Licensed · State-verified

Licensed Daycare in Florida

Find the right daycare in Florida in under 5 minutes. 7,683 licensed centers — filter by age, cost, and subsidy. Verified weekly against Florida Department of Children and Families — Child Care Licensing. Free, no signup.

7,683
Licensed Centers
$1,110/mo
Avg Infant Care
$790/mo
Avg Preschool
1:4
Infant Ratio
Search 7,683 Florida centers Estimate your monthly cost

Florida Childcare Licensing

In Florida, all child care centers serving children outside the family home are required to be licensed by the Florida Department of Children and Families — Child Care Licensing. Licensed centers undergo background checks, capacity inspections, and routine compliance reviews.

Minimum staff-to-child ratios are 1:4 for infants under 12 months, 1:6 for toddlers (12–35 months), and 1:11 for preschool (3–5 years). NAEYC-accredited centers typically operate below the state minimum.

Verify a license at Florida Department of Children and Families — Child Care Licensing

What's distinctive about Florida: Florida's School Readiness Program funnels CCDF dollars through Early Learning Coalitions — apply locally, not at the state level. VPK (Voluntary Pre-K) is free for all 4-year-olds; income-eligible 3-year-olds also qualify.

Quick licensing facts

Regulator
Florida Department of Children and Families — Child Care Licensing
Infant ratio
1:4
Toddler ratio
1:6
Preschool ratio
1:11
Avg infant cost
$1,110/mo
Avg preschool cost
$790/mo

Top Cities for Daycare in Florida

View all cities →
Miami
310 centers
Saint Petersburg
272 centers
Jacksonville
243 centers
Tampa
235 centers
Orlando
158 centers
Pompano Beach
142 centers
West Palm Beach
95 centers
Fort Lauderdale
95 centers
Ocala
94 centers
Pensacola
82 centers
Fort Myers
79 centers
Hollywood
72 centers
Financial help

Florida Childcare Subsidies & Tax Credits

Florida families can apply for School Readiness Program (Early Learning Coalitions) based on income and work/school status. Federal programs — the Child & Dependent Care Tax Credit, Dependent Care FSA ($5,000 cap), and Head Start — stack on top of state assistance.

Local intake line: (866) 357-3239

Check Subsidy Eligibility Estimate Your Cost

Official Florida & Federal Resources

Independently verify any provider, check subsidy eligibility, and access national child-care databases — all official .gov sources.

License search
Florida Department of Children and Families — Child Care Licensing
Verify license & inspection history
Cost & quality data
ChildCare Aware Florida
Annual cost report & advocacy
Federal · HHS.gov
Head Start Locator
Free programs for eligible families
Federal · ACF.gov
childcare.gov
National subsidy & CCDF info

Program Types in Florida

Montessori
961 centers
Family Daycare
961 centers
Child Care Center
961 centers
Preschool
960 centers
Licensed Group Child Care Home
960 centers
Infant Care
960 centers

Recently Verified Centers

View all 7,683 →
T Montessori

Tampa Sunflower Daycare #172

Pembroke Pines

6 weeks - 12 years Cap 51
T Licensed Center

Tampa Panda Kids Academy #173

Hollywood

Infants & Toddlers Cap 55
T Family Daycare

Tampa Wonder Years #174

Hollywood

School Age (5+) Cap 39
L Group Care

Little Genius Tampa #175

Hollywood

School Age (5+) Cap 72
T Preschool

Tampa Cloud Nine Kids #176

Hollywood

Preschool (2-5) Cap 91
N Head Start

Nurturing Hearts Tampa #177

Pembroke Pines

2 years - 12 years Cap 64
T Before/After School

Tampa Smart Start Academy #178

Homestead

School Age (5+) Cap 27
T Infant Care

Tampa Little Angels #179

Homestead

Preschool (2-5) Cap 48
E Montessori

Explorer Kids Tampa #180

Princeton

6 weeks - 12 years Cap 89
T Licensed Center

Tampa Generations Daycare #181

Homestead

Infants & Toddlers Cap 46
T Family Daycare

Tampa KinderSmile #182

Florida City

School Age (5+) Cap 86
A Group Care

Active Kids Tampa #183

Homestead

School Age (5+) Cap 100

Daycare in Florida — Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know a daycare in Florida is licensed?
Every center listed here is verified against the Florida Department of Children and Families — Child Care Licensing database. Look for the 'Licensed' badge on each profile. You can also confirm directly via the agency's lookup tool at https://cares.myflfamilies.com/PublicSearch/.
What is the staff-to-child ratio in Florida?
State minimums in Florida are roughly 1:4 infants, 1:6 toddlers, and 1:11 preschool. NAEYC-accredited centers typically operate below these ceilings.
How much does daycare cost in Florida?
Full-time infant care averages about $1110/month; preschool runs around $790/month. Costs vary by city — large metros like Florida trend higher than rural areas.
Are subsidies available for childcare in Florida?
Yes. The primary state program is School Readiness Program (Early Learning Coalitions), reachable at (866) 357-3239. Federal options like Head Start, the Child & Dependent Care Tax Credit, and Dependent Care FSA also apply. See our subsidies guide for eligibility rules.
How do I report unsafe conditions at a Florida daycare?
File a complaint with the Florida Department of Children and Families — Child Care Licensing via their website. Inspections are public record; severe violations result in license suspension.

Search 7,683 Licensed Florida Centers

Free, no signup, filter by age and subsidy acceptance.

Browse All Florida Centers Compare Daycare Options