Centre License. A fitness studio needs Public Swimming Pool / Spa License and Vendor's License, which a childcare centre does not.
| Business | Its own permits | Shared with a childcare centre | Only a childcare centre needs | Only it needs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fitness studios | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Retail stores | 6 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| Coffee shops | 8 | 1 | 1 | 7 |
| Restaurants | 8 | 1 | 1 | 7 |
| Auto repair shops | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Contractors and trades | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Food trucks | 7 | 0 | 2 | 7 |
| Salons and barbers | 3 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Veterinary clinics | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
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 shared with other businesses are listed with their explanations on the coffee shops page. Sources for the permits that apply to every type of business are listed on the Delaware County Oh permits page and the OH state page. Confirmed by Editorial Team.
- Ohio Department of Children and Youth transmittal letter 48 — filed text of OAC 5180:2-12-02, child care centre licensingOhio Department of Children and Youth · 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.