How Long Does It Take to Get a Home Daycare License in California?
Most people get their California home daycare license in 3 to 6 months. A few get it done in 10 weeks. Others take 8 months or more because they hit delays that were entirely avoidable.
The timeline is not controlled by how fast you work. Most of the waiting is on the state's schedule — class wait lists, review queues, inspection appointments. What you control is how ready you are at each step, and whether you move through them in the right order.
This article breaks down the four phases of the process, the most common causes of delay, and what to do right now to get the shortest possible timeline.
Quick answer
Plan for 3 to 6 months from your first step to a licensed home daycare. The biggest variable is the 16-hour class — some Regional Offices have a 2 to 4 month wait list. Sign up for the class before you do anything else. That wait time runs in the background while you handle everything else.
The Four Phases
Here is how the timeline breaks down:
| Phase | What happens | Typical time |
|---|---|---|
| 1. 16-hour orientation class | Sign up and attend | 2–4 months (mostly waiting) |
| 2. Forms, fingerprints, and prep | Complete paperwork, get fingerprinted, fix your home | 2–4 weeks |
| 3. Application review | CDSS reviews your submission | 4–6 weeks |
| 4. Home inspection and license | Inspector visits, license issued | 2–4 weeks |
Total: roughly 3 to 6 months from your first step to a license in hand.
Phase 1 — The 16-Hour Orientation Class
This is the step that catches most people off guard — not because it is hard, but because of the wait.
Every first-time provider in California must complete a 16-hour orientation class before they can submit an application. The class covers child safety, nutrition, basic regulations, and what to expect at your home inspection. It is run by your local CDSS Regional Office.
The class is free. There is no fee to attend.
But spots fill fast. Some Regional Offices have wait lists of 2 to 4 months. If you wait until your forms are ready to sign up for the class, you will sit idle for months.
What to do
Sign up for the class on the same day you decide you want a license. You do not need your forms ready. You do not need your home ready. You just need to call your Regional Office and get on the list.
Your home address determines which Regional Office you belong to. California has 21 of them. To find yours, go to cdss.ca.gov.
While you wait for your class date, use the time to:
- Collect your documents (birth certificate or ID, proof of address)
- Walk through your home and identify what needs to be fixed
- Buy safety supplies (fire extinguisher, outlet covers, cabinet latches)
- Review the forms so you understand what they ask
By the time your class date arrives, you should have most of your prep done. The class week can then be your final push to complete the paperwork.
Phase 2 — Forms, Fingerprints, and Home Prep
After the class, you have everything you need to assemble your application.
The forms
California requires 7 forms for a home daycare application:
- LIC 279 — Application for a Community Care Facility License
- LIC 279B — Personal History Statement
- LIC 508 — Criminal Record Statement (one per adult in the home)
- LIC 610A — Facility Sketch (a hand-drawn floor plan — it does not need to be professional)
- LIC 9108 — Personnel Record (for you, and for any assistant if applying for a large license)
- LIC 999A — Acknowledgment of Receipt of Regulations
- LIC 9217 — Licensing Checklist (triggers your home inspection appointment — do not send this until your home is fully ready)
Most providers spend 1 to 2 weeks filling these out, gathering supporting documents, and reviewing them for completeness. Missing information is one of the most common causes of delay. If a form comes back rejected, you lose weeks.
Fingerprints
Every adult who lives in your home must be fingerprinted through the LiveScan system — not just you. Your spouse, partner, adult children, parents, or roommates all go through this.
Each person has to go to a LiveScan location in person. You cannot do it by mail or online. LiveScan locations include some police stations, UPS Stores, notary offices, and libraries. Call ahead — many are appointment-only.
Fingerprint results typically come back within 2 to 4 weeks. The state will not process your application until all results are in.
Do not wait to start fingerprints. Get every adult in your home fingerprinted as early as possible — ideally while you are still waiting for your class date.
Home prep
You do not need your home fully inspection-ready before submitting your application. But the sooner you finish the fixes, the sooner you can send the LIC 9217 and schedule your inspection.
The most common fixes are fast and inexpensive: water heater strapping ($15 to $30), outlet covers ($1 to $3 each), cabinet latches ($3 to $8 each), and a fire extinguisher ($30 to $60). For a full list, see the California Home Daycare Inspection Checklist.
Total time for Phase 2: 2 to 4 weeks, assuming you started fingerprints early.
Phase 3 — Application Review
Once you submit your completed application — forms, supporting documents, application fee, and fingerprint results — CDSS begins their review.
Typical review time: 4 to 6 weeks.
During this period:
- CDSS verifies your forms are complete and correct
- They review your background check results
- They may contact you with questions or requests for additional information
You cannot speed this up. The only thing you can do is make sure your application is complete and correct when you submit it. An incomplete application gets returned, and you restart the clock.
