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Licensed Daycare in Tampa, Florida

Q: How many licensed daycare centers are in Tampa, Florida?

Our directory lists 200 licensed childcare centers in Tampa, Florida, sourced from Florida Department of Children and Families — Child Care Licensing. All listings hold a current state license at indexing time; verify status directly via the state's lookup tool before enrollment.

Q: What's the average daycare cost in Tampa?

Statewide averages in Florida run roughly $1110/month for infants and $790/month for preschool. City-specific costs vary — large metros and dense neighborhoods trend higher than rural ZIPs. Use the cost estimator for a closer ballpark.

Q: What staff-to-child ratios apply in Tampa daycares?

All licensed Florida centers must meet the state minimum: 1:4 for infants, 1:6 for toddlers, and 1:11 for preschool. NAEYC-accredited centers in Tampa typically operate below these ceilings.

Q: Are subsidies available for daycare in Tampa?

Florida families can apply for School Readiness Program (Early Learning Coalitions) (intake: (866) 357-3239). Federal options like the Child & Dependent Care Tax Credit and a Dependent Care FSA stack on top. See our subsidies guide .

Every center listed below is sourced directly from the state's child care licensing registry — no paid placement, no editorial picks, no hidden referral fees.

200

Licensed Centers

Infant Spots

$1,110/mo

Florida avg infant

1:4

State infant ratio

Childcare costs in Tampa

ChildCare Aware reports the Florida average full-time cost at $1,110/month for infant care and $790/month for preschool. City-level prices in Tampa vary by ZIP code and program model — Head Start sites are free for eligible families, family daycare homes typically run 10-30% below center rates, and accredited centers run above the average.

The Child & Dependent Care Tax Credit and a Dependent Care FSA ($5,000 max) reduce effective cost regardless of program. Florida families may also qualify for School Readiness Program (Early Learning Coalitions) (intake: (866) 357-3239).

Full Florida licensing & cost overview

Quick facts

State regulator: Florida Department of Children and Families — Child Care Licensing
Infant ratio: 1:4
Toddler ratio: 1:6
Preschool ratio: 1:11
Avg capacity: 68 kids

ZIP codes covered

33612 16 33626 13 33607 13 33619 10 33615 10 33613 10 33603 10 33637 9

Program types in Tampa

Licensed Group Child Care Home

28 centers

Licensed Child Care Center

28 centers

Infant & Toddler Center

28 centers

Head Start Center

28 centers

All Tampa licensed centers

Page 3 of 14

E Family Daycare

Explorer Kids Pembroke Pines #534

Tampa

School Age (5+) Cap 115

F Group Care

First Steps Cape Coral #142

Tampa

School Age (5+) Cap 104

F Head Start

First Steps Fort Lauderdale #358

Tampa

2 years - 12 years Cap 20

F Infant Care

First Steps Hialeah #574

Tampa

Preschool (2-5) Cap 113

F Licensed Center

First Steps St. Petersburg #199

Tampa

Infants & Toddlers Cap 82

F Group Care

First Steps Tampa #415

Tampa

School Age (5+) Cap 100

F Infant Care

Fort Lauderdale Creative Kids #360

Tampa

Preschool (2-5) Cap 94

F Group Care

Fort Lauderdale Discovery Preschool #356

Tampa

School Age (5+) Cap 25

F Infant Care

Fort Lauderdale Generations Daycare #376

Tampa

Preschool (2-5) Cap 22

F Family Daycare

Fort Lauderdale Golden Gate Daycare #363

Tampa

School Age (5+) Cap 61

F Montessori

Fort Lauderdale KinderCare #353

Tampa

6 weeks - 12 years Cap 94

F Montessori

Fort Lauderdale KinderSmile #377

Tampa

6 weeks - 12 years Cap 32

F Preschool

Fort Lauderdale Learning Tree #365

Tampa

Preschool (2-5) Cap 16

F Head Start

Fort Lauderdale Little Angels #374

Tampa

2 years - 12 years Cap 94

F Before/After School

Fort Lauderdale Little Scholars #359

Tampa

School Age (5+) Cap 85

Pick a provider above to see the full profile, including current license status, age range served, and phone number.

Frequently asked questions from families searching for child care here.

How many licensed daycare centers are in Tampa, Florida?

Our directory lists 200 licensed childcare centers in Tampa, Florida, sourced from Florida Department of Children and Families — Child Care Licensing. All listings hold a current state license at indexing time; verify status directly via the state's lookup tool before enrollment.

What's the average daycare cost in Tampa?

Statewide averages in Florida run roughly $1110/month for infants and $790/month for preschool. City-specific costs vary — large metros and dense neighborhoods trend higher than rural ZIPs. Use the cost estimator for a closer ballpark.

What staff-to-child ratios apply in Tampa daycares?

All licensed Florida centers must meet the state minimum: 1:4 for infants, 1:6 for toddlers, and 1:11 for preschool. NAEYC-accredited centers in Tampa typically operate below these ceilings.

Are subsidies available for daycare in Tampa?

Florida families can apply for School Readiness Program (Early Learning Coalitions) (intake: (866) 357-3239). Federal options like the Child & Dependent Care Tax Credit and a Dependent Care FSA stack on top. See our subsidies guide.

How do I verify a Tampa daycare's license?

Look up the provider directly in the official Florida Department of Children and Families — Child Care Licensing search. License status is the single most important credential to confirm before enrolling.