• To Start a Day Care Center first the applicant has to decide on the legal structure of the applicant’s day care center, such as a sole proprietorship, partnership, or a private limited company.
• Then Register the applicant’s business entity with the appropriate government authorities, such as the Registrar of Companies (ROC) or the Registrar of Firms, depending on the structure chosen

Apply In-Person:

1. To Apply to Start a Day Care Center, the applicant has to approach the Jurisdictional local bodies (Corporation/Municipalities/ Grama Panchayats) office link
2. An application form will be provided to the applicant by the concerned officer.
3. The applicant has to fill in all the necessary details in the application form. (Incomplete applications are not accepted)
4. Make sure that the applicant has attached all the necessary documents that are mentioned in the “Required Documents” section of this page.
5. The applicant has to attach photocopies of the required documents along with the application form while submitting it.
6. Submit all the documents with the completed form to the concerned officer.
7. The authority may seek additional information from an applicant if this is necessary to assess the application. The authority does not need to deal further with an application until the applicant has provided this additional information.
8. After receiving the application, the concerned authority will check the submitted application and document set. If all are in place, the application will be accepted.
9. Please pay the application fees/charges (if any) as applicable (through banker’s cheque or demand draft or as advised) and don’t forget to take the receipt.
10. Authority will sign and seal one set (photo copy of the original) of the application and return it to the applicant. This signed application is the proof for the submission of the application.
11. All applications are processed within a reasonable time, having regard to the particular circumstances of each application, including the completeness of information and documents submitted to the authority by the applicant.
12. The authority will conduct an on-site inspection regarding the application.
13. Based on the outcome of the above report and other internal processing, the designated issuing authority will take a decision on issuance of this licence.
14. The status, viz. Approval or Rejection (if any) will be conveyed to the applicant through an SMS or through phone call.
15. If approved, the licence will be hand-delivered or sent through post to the address mentioned while applying or issued as per the applicable norms.
16. This entire process can be completed within 30 days or as per the timeline advised by the respective department authority.

• Completed application form

Business Documents:

• Business registration documents (depending on the legal structure of the applicant’s day-care center).
• Memorandum and Articles of Association (for private limited companies).

Premises Documents:

• Proof of ownership or lease agreement for the premises where the day care center will be located.
• Building plan approval from the local municipal corporation or panchayat.
• NOC from the landlord or property owner (if applicable).

License and Permit Documents:

• Identity proof (such as Aadhaar card, PAN card, or passport) of the applicant/proprietor/directors.
• Passport-sized photographs of the applicant/proprietor/directors.
• Proof of residence (such as utility bills or rental agreement).
• Health certificates of the staff members.

Staff Documents:

• Resume/CV of the staff members.
• Educational qualifications and certifications of the staff members.
• Police verification certificates and background checks of the staff members.
• Training certificates (if applicable).

Safety and Health Documents:

• Fire safety compliance certificate from the Fire Department (NOC).
• Pollution Control Board NOC (if applicable).
• First aid training certificates.
• Medical fitness certificates of the staff members.
• Maintenance and safety records (CCTV installation, childproofing measures, etc.).

Financial Documents:

• Bank account details for the day-care centre.
• Financial statements, including balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements.
• Tax registration documents, such as GST registration (Goods and Services Tax).

Curriculum and Policies:

• Curriculum details and learning materials.
• Child care policies and procedures, including admission forms, consent forms, and emergency contact details.
• Attendance registers and medical records of the children.

Directorate of Municipal Administration,
75, Urban Administrative Building,
Santhome High Road,
MRC Nagar, Raja Annamalai Puram,
Chennai – 600028.
044-29864447, 044-29864453
Contact link
List of city municipal corporation link
District collector offices link

To start a Day Care center in India, there are certain eligibility criteria that need to be met. While specific requirements may vary depending on the state or city the applicant plans to operate in, here are some common eligibility criteria:

• The applicant should be at least 21 years old or above.
• The Day Care center should have adequate space and infrastructure to accommodate children comfortably. This includes play areas, learning spaces, sleeping areas, hygiene facilities, and childproofing measures.
• The Day Care center should have qualified and trained staff members who have experience in early childhood education. The staff should be capable of providing a safe and nurturing environment for children.
• The Day Care center should comply with safety regulations, including fire safety measures, proper ventilation, and childproofing of premises. It should also have first aid kits and necessary safety equipment on-site.
• The Day Care center should maintain proper hygiene standards, including clean drinking water, regular cleaning, and sanitation practices. The staff members should have medical fitness certificates.

• The applicant has to pay the prescribed fee as per the authority’s request.

Explain the time until which the certificate/document is valid.
e.g. Birth Certificate Valid Forever

Please attach documents that can be used by people. e.g. links

Please attach sample completed documents that would help other people.

• This entire process can be completed within 30 days or as per the timeline advised by the respective department authority.

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications.
Attach videos using the following tag <&video type='website'>video ID|width|height<&/video&> from external websites.
Please remove the '&' inside the tags during implementation.
Website = allocine, blip, dailymotion, facebook, gametrailers, googlevideo, html5, metacafe, myspace, revver,
sevenload, viddler, vimeo, youku, youtube
width = 560, height = 340, Video ID = Can be obtained from the URL of webpage where the video is displayed.
e.g In the following url 'http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0US7oR_t3M' Video ID is 'Y0US7oR_t3M'.

• Applicants must complete the application form before submitting it. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
• Applicants must provide genuine information while applying for this procedure.
• The centre should be well lit with adequate ventilation.
• The centre should have clean toilets and sanitation facility that is baby friendly.
• There should be adequate safe play area outside the centre.
• The centre should have a safe and regular drinking water arrangement.
• There should be a small kitchen or cooking area for warming/preparation of food for children. Kitchen/cooking area must be located at a place which is away from the activity area of the children to avoid accidents
• An age-appropriate first aid kit should be readily available in the premises. The kit should be inaccessible to children for their safety. At least one caregiver should have a current first aid certificate with infant component.
• Food safety officers will inspect the kitchen, food storage facility and food provided to children from time to time.

• Name of the owner
• Type of organization
• Address of the organization
• Mobile / telephone number
• E-mail ID
• Date of establishment
• Whether registered with any Government/Statutory/Local Bodies
• If so, registration number and date
• No of children enrolled for creche
• No of rooms for use of children
• Distance to the nearest Doctor / Hospital / Dispensary / PHC
• Ratio of staff to children
• Whether staff trained in childhood development
• Amount charged per child to provide creche services
• Date
• Signature of the applicant

• A day care center, also known as a child care center or nursery, is a facility where parents or guardians can leave their young children or infants in the care of trained professionals while they are at work or engaged in other activities.
• Day care centers provide a safe and supervised environment for children, offering a variety of age-appropriate activities, play areas, and educational opportunities.

• The primary purpose of a day care center is to provide child care services, ensuring the well-being and development of children in their care. Depending on the age group, day care centers may cater to infants, toddlers, pre-schoolers, or a combination of these age ranges. They typically operate during regular working hours and may offer full-day or half-day programs to accommodate the needs of parents.

Please explain what are other uses of obtaining this document/certificate.
e.g. Birth Certificate can be used as proof of identity.

Place some external links which might help.

• Day care centers often have a structured daily routine that includes playtime, educational activities, meals, rest periods, and sometimes even transportation to and from school for older children. The activities provided may focus on social, cognitive, emotional, and physical development, encouraging children to learn and explore in a nurturing environment.