What triggers a delay in review
- Missing signature on any form
- LIC 508 not completed for every adult in the home (including adults who moved in after you first applied)
- Inconsistent information across forms (name spelled differently, addresses that do not match)
- Application fee made out incorrectly or missing (check must be made out to California Department of Social Services)
- Fingerprint results not yet returned
The application fee is not refundable. If your application is rejected for incompleteness and you have to resubmit, the fee is not returned.
Phase 4 — Home Inspection and License Issuance
Once your application is approved, CDSS will contact you to schedule your home inspection.
Getting the appointment: This depends on inspector availability in your area. In some counties, appointments are available within 1 to 2 weeks. In others, you may wait 3 to 4 weeks.
The inspection itself: A CDSS analyst visits your home and walks through every room. The visit typically takes 30 to 60 minutes. They check for the specific safety conditions required by state regulations.
If everything passes, your license is issued. You will receive it in the mail. Do not open for business until you have the physical license in hand.
If something fails: You get a list of what needs to be fixed and a deadline to fix it. Minor issues (a missing outlet cover, one unlocked cabinet) might be cleared with a photo. Major issues (no pool fence, water heater not strapped) require a return visit. Each return visit adds 2 to 4 weeks.
Total time for Phase 4: 2 to 4 weeks if you pass on the first visit.
Get the free Quickstart Guide
Not sure what to do first? Our free guide covers the 5 mistakes that slow down most applications — and what to do this week.
No email required.
The Most Common Causes of Delay
1. Not signing up for the class immediately. If you spend two weeks researching before you call, you just moved your class date two weeks later. Call on day one.
2. Waiting to fingerprint household adults. Fingerprint results take weeks. Every adult in your home needs to go independently. If you wait until after your class to start this, you lose a month.
3. Sending the LIC 9217 before your home is ready. The LIC 9217 triggers your inspection appointment. If you send it before your home passes your own walk-through, you will fail the inspection and wait for a return visit.
4. Incomplete forms. One missing signature, one blank field that should not be blank — these come back and restart the clock. Read every form twice before you mail anything.
5. Applying for a large license too soon. The large license requires one year of experience as a small license provider. If you apply for a large license without that history, the state will reject your application outright. See Small vs. Large Home Daycare License in California.
6. Missing the application fee or writing the check incorrectly. The check goes to California Department of Social Services. The fee is $73 (small) or $140 (large). For a full cost breakdown, see How Much Does a Home Daycare License Cost in California.
What You Can Control vs. What You Cannot
| What you control | What you cannot control |
|---|---|
| How quickly you call for the class | Class wait list length |
| When you get fingerprinted | Fingerprint processing time |
| Completeness of your forms | Application review time |
| Readiness of your home | Inspector availability |
| Whether LIC 9217 goes in when your home is ready | License issuance processing |
The providers who finish in 10 to 12 weeks do it by overlapping every phase. They call for the class on day one, start fingerprints in week one, work on forms and home prep during the wait, and submit a complete application the week after the class ends.
What a Realistic Week-by-Week Timeline Looks Like
Week 1:
- Call your Regional Office and get on the class wait list
- Begin gathering your documents
- Walk through your home with the inspection checklist and make a fix list
Weeks 2–4:
- Get every adult in your home fingerprinted at a LiveScan location
- Start buying and installing safety items
- Complete your forms (the ones that do not require the class to finish)
Week 6–16 (your class date arrives):
- Attend the 16-hour class
- Complete any forms the class helps you finalize
- Finish remaining home safety fixes
Week after class:
- Submit your complete application with all forms and the fee
- Do NOT include LIC 9217 yet unless your home is already inspection-ready
4–6 weeks later (application approved):
- Home is ready — submit LIC 9217
- Schedule inspection
2–4 weeks later:
- Inspection passes
- License arrives in the mail
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I open before I receive the physical license? No. You must have the physical license in hand before any children come into your care. Operating before licensure is a violation and can result in being barred from licensure permanently.
Does the 16-hour class expire? Yes. If you complete the class but do not submit your application within a certain period, you may need to retake it. Ask your Regional Office what their policy is — it varies.
Can I submit my application before my fingerprint results come back? No. CDSS will not process your application until all fingerprint clearances are received.
What if I move during the application process? Contact your Regional Office immediately. Your address determines your Regional Office assignment, and a move may require you to restart with a different office. Do not wait — let them know as soon as you know.
Is there an expedited process? No. California does not offer an expedited licensing track for family daycare homes. The timeline is the same for everyone.
What to Do Right Now
- Call your Regional Office today. Get on the class list. This is the single most important action you can take.
- Count the adults in your home. Every person 18 and older needs to be fingerprinted. Get them all going as soon as possible.
- Walk through your home. Use the California Home Daycare Inspection Checklist and make your fix list this week.
If you want help getting through the paperwork correctly the first time, we handle the full application for you — forms, checklist, everything except the home inspection itself. Learn about Full Service →
This article is for general information only. Processing times and procedures can change. Contact your local CDSS Regional Office or check cdss.ca.gov for the most current information. Daycare License California is not part of the California state government.