Are you interested in opening a licensed child care center? Licensed center-based care is offered in a facility other than a home (typically a commercial building), has capacity to care for more than 14 children, and complies with specific requirements for safety, staffing and other elements.

Other terms frequently used for "child care center" include: preschool, nursery school, parent co-operative, and infant/toddler center. All child care centers and family child care homes must be licensed by the State of California Community Care Licensing Division (CCL). Licensing is intended to assure minimal standards of health and safety protection for children. CCL is the regulatory agency that oversees the implementation of State Law related to child care, Title 22.

Steps to Opening a Child Care Center

• Create a business plan.
  • Describe business mission, philosophy results of market analysis, marketing plan, management and operations plan, and five-year cash flow statement (budget).
• Attend a mandatory Community Care Licensing (CCL) orientation to become familiar with licensing regulations and requirements. Both applicant and center director should attend. Participants have one year from attending an orientation to prepare and submit an application to Community Care Licensing.
  • View current CCL orientation schedules here. 
  • View the Child Care Center's Self-Assessment Guide here. The Self-Assessment Guide is a user-friendly tool to assist child care center providers in performing periodic reviews on their facility operations to achieve compliance with licensing regulations. 
• Create a development budget including the entire costs associated with project, and secure funding if necessary.
• Assemble a site development team. This includes, but is not limited to, a/an: architect, construction manager, project manager, and attorney.
  • Obtain and secure a detailed scope of work, plans and cost estimates for renovation or new construction from a variety of licensed, insured/bonded contractors.
  • Architectural drawings will be required with submission of City of Irvine Conditional Use Permit application.
• Select an appropriate site for your program (purchased or leased).
  • Keep CCL facility requirements in mind when investigating and selecting a site. You are responsible for meeting all requirements outlined in Title 22.
  • The City of Irvine has Child Care Center Standards in addition to CCL requirements. View these standards here (click "Zoning Ordinance," select "Division 3-10").
  • Within the City of Irvine, child care is allowed as a "Conditionally Permitted Use" in most areas of the City. Once you have identified a potential site for your program, contact City of Irvine Community Development Zoning and Planning at 949-724-6308 to ensure the site you've selected is located in a planning zone that allows child care. Be prepared to provide the address of your proposed site.
• **Prepare and submit a Conditional Use Permit application.
  • Review Conditional Use Permit Information Sheet through the City of Irvine Community Development Department. This sheet includes links to required documents to process your Conditional Use Permit. 
• ​Complete and submit “Application for a Child Care Center License” (form LIC200A) and all other required documentation to: California Department of Social Services Community Care Licensing Division, Orange County Child Care Regional Office, 750 The City Drive, Suite 250, Orange, CA 92868. 714-703-2800.
  • ​You must indicate the number of children you would like to serve in each of the following components:
    • Infant – birth to 24 months
    • Toddler – 18-30 months
    • Preschool – 2 years to entry into first grade
    • School Age – has entered first grade or above or is in a child care program providing care and supervision exclusively to children enrolled in kindergarten and above.
  • ​​Letter of Agreement with Relocation Site template
• **Apply for a business license through Irvine Police Department. Visit the Irvine Police Department website for more information.
• Prepare and open for business.
  • Utilize a marketing plan, hold an open house, and register children.

**Please note: These steps are required by the City of Irvine.

Technical assistance is available through the Irvine Child Care Coordination Office. Please call 949-724-6632 to request additional information or a meeting to discuss your project.