Child Care Licensing

How to Report Child Care Licensing Complaints

If your child is enrolled in a children's center or family child care home, first share your concern with the center director or family child care home provider. Open, positive communication can resolve a small problem before it becomes a big problem.

Anyone with a concern or complaint needs to call their local Licensing Board office in their county.  If your concern is about suspected abuse or needs to be addressed immediately, please call the Abuse Hotline: 1-800-96-ABUSE (1-800-962-2873)

If you do not live in Pinellas county, please use the following link to find your county’s phone number:  https://www.myflfamilies.com/services/child-family/child-care/child-care-providers-and-staff/child-care-contacts
Or file a complaint online at: Florida Department of Children and Families - Child Care Complaint (myflfamilies.com)  (not for Pinellas County residents). Or call 1-800-96-Abuse (1-800-962-2873)

FOR PINELLAS COUNTY ONLY:

If your complaint cannot be resolved by talking with the Center Director or Family Child Care Home provider, or you suspect unlicensed care, you may call the Pinellas County License Board and file a complaint at 727-507-4857.

Pinellas County Licensing Board hours are Monday – Friday 8:00am – 5:00pm and closed on holidays.  If your situation cannot wait for the next business day and it is after hours, please call the after-hours line at:  727-262-0247

• Please have the name and address of the Family Child Care Home provider, the Child Care Center, or unlicensed care ready. You may give your name or stay anonymous.
• Please plan to be as specific as you can, including the date and time of the problem and the ages of the children involved. A Licensing Specialist will determine if the problem you are describing is a licensing violation. All licensing violation complaints are documented and will be investigated. 
• If you need to report suspected abuse, please call the Abuse Hotline at 1-800-96-ABUSE (1-800-962-2873) as well as Child Care Licensing: 727-507-4857

The following brochures are handed out by child care homes and centers and may contain helpful information about the kind of care to be expected:

Know Your Family Child Care Home Brochure

Know Your Child’s Children’s Center Brochure