ChildCare Fee Waiver Program

• Eligible childcare providers may receive a full or partial waiver of qualifying City development fees.

• Depending on the type of project, eligibility requirements met, and available funding, the City may waive up to $20,000 in eligible fees.

• You will not receive a cash payment. If your application is approved, eligible fees will be waived directly by the City, and you will be responsible for paying any remaining balance.

• Funding is limited, and fee waivers are subject to availability. 

The program applies to fees related to:

• Type 1 - Conditional Use Permits for childcare programs

• Type 2 - Construction of a new childcare program

• Type 3 - Expansion or qualifying improvements to an existing high-quality childcare program

The City fees that have not yet been paid can be waived. Fees that have already been paid cannot be reimbursed.

Important Program Rules

• You may apply for one fee waiver type per location during each City fiscal year, which runs from October 1 through September 30.

• Applications are accepted throughout the fiscal year while funding is available.

• You may apply again for the same location in a future fiscal year if the program has available funding, your childcare program is expanding, and you continue to meet the applicable eligibility requirements. 

Eligibility depends on the type of childcare project and the fee waiver requested.

Requirements may include factors such as:

• Location within a City of Austin Council District

• Childcare licensing or registration

• High-quality childcare designation

• Participation in childcare scholarship programs

• Location within a childcare desert

• Other program-specific requirements

View the Childcare Fee Waiver Program application for complete eligibility requirements and award amounts. 

What kind of projects are eligible to receive fee waivers?

Type 1  

• Fee waivers for Conditional Use Permits 

• Located within a City of Austin Council District 

• Needing a Conditional Use