New home-based child care business licence starting Jan 1, 2023

This past fall, Councillors unanimously approved a new business licence for home-based childcare providers after a public hearing consisting of parents who were impacted by unregulated dayhomes.

The City of Calgary will soon introduce a new business licence for home-based child care providers to ensure minimum standards are in place to protect the health and safety of children. Providing safe and knowledgeable childcare will not only protect children, but also allow parents to resume / pursue their educational and employment opportunities. 

The new licence will require private home-based child care providers to be certified in First Aid and CPR and will ensure police background checks with vulnerable sector searches conducted for providers, employees, and all individuals 18 years and older who live in the home. This licence will address the gap where childcare operations do not require provincial licensing, and will meet industry standards required for quality of care. 

Exempted from the licence requirement will include nannies, babysitters, and informal arrangements with family members, friends, and neighbours. Provincially licensed facility-based child care programs and day homes will also be exempt. 

Any operator who applies between December 27, 2022, and March 16, 2023 will have the benefit of their fees being waived.  They will not have to pay fees for the business licence or for the police check(s) and vulnerable sector search.  A new licence for child care providers will be $172 plus the cost of police check(s) which are $65 for the first adult and $55 for each additional adult and/or employee in the home.

Providers will be granted a 2.5-month grace period to acquire their business licence and can continue operating while going through the application process.  

Home-based child care providers can apply for their business licence online, through myID, starting December 27, 2022. More information on how private home-based child care businesses can apply for a business licence is available on calgary.ca/dayhome.