How to Start a Home Daycare in Montana
Starting a family child care home in Montana means getting licensed by the state, preparing your home to pass inspection, and setting up the business properly. National directories list roughly 1,290 home daycare providers in Montana — here is how to join them, step by step.
Licensing agency: Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Child Care Licensing. Rules, fees and forms change — always confirm the current requirements on the agency's official website or with your local licensing office before you apply.
License types in Montana: Family Child Care registration and Group Child Care license.
Step-by-step: getting your Montana home daycare license
- Read Montana's family child care rules. Start with the licensing agency above: capacity limits by age, required square footage, and which homes are exempt. Note the rules for your own children — in most states they count toward capacity under a certain age.
- Check local permission. Zoning rules, city or county business permits, landlord approval if you rent, and HOA restrictions can all stop a daycare before licensing does. Clear these first.
- Complete orientation and pre-licensing training. Most states require an orientation plus training hours in child development, health and safety, and CPR/first aid certification before or shortly after opening.
- Background checks for every adult. You, your substitute, and adult household members will typically need fingerprint-based background checks and child-abuse registry clearances.
- Prepare your home. Safe sleep equipment for infants, outlet covers and gates, a stocked first-aid kit, fire extinguisher and working smoke/CO detectors, fenced outdoor play space where required, and hazards (medicines, cleaning products, cords) secured.
- Application and inspection. Submit your application and fees; a licensing specialist inspects the home and reviews your policies. Correct any findings and your license or registration is issued.
- Open like a business. Set tuition with our rate calculator, write a parent contract and handbook, get liability insurance, enroll in CACFP for meal reimbursement, and start the records that drive your tax deductions — including your time-space percentage — from your first day.
Montana licensing checklist
- State rules and capacity limits reviewed
- Zoning / landlord / HOA permission confirmed
- Orientation and required training completed (incl. CPR & first aid)
- Background checks submitted for all adults in the home
- Home prepared: safe sleep, safety equipment, detectors, first aid
- Application and fees submitted to Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Child Care Licensing
- Inspection passed and license/registration received
- Contract, handbook, insurance and CACFP enrollment in place
Frequently asked questions
Who licenses home daycares in Montana?
Family child care licensing in Montana is handled by the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Child Care Licensing. You apply through that agency (in some states, through your county), complete background checks and training, and pass a home inspection before enrolling children.
Do I need a license to watch children in my home in Montana?
In most cases, yes — if you regularly care for unrelated children in your home, Montana requires a license or registration, with limited exemptions (for example, caring for only one or two children, or relatives). Operating without a required license can bring fines and will cost you the IRS business-use-of-home deduction. Confirm the current exemption rules with the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Child Care Licensing.
How long does it take to get licensed in Montana?
Timelines vary with application volume, training schedules and inspection backlogs — a few weeks to several months is typical. Starting your training and background checks early, and preparing your home against the agency’s checklist, is the fastest way through.
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