How to start a home daycare in North Dakota.
North Dakota Health and Human Services oversees home daycares in North Dakota. 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 North Dakota allows
Self-declaration provider
Up to 5 children, no more than 3 under 24 months
Signing up is voluntary for a home this small.
Source: North Dakota Century Code Chapter 50-11.1, Early Childhood ServicesFamily child care
Up to 7 children, plus 2 school-age children
No more than 3 of the 7 may be under 24 months old.
Source: Types of CareGroup child care
Up to 30 children
The real limit depends on your space, staff ratios and local rules.
Source: Types of Care
Starting a home daycare in North Dakota, step by step
Take the Childcare Provider Orientation course
New owners and operators must finish this course before they are approved.
Source: Training RequirementsChoose your license type
Your location and how many children you plan to care for set your license type.
Source: Become a Childcare ProviderGet a fire inspection
Get a fire inspection before you are licensed, then every year after.
Source: North Dakota Administrative Code Chapter 75-03-08, Family Child Care Early Childhood ServicesStart your fingerprint background check
Apply for a fingerprint-based criminal history check when you apply for your license.
Source: North Dakota Administrative Code Chapter 75-03-08, Family Child Care Early Childhood ServicesApply in the CCL portal
Apply online through the Child Care Licensing portal, called CCL. You can upload documents and add staff there.
Source: Become a Childcare ProviderPass the department's inspection
The department inspects the space your program will use before it grants a license.
Source: North Dakota Century Code Chapter 50-11.1, Early Childhood Services
At a glance
- Who oversees home daycares
- North Dakota Health and Human Services, Early Childhood Licensing. Licenses childcare programs. It is your first contact when you apply.Source: Childcare Licensing
- When you need a license
- More than 5 children, or more than 3 under 24 monthsSource: Childcare Licensing
- Your own children
- Your children under 12 count toward the totalSource: Types of Care
- Household members
- Everyone 12 and older needs a background check formSource: North Dakota Administrative Code Chapter 75-03-08, Family Child Care Early Childhood Services
- Provider age
- 18 or olderSource: North Dakota Administrative Code Chapter 75-03-08, Family Child Care Early Childhood Services
- Basic child care course
- Within 90 days of getting your licenseSource: North Dakota Administrative Code Chapter 75-03-08, Family Child Care Early Childhood Services
Good to know
- Background checks must be approved before a person can be alone with children.Source: Childcare Licensing
- Family child care may instead take up to 4 children under 24 months, plus 2 in school.Source: Types of Care
- Group child care can run from a home with a group-home license, or from another building.Source: Types of Care
- Only one license, self-declaration or in-home registration is allowed per residence.Source: North Dakota Administrative Code Chapter 75-03-08, Family Child Care Early Childhood Services
Run a program in North Dakota? Bloomily handles enrollment, billing, check-in and family messages. See how it works
Plan your program
- How to start a daycare in North Dakota
Opening a child care center: the steps and the agency.
- North Dakota licensing guide
Ratios, trainings and the checklist the state asks for.
- Child care grants in North Dakota
Grants the state runs for providers.
- Daycare startup costs in North Dakota
Revenue, staff pay and rent from your own numbers.
- Daycare business plan
How to write a plan for funding and licensing.
- Tuition calculator
Typical rates by state and age group.
- Ratio calculator
Staff needed for each age group, by state.
Questions, answered
How do I start a home daycare in North Dakota?
The first step: Take the Childcare Provider Orientation course. All 6 steps are on this page, each with the state's own link.
Who oversees home daycares in North Dakota?
North Dakota Health and Human Services, Early Childhood Licensing. Licenses childcare programs. It is your first contact when you apply.
How many children can a home daycare in North Dakota care for?
Self-declaration provider: Up to 5 children, no more than 3 under 24 months. Family child care: Up to 7 children, plus 2 school-age children. Group child care: Up to 30 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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