Daycare Licensing in Vermont: Violations, Inspections & License Lookup
How child care licensing works in Vermont: who regulates it, the rules providers answer to, how often they are inspected, and the exact steps to look up a daycare's violations and verify its license. Sourced from Department for Children and Families, Child Development Division.
Last verified 2026-08-03
How do I look up daycare violations in Vermont?
- Go to brightfutures.dcf.state.vt.us, the Bright Futures Information System (BFIS) public site (or start from dcf.vermont.gov/cdd/families/find-care).
- Choose Find a Provider, then Search Provider Directory.
- Search by town, program type, program name, or child's age.
- Click Details next to the provider.
- Review the provider's regulatory history and inspection information. Reports involving a serious violation are also sent to enrolled families.
State portal: Vermont child care search
How do I verify a Vermontdaycare's license?
- Go to brightfutures.dcf.state.vt.us and open Search Provider Directory.
- Search by town or program name.
- Click Details on the provider.
- Confirm the license or registration type, current status, and capacity, plus any STARS quality rating shown.
State portal: Vermont license search
Who regulates daycares in Vermont?
Child care licensing in Vermont is administered by the Department for Children and Families, Child Development Division, under Vermont Child Care Licensing Regulations (33 V.S.A. Ch. 35). It licenses providers, inspects them, and records the violations found.
How often are Vermont daycares inspected?
The Child Development Division (CDD) issues licenses for a three-year period and must conduct at least one unannounced licensing compliance visit during that period, along with periodic monitoring inspections. Complaints from parents or the community can trigger unannounced visits at any time. Registered and licensed family child care homes and center-based programs both fall under this monitoring framework.
Vermont rates violations by severity. Worst first:
- Serious violation
- Other
What our Vermontdata covers, and what it doesn't
We track Vermont's licensed providers from the state's public records: license number, status, and capacity. For a provider's full inspection and violation history, follow the steps above at the state's own source.
| Vermont child care data | On record |
|---|---|
| Licensed providers tracked | 1,054 |
| Independently scorable (Confidence Index) | Not yet scorable |
| Inspection history on this site | Roster only, use state source |
Vermont daycare licensing: common questions
- How do I look up daycare violations in Vermont?
- Use the Bright Futures Information System (BFIS) at brightfutures.dcf.state.vt.us, or start at dcf.vermont.gov find-care. Search the provider directory, then open a provider's Details to see its regulatory history. If an inspection finds a serious violation, the report is also sent to enrolled parents.
- How often does Vermont inspect licensed child care?
- The Child Development Division licenses programs for three years and must complete at least one unannounced compliance visit during that period, plus periodic monitoring. Complaints from parents or the community can prompt additional unannounced visits at any time.
- What does a serious violation mean in Vermont?
- Vermont distinguishes serious violations from other violations. A serious violation includes staffing violations or any violation that immediately imperils children's health, safety, or well-being, such as inadequate supervision or abuse. Site visit reports involving a serious violation are shared with enrolled families and can lead to a downgraded license or revocation.
- How do I verify a Vermont child care provider's license?
- Search the provider in BFIS at brightfutures.dcf.state.vt.us and open its Details. The record shows the license or registration type, current status, capacity, and any STARS quality rating. This is the official Child Development Division directory.
This page republishes the public licensing record and labels every absent field plainly. Primary source: https://www.brightfutures.dcf.state.vt.us. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.