How to start a home daycare in Missouri.

Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) oversees home daycares in Missouri. These are the kinds it allows and the steps, each with the state's own page.

Steps checked on the state's own pages, November 4, 2026.

The kinds of home daycare Missouri allows

Starting a home daycare in Missouri, step by step

  1. Take the licensing orientation

    Your first step is the free Child Care Licensing Orientation.

    Source: Start a Family Child Care Home

  2. Check local rules

    Ask your city about any zoning or building rules for child care.

    Source: Steps to Becoming Licensed: Family Child Care Homes

  3. Send your application

    Send the Application for License to Operate a Child Care Facility to your regional office.

    Source: Steps to Becoming Licensed: Family Child Care Homes

  4. Meet your Compliance Inspector

    You get a Departmental Vendor Number. A Compliance Inspector then works with you on licensing.

    Source: Steps to Becoming Licensed: Family Child Care Homes

  5. Ask for a site review

    You may ask your Compliance Inspector for an optional review of your planned child care space.

    Source: Steps to Becoming Licensed: Family Child Care Homes

  6. Get background screening

    You and household members 18 or older need fingerprints and a Family Care Safety Registry screening.

    Source: Steps to Becoming Licensed: Family Child Care Homes

  7. Write policies and gather documents

    Write your program policies and gather the documents the rules require. Send them to your Compliance Inspector.

    Source: Steps to Becoming Licensed: Family Child Care Homes

  8. Pass your inspections

    Pass your fire, sanitation and licensing inspections. Then the Office of Childhood can issue your license.

    Source: Steps to Becoming Licensed: Family Child Care Homes

At a glance

Who oversees home daycares
Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), Office of Childhood. Oversees and supports child care providers across Missouri.Source: Child Care Licensing
License needed for
More than 6 children, or more than 3 under age 2Source: Child Care Licensing
Inspections
Fire and sanitation once a year, licensing rules twice a yearSource: Start a Child Care Program
Outdoor play space
Plan for at least 750 square feetSource: Steps to Becoming Licensed: Family Child Care Homes
Application deadline
Void if the rules are not met within 6 monthsSource: Steps to Becoming Licensed: Family Child Care Homes

Good to know

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Questions, answered

How do I start a home daycare in Missouri?

The first step: Take the licensing orientation. All 8 steps are on this page, each with the state's own link.

Who oversees home daycares in Missouri?

Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), Office of Childhood. Oversees and supports child care providers across Missouri.

How many children can a home daycare in Missouri care for?

Family child care home: Up to 10 children. Group child care home: Up to 20 children.

About this page

Steps checked on the state's own pages, November 4, 2026.

This page is a summary of the state's own pages. It is not legal advice, and rules change.

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