The Child Care Licensing Bureau (CCLB) performs state licensing regulatory duties as required by state laws and federal requirements. The bureau program is designed to protect the health, safety and welfare of children receiving care and services in licensed child care settings. Activities include issuance of state licenses, routine inspections, complaint investigations, enforcement of state and federal requirements and a host of other regulatory activities.
The new child care home licensing rules were officially adopted on April 27, 2026. Providers will have at least 90 days from that date to meet the new requirements.
For a look at the new child care home rules please click the link: First Look - Child Care Home Rules
During this 90-day transition period, the Child Care Licensing Bureau will offer training, updated technical assistance, and provide new rule books to support providers with the changes. The training schedule for child care home providers will be released later this month.
To stay informed about upcoming trainings and resources, sign up for the Child Care Licensing Bureau listserv:
The new child care licensing rules, adopted on May 7, 2025 are now in effect. All licensed providers are requires to follow the updated rules to ensure safety and high-quality care for children.
The Technical Assistance and Consultation Manual for the new child care center licensing rules is now available. Please click the link to access the manual: Technical Assistance and Consultation Manual
To support providers, the Child Care Licensing Bureau has already provided training, updated technical assistance and is mailing new rule books. The slides and video resources for new center rules training for providers is now available!
You can view or download the slides and videos here:
To continue supporting child care center providers transition to the new center rule set, the Child Care Licensing Bureau has created a self-paced course and quiz accessible through Michigan Association for the Education of Young Children's (MiAEYC) Knowledge Center. To register and access the new rules training, please log in or create a user account in the MiAEYC Knowledge Center.
If you've attended a Michigan AEYC event through the Knowledge Center, you likely already have an account. If not, click create account. When registering, make sure to enter your MiRegistry ID in your user account to receive credit hours in MiRegistry. For additional support, please utilize the live chat feature or call 866.648.3224.
To stay informed about upcoming trainings and resources, sign up for the Child Care Licensing Bureau listserv:
To protect Michigan children from exposure to lead in drinking water, the Clean Drinking Water Access Act, 2023 PA 154, and amendments to the Child Care Organizations Act, 1973 PA 116, collectively also known as Filter First, were signed into law by Governor Gretchen Whitmer with an effective date of October 24, 2023. These laws require schools and child care centers in Michigan to develop a Drinking Water Management Plan (DWMP), install lead reducing filters on all consumptive fixtures, and test filtered water.
For questions or additional information, email us at mileap-cclb-filterfirst@michigan.gov.
The new Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP) Child Care Hub Information Records Portal (CCHIRP) system has launched. This new system provides an enhanced experience for managing licenses and simplifying the way you communicate information with MiLEAP and the State of Michigan.
MiLEAP is excited to bring you this new tool to help streamline the Child Care licensing process. We understand that navigating new systems can take some time, and our goal is to support you through this transition so you can confidently complete your actions in the system.
We encourage you to read the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to learn more. We have also created two CCHIRP help documents How to Set Up a MiLogin Account and CCHIRP Portal and MiLogin Tips for CCHIRP Users to guide you through getting CCHIRP setup. If you have additional questions, please reach out to your Consultant or contact our main office by calling 517-284-9730 or via email MiLEAP-CCLB-Help@michigan.gov.
The Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP) is committed to working alongside child care providers to support safe, nurturing environments for children. As part of this effort, we are sharing information about a new law that gives child care centers an additional option to help protect children and staff during emergency situations.
In December 2025, the Michigan Legislature passed Keeping Kids Safe (Public Act 60 of 2025). This law allows licensed child care centers to install temporary door locking devices on classroom doors and other approved doors. These devices may be used only during emergencies, such as an active shooter or other serious threat, to help keep everyone inside safe. The law became effective on or about March 23, 2026.
This option is similar to safety measures already available to K–12 schools and is intended to support child care centers as part of their emergency preparedness planning.
The Bureau of Fire Services (BFS) and Bureau of Construction Codes (BCC) have partnered with Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement & Potential (MiLEAP)-Child Care Licensing Bureau (CCLB) to provide guidance on the process for obtaining approval for installation of temporary locking devices or systems. Additional resources on plan the review process can be found here: Fire Safety Inspections.
Our Strong Start has a team of trained Navigators ready to support child care entrepreneurs in understanding and navigating the state child care licensing process. They are available to answer questions and to provide information about resources and training opportunities within the child care system.
The Child Care Background Check Program is specifically for the comprehensive background check of licensed child care providers in the state of Michigan.
Michigan AEYC programs to support Directors and new program staff: Director Network and Early Foundations Program.
The Michigan AEYC Early Foundations program assists with staffing challenges and provides onboarding support for busy directors. New staff and/or staff in new positions will gain immediate skills needed to feel supported and be successful in the classroom even before achieving a CDA or degree.
Directors statewide are invited to join a network of their peers and receive group and individual coaching on personalized topics relevant to their needs. Participants will engage in monthly synchronous and asynchronous meeting opportunities.
For more information about eligibility and the application process, contact miaeyc@miaeyc.org or visit www.miaeyc.org to live chat with a specialist.
Requesting Increases to Capacity and Ratio for Homes
The recent changes to PA 116 allows family and group homes to request an increase in capacity if the licensee meets certain conditions. To help streamline the process, the Child Care Licensing Bureau has developed a form for licensees to request the increase in capacity and a variance to allow for a ratio increase.
