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

Residential Daycare Inspection

A childcare provider operating from a home where the Stark County Building Inspection Department has jurisdiction pays for a residential daycare inspection. The Department's residential fee schedule (Exhibit A), headed 'Effective 8/29/26' and linked from its Fees page, lists 'Residential Daycare Inspection (includes Inspections & Occupancy Certificate)' at $300.00, and adds 'A 1% surcharge' to all residential fees for the Board of Building Standards assessment. The same schedule sets a re-inspection fee of $60.00 for a partial, code violation or no-show inspection, which must be paid before rescheduling. State child care licensing is a separate step. Coverage follows the Department's own page: 'The department's jurisdiction covers the unincorporated areas of Stark County and those villages and cities that have entered into a contract with the county', with 'Alliance, Canton, Massillon and North Canton' running 'their own building inspection departments.'

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 Stark County Oh

• Food Service Operation / Retail Food Establishment License — Stark County Health Department (Stark County Combined General Health District), As listed on the Health Department's sheet headed '2026 Food Service Fees / Effective February 1st', by risk level 1 / 2 / 3 / 4. Commercial, under 25,000 sq ft: $329.00 / $362.60 / $635.60 / $788.90. Commercial, over 25,000 sq ft: $447.30 / $467.50 / $1,496.00 / $1,582.20. Non-commercial, under 25,000 sq ft: $164.50 / $181.30 / $317.80 / $394.45. Non-commercial, over 25,000 sq ft: $223.65 / $233.75 / $748.00 / $791.10. Late fees, which the sheet applies as of March 2nd: commercial under 25,000 sq ft $75.25 / $83.65 / $151.90 / $190.23; commercial over 25,000 sq ft $104.83 / $109.88 / $367.00 / $388.55; non-commercial under 25,000 sq ft $37.63 / $41.83 / $75.95 / $95.11; non-commercial over 25,000 sq ft $52.41 / $54.94 / $183.50 / $194.28., annual license year; the sheet's late fee 'Applies as of March 2nd', and the Health Department's 2026 vending application gives the renewal deadline as March 1, 2026. Also required for restaurants, coffee shops and retail stores; what it involves is set out on the coffee shops page.
• Food Service / Retail Food Plan Review (new or remodeled) — Stark County Health Department (Stark County Combined General Health District), As listed on the Health Department's sheet headed '2026 Food Service Fees / Effective February 1st', by risk level 1 / 2 / 3 / 4. Commercial, under 25,000 sq ft: $301.00 / $334.60 / $607.60 / $760.90. Commercial, over 25,000 sq ft: $419.30 / $439.50 / $1,468.00 / $1,554.20. Non-commercial, under 25,000 sq ft: $150.50 / $167.30 / $303.80 / $380.45. Non-commercial, over 25,000 sq ft: $209.65 / $219.75 / $734.00 / $777.10. The Department's 2026 Plan Review Application prints Risk Level I $301.00 through IV $760.90., one review per new or remodeled operation; the 2026 Plan Review Application states that the Department 'has 30 days' to review. Also required for restaurants, coffee shops and retail stores; what it involves is set out on the restaurants page.
• Sewage Treatment System Permits and Registrations (small flow systems, installers, service providers, septage haulers) — Stark County Health Department (Stark County Combined General Health District), Per Board of Health Resolution #3-2026 (adopted April 8, 2026; effective May 1, 2026), total fees: Small Flow On-site Sewage Treatment System (SFOSTS) application, new construction $450.00, replacement $200.00; SFOSTS permit for new construction $850.00 ($776.00 local + $74.00 state), for replacement $850.00 ($776.00 + $74.00), for alteration $305.00 ($270.00 + $35.00); SFOSTS operation permit $40.00. Registrations: installer $250.00, service provider $165.00, septage hauler $55.00, septage hauler truck $80.00. Late fees: 25% of the established fee., per application or permit; registrations are periodic, and Resolution #3-2026 applies a late fee of 25% of the established fee. Also required for restaurants, auto repair shops, retail stores, veterinary clinics and contractors and trades; what it involves is set out on the retail stores page.
• Semi-Public Sewage Treatment System Inspection Fee — Stark County Health Department (Stark County Combined General Health District), Per Board of Health Resolution #7-2019 (adopted June 12, 2019; effective July 1, 2019): Non Mech/Non Discharge $40.00; Non Mech/Discharge $125.00; Mech < 1500 $40.00; Mech 1500 to 5000 $200.00; Mech 5000 to 10000 $275.00; Mech > 10000 $350.00; Certificate of Installation Inspection $200.00., annual; Resolution #7-2019 has the fee 'paid on or before March 1st each year'. Also required for restaurants, auto repair shops, retail stores and veterinary clinics; what it involves is set out on the retail stores page.