7 permits · verified 2026-10-20
What permits do you need to open a childcare centre in Lorain County?
In short
A childcare centre in Lorain County, OH 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. Ohio Secretary of State, Business Services Division charges $99 one-time filing for the articles of organization (llc). 4 of the 7 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 Lorain County
| Permit | Issuing agency | Fee | Renews | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food Service Operation / Retail Food Establishment License | Lorain County Public Health | Combined LCPH + state fee, printed as Health Department fee + State fee = Total. Commercial under 25,000 sq ft: risk 1 $170 + $28 = $198; risk 2 $190 + $28 = $218; risk 3 $360 + $28 = $388; risk 4 $454 + $28 = $482. Commercial over 25,000 sq ft: risk 1 $242 + $28 = $270; risk 2 $256 + $28 = $284; risk 3 $890 + $28 = $918; risk 4 $944 + $28 = $972. Non-commercial under 25,000 sq ft: risk 1 $85 + $14 = $99; risk 2 $95 + $14 = $109; risk 3 $180 + $14 = $194; risk 4 $227 + $14 = $241. Non-commercial over 25,000 sq ft: risk 1 $121 + $14 = $135; risk 2 $128 + $14 = $142; risk 3 $445 + $14 = $459; risk 4 $472 + $14 = $486. Micro Market $170 + $28 = $198 (RFE, Risk 1). Late fee: 25% of the local (Health Department) fee. The $28 and $14 parts are the state fee. | not stated on the LCPH food safety page or in its 2026 fee schedule; contact LCPH at 440-322-6367 for the license period and renewal date | 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 Lorain County
| Permit | Issuing agency | Fee | Renews | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semi-Public (Commercial) Sewage Treatment System Operation Permitonly if it applies to you | Lorain County Public Health | Varies — formula on the Lorain County page | annual operation permit; the 2026 fee schedule applies a 25% late fee when the annual permit is not renewed on time | 2026-10-20 |
| Small Flow On-Site Sewage Treatment System (SFOSTS) Permitsonly if it applies to you | Lorain County Public Health | Varies — formula on the Lorain County page | installation, alteration, site review and abandonment permits are per project; the operation permit runs for 3 years ($120) or 1 year ($40) | 2026-10-20 |
| Private Water System Permit (Non-Single Family)only if it applies to you | Lorain County Public Health | Varies — formula on the Lorain County page | per project — each construction, conversion, alteration or sealing is permitted separately | 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 Lorain 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 Lorain County, OH, 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.
Of the 2 that always apply, 1 carry a flat fee, coming to $50.00. That is a floor, not a total. 4 of the 7 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 LCPH + state fee, printed as Health Department fee + State fee = Total. Commercial under 25,000 sq ft: risk 1 $170 + $28 = $198; risk 2 $190 + $28 = $218; risk 3 $360 + $28 = $388; risk 4 $454 + $28 = $482. Commercial over 25,000 sq ft: risk 1 $242 + $28 = $270; risk 2 $256 + $28 = $284; risk 3 $890 + $28 = $918; risk 4 $944 + $28 = $972. Non-commercial under 25,000 sq ft: risk 1 $85 + $14 = $99; risk 2 $95 + $14 = $109; risk 3 $180 + $14 = $194; risk 4 $227 + $14 = $241. Non-commercial over 25,000 sq ft: risk 1 $121 + $14 = $135; risk 2 $128 + $14 = $142; risk 3 $445 + $14 = $459; risk 4 $472 + $14 = $486. Micro Market $170 + $28 = $198 (RFE, Risk 1). Late fee: 25% of the local (Health Department) fee. The $28 and $14 parts are the state fee.
The other 3 variable fees belong to permits that apply to every type of business here; their formulas are set out on the Lorain County permits page and the OH state page.
Which offices issue these permits in Lorain County?
Permits for a childcare centre in Lorain County, OH come from 3 separate offices: Lorain County Public Health, 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.
- Lorain County Public HealthIssues 4 permits on this page: Food Service Operation / Retail Food Establishment License, Semi-Public (Commercial) Sewage Treatment System Operation Permit, Small Flow On-Site Sewage Treatment System (SFOSTS) Permits, Private Water System Permit (Non-Single Family)9880 Murray Ridge Rd., Elyria, OH 44035 · 440-322-6367www.loraincountyhealth.com/pay
- 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 Lorain County 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 Lorain County: 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 Lorain County
- Food Service Operation / Retail Food Establishment License — Lorain County Public Health, Combined LCPH + state fee, printed as Health Department fee + State fee = Total. Commercial under 25,000 sq ft: risk 1 $170 + $28 = $198; risk 2 $190 + $28 = $218; risk 3 $360 + $28 = $388; risk 4 $454 + $28 = $482. Commercial over 25,000 sq ft: risk 1 $242 + $28 = $270; risk 2 $256 + $28 = $284; risk 3 $890 + $28 = $918; risk 4 $944 + $28 = $972. Non-commercial under 25,000 sq ft: risk 1 $85 + $14 = $99; risk 2 $95 + $14 = $109; risk 3 $180 + $14 = $194; risk 4 $227 + $14 = $241. Non-commercial over 25,000 sq ft: risk 1 $121 + $14 = $135; risk 2 $128 + $14 = $142; risk 3 $445 + $14 = $459; risk 4 $472 + $14 = $486. Micro Market $170 + $28 = $198 (RFE, Risk 1). Late fee: 25% of the local (Health Department) fee. The $28 and $14 parts are the state fee., not stated on the LCPH food safety page or in its 2026 fee schedule; contact LCPH at 440-322-6367 for the license period and renewal date. Also required for restaurants, coffee shops, retail stores and fitness studios; what it involves is set out on the retail stores page.
The other 3 local permits in the tables apply to every type of business in Lorain County, OH; what each one involves is set out on the Lorain County 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 Lorain County?
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 Food Vending Machine License, Public Swimming Pool / Spa / Special Use Pool License, Regular Vendor's License (form ST-1) 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 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Coffee shops | 7 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| Retail stores | 7 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| Restaurants | 8 | 1 | 1 | 7 |
| Auto repair shops | 3 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Contractors and trades | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Food trucks | 6 | 0 | 2 | 6 |
| Salons and barbers | 4 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| 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 retail stores page. Sources for the permits that apply to every type of business are listed on the Lorain County 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.