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12 permits · verified 2026-10-09

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

In short

A childcare centre in Laredo, TX has 6 permits that apply to every business of this type, plus 6 more that depend on your premises, signage or how you are set up. City of Laredo Public Health Department charges $400 per application, plus $10.00 to TCEQ for the on-site sewage facility (septic) permit — non-residential. 7 of the 12 are charged as a range or formula rather than a flat fee. Verified 2026-10-09 against the issuing agencies’ published fee schedules.

Permits particular to a childcare centre in Laredo

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Food Establishment License (Retail Food Operation Permit)City of Laredo Public Health Department$129–$386.50 per year, by gross annual food sales1 year, expiring 15 August (section 13-40(b))2026-10-09
Public Health Safety (Environmental) Inspection — Child CareCity of Laredo Public Health DepartmentAssessed under Laredo Code section 13-39(c). Section 13-39(c), the Health Department's fee schedule and the inspection-request section of its Permits and Fees page state one amount, and a separate sentence on the same Permits and Fees page states a different amount for day care and foster homes, so no figure is shown.per inspection (City Code § 13-39(c))2026-10-09
Child Care LicenseTexas Health and Human Services$35 application, then an annual fee of $35 plus $1 per child of licensed capacityannual2026-08-20

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 Laredo

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
New Business RegistrationCity of Laredo Building Development Services DepartmentVaries — formula on the Laredo pagenot stated in the codified schedule2026-08-25
On-Site Sewage Facility (Septic) Permit — Non-Residentialonly if it applies to youCity of Laredo Public Health Department$400 per application, plus $10.00 to TCEQapplication expires 1 year from filing (section 31-81(b))2026-10-09
Sign Permitonly if it applies to youCity of Laredo Building Development Services DepartmentVaries — formula on the Laredo pageper application; the validity period is not stated in City Code § 28-502026-10-09
Commercial Building Permit and Plan Reviewonly if it applies to youCity of Laredo Building Development Services DepartmentVaries — formula on the Laredo pageper project; the validity period is not stated in City Code § 7-22026-10-09
Fire Inspection (new business and certificate of occupancy)City of Laredo Fire Department, Permits OfficeVaries — formula on the Laredo pageper inspection visit (City Code § 12-82)2026-10-09
Alarm System Permit (Non-Residential)only if it applies to youCity of Laredo Alarm Enforcement Division$60 per year12 months (section 21-81(b))2026-10-09

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

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Certificate of Formationonly if it applies to youTexas Secretary of State$300 one-time filingno expiry2026-08-20
Assumed Name Certificate (DBA)only if it applies to youTexas Secretary of State$25 one-time filingup to ten years, renewable2026-08-21
Texas Sales and Use Tax PermitTexas Comptroller of Public AccountsNo fee — there is no fee for this permitno expiry while actively engaged in business2026-08-21

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 Laredo?

There is no single figure, and any site quoting one is rounding away the part that matters. Of the 12 records listed for a childcare centre in Laredo, TX, 6 apply to every business of this type and 6 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 6 that always apply, 1 carry a flat fee, coming to $0.00. That is a floor, not a total. 7 of the 12 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 Establishment License (Retail Food Operation Permit): $129–$386.50 per year, by gross annual food sales

Public Health Safety (Environmental) Inspection — Child Care: Assessed under Laredo Code section 13-39(c). Section 13-39(c), the Health Department's fee schedule and the inspection-request section of its Permits and Fees page state one amount, and a separate sentence on the same Permits and Fees page states a different amount for day care and foster homes, so no figure is shown.

Child Care License: $35 application, then an annual fee of $35 plus $1 per child of licensed capacity

The other 4 variable fees belong to permits that apply to every type of business here; their formulas are set out on the Laredo permits page and the TX state page.

Which offices issue these permits in Laredo?

Permits for a childcare centre in Laredo, TX come from 7 separate offices: City of Laredo Public Health Department, City of Laredo Building Development Services Department, City of Laredo Fire Department, Permits Office, City of Laredo Alarm Enforcement Division, 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.

What does a childcare centre need in Laredo that other businesses do not?

2 of the 3 permits particular to a childcare centre here apply to no other business type we cover in Laredo: Public Health Safety (Environmental) Inspection — Child Care and Child Care License.

Public Health Safety (Environmental) Inspection — Child Care

Laredo Code section 13-39(c) assesses a public health safety fee to foster homes, registered family homes, daycares and adult daycares (and to game rooms and department stores) to provide and ensure a safe and sanitary environment, the fee reflecting the cost of the inspection. The Health Department's Permits and Fees page lists daycares, home daycares and foster homes among the facilities for which it takes environmental inspection requests, and lists commercial adult and child day care facilities among the businesses that must obtain a Health Department permit. The amount is not shown because the City's sources give two different figures (see the fee line). A child-care centre that prepares food also falls under the food establishment license, and the Fire Department's daycare inspection is a separate charge.

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 Laredo

  • Food Establishment License (Retail Food Operation Permit) — City of Laredo Public Health Department, $129–$386.50 per year, by gross annual food sales, 1 year, expiring 15 August (section 13-40(b)). Also required for restaurants, coffee shops and retail stores; what it involves is set out on the restaurants page.

The other 6 local permits in the tables apply to every type of business in Laredo, TX; what each one involves is set out on the Laredo 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 Laredo?

The closest match is a coffee shop, which shares 1 of these permits. A childcare centre also needs Public Health Safety (Environmental) Inspection — Child Care and Child Care License. A coffee shop needs Temporary Food Establishment Permit, Food Handler Certificate and Vent Hood Extinguishing System Permit and Plan Review, which a childcare centre does not.

Permits particular to each business type in Laredo, TX, compared with a childcare centre
BusinessIts own permitsShared with a childcare centreOnly a childcare centre needsOnly it needs
Coffee shops4123
Retail stores6125
Restaurants7126
Auto repair shops2032
Contractors and trades2032
Fitness studios4034
Food trucks3033
Salons and barbers2032
Veterinary clinics1031

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 restaurants page. Sources for the permits that apply to every type of business are listed on the Laredo permits page and the TX state page. Confirmed by Editorial Team.

  1. Laredo Code of Ordinances section 13-39, Fees (food establishment licences; Ord. No. 2025-O-141, 4 August 2025)City of Laredo · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-09
  2. City of Laredo Public Health Department — Environmental Health Permits and FeesCity of Laredo · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-09
  3. City of Laredo Public Health Department — New Fee ScheduleCity of Laredo · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-09
  4. 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.