Federal grant dollars will reduce some licensing fees for child care centers to just $1 through June 30, 2024, temporary relief intended to help support the availability of quality child care for Arizona families.
The lower fees cover anniversary payments, increasing the capacity, and new applications.
Through additional federal funds provided to states — of which Arizona received $1.3 billion — the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) awarded ADHS funds to temporarily reduce provider licensing fees. The federal investment, made through the federal Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF), is designed to support, stabilize, and ensure access to Arizona’s child care network, which provides key opportunities for development and early learning.
The following child care application fees have been reduced to $1:
- Initial center application
- Initial group home application
- Center anniversary application
- Group home anniversary application
- Increasing the capacity applications
Previously, the fees had ranged from $1,000 for locations with fewer than 11 children to $7,800 for those that could accept 60 or more children, with up to 50% subsidies available.
In addition, all child care facility licenses issued with an effective date beginning July 1, 2022, will be valid for one year instead of the previous three-year period.
The Bureau of Child Care Licensing regulates and monitors licensed child care facilities, public school child care programs and certified child care group homes statewide. The bureau’s mission is to monitor the health, safety, and well-being of children in licensed child care facilities and certified child care group homes throughout Arizona by establishing appropriate rules, monitoring for compliance, offering technical assistance, and training to caregivers, and providing consumer education.
