10 permits · verified 2026-10-19
What permits do you need to open a childcare centre in Cameron County Tx?
In short
A childcare centre in Cameron County Tx, TX has 3 permits that apply to every business of this type, plus 7 more that depend on your premises, signage or how you are set up. Cameron County Public Health, Environmental Health Program charges $150 per permit, per type of operation, per year; non-refundable; as stated in item 13 of the county's Establishment Application for the annual food service permit (food service establishments and retail food stores). 3 of the 10 are charged as a range or formula rather than a flat fee. Verified 2026-10-19 against the issuing agencies’ published fee schedules.
Permits particular to a childcare centre in Cameron County Tx
| Permit | Issuing agency | Fee | Renews | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Food Service Permit (food service establishments and retail food stores) | Cameron County Public Health, Environmental Health Program | $150 per permit, per type of operation, per year; non-refundable; as stated in item 13 of the county's Establishment Application | annual; an annual inspection and a six-month inspection are required to renew before the expiration date on the permit | 2026-10-19 |
| Child Care License | Texas Health and Human Services | $35 application, then an annual fee of $35 plus $1 per child of licensed capacity | annual | 2026-08-20 |
Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.
Local permits that apply to every type of business in Cameron County Tx
| Permit | Issuing agency | Fee | Renews | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| On-Site Sewage Facility (Septic) Permitonly if it applies to you | Cameron County Public Health, Environmental Health Program | $120 OSSF permit application fee, non-refundable, as stated in the county's Conventional System Instructions 06.21.2022; the TCEQ fee in the county OSSF order is stated separately | one year; the Conventional System Instructions state that the permit is non-transferable and valid only one year | 2026-10-19 |
| Non-Residential and Multifamily Building Permit (Unincorporated Cameron County)only if it applies to you | Cameron County Department of Transportation, Building & Inspections | Varies — formula on the Cameron County Tx page | one permit per project; temporary Type I structures 4 weeks, renewable to 6 months, and Type II 6 months | 2026-10-19 |
| Certificate of Occupancy, Existing Structure (Unincorporated Cameron County)only if it applies to you | Cameron County Department of Transportation, Building & Inspections | $100 per certificate, non-residential and multifamily existing structure, per Section J.3 item 9 and Appendix B of Order No. 2022-006030 | one-time per occupancy of an existing structure | 2026-10-19 |
| Sign Permit (Unincorporated Cameron County)only if it applies to you | Cameron County Department of Transportation, Building & Inspections | $75 per sign, per Article 4 Section I.5 and Section J.3 item 5 of Order No. 2022-006030 | one-time per sign | 2026-10-19 |
| Fire Code Permit (new businesses, commercial projects, change of ownership or occupancy)only if it applies to you | Cameron County Fire Marshal Service | Varies — formula on the Cameron County Tx page | per project or change of ownership or occupancy; a final inspection follows permit approval | 2026-10-19 |
Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.
TX registrations that apply to every type of business
| Permit | Issuing agency | Fee | Renews | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate of Formationonly if it applies to you | Texas Secretary of State | $300 one-time filing | no expiry | 2026-08-20 |
| Assumed Name Certificate (DBA)only if it applies to you | Texas Secretary of State | $25 one-time filing | up to ten years, renewable | 2026-08-21 |
| Texas Sales and Use Tax Permit | Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts | No fee — there is no fee for this permit | no expiry while actively engaged in business | 2026-08-21 |
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 Cameron County Tx?
There is no single figure, and any site quoting one is rounding away the part that matters. Of the 10 records listed for a childcare centre in Cameron County Tx, TX, 3 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.
Of the 3 that always apply, 2 carry a flat fee, coming to $150.00. That is a floor, not a total. 3 of the 10 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:
Child Care License: $35 application, then an annual fee of $35 plus $1 per child of licensed capacity
The other 2 variable fees belong to permits that apply to every type of business here; their formulas are set out on the Cameron County Tx permits page and the TX state page.
Which offices issue these permits in Cameron County Tx?
Permits for a childcare centre in Cameron County Tx, TX come from 6 separate offices: Cameron County Public Health, Environmental Health Program, Cameron County Department of Transportation, Building & Inspections, Cameron County Fire Marshal Service, Texas Secretary of State, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, Texas Health and Human Services. No single office issues them all, which is why an opening means filing in several places rather than one.
- Cameron County Public Health, Environmental Health ProgramIssues 2 permits on this page: Annual Food Service Permit (food service establishments and retail food stores), On-Site Sewage Facility (Septic) PermitCameron County Annex, 1390 W. Expressway 83, San Benito, TX 78586 · (956) 247-3599www.cameroncountytx.gov/publichealth/environmental-health/eating-drinking-food-service
- Cameron County Department of Transportation, Building & InspectionsIssues 3 permits on this page: Non-Residential and Multifamily Building Permit (Unincorporated Cameron County), Certificate of Occupancy, Existing Structure (Unincorporated Cameron County), Sign Permit (Unincorporated Cameron County)1390 W. Expressway 83, San Benito, TX 78586 · (956) 247-3500www.cameroncountytx.gov/department-of-transportation
- Cameron County Fire Marshal ServiceIssues 1 permit on this page: Fire Code Permit (new businesses, commercial projects, change of ownership or occupancy)964 East Harrison Street, Brownsville, TX 78520 · (956) 982-5464www.cameroncountytx.gov/cameron-county-fire-marshal-service
- Texas Secretary of StateIssues 2 permits on this page: Certificate of Formation, Assumed Name Certificate (DBA)www.sos.state.tx.us
- Texas Comptroller of Public AccountsIssues 1 permit on this page: Texas Sales and Use Tax Permitcomptroller.texas.gov/taxes/permit
- Texas Health and Human ServicesIssues 1 permit on this page: Child Care Licensewww.hhs.texas.gov
What does a childcare centre need in Cameron County Tx 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 Cameron County Tx: Child Care License.
Child Care License
Worked example: a centre licensed for 100 children pays $135 a year ($35 + $1 x 100). The annual fee falls on the anniversary of the date the initial license was issued, not on a calendar date.
Shared with other businesses in Cameron County Tx
- Annual Food Service Permit (food service establishments and retail food stores) — Cameron County Public Health, Environmental Health Program, $150 per permit, per type of operation, per year; non-refundable; as stated in item 13 of the county's Establishment Application, annual; an annual inspection and a six-month inspection are required to renew before the expiration date on the permit. Also required for restaurants, coffee shops and retail stores; 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 Cameron County Tx, TX; what each one involves is set out on the Cameron County Tx permits page. The 3 state-level registrations apply to every type of business across TX and are covered on the TX state page.
How does a childcare centre compare with other businesses in Cameron County Tx?
The closest match is a coffee shop, which shares 1 of these permits. A childcare centre also needs Child Care License. A coffee shop needs Temporary Food Establishment Permit, which a childcare centre does not.
| Business | Its own permits | Shared with a childcare centre | Only a childcare centre needs | Only it needs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coffee shops | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Retail stores | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Restaurants | 4 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Auto repair shops | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Contractors and trades | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Fitness studios | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Salons and barbers | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Veterinary clinics | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
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 Cameron County Tx permits page and the TX state page. Confirmed by Editorial Team.
- 5200, Fees — Child Care Regulation HandbookTexas Health and Human Services · primary source · retrieved 2026-08-20
Related
Commercial Compliance Hub publishes information, not legal advice. Requirements change — confirm anything you rely on with the issuing agency before you file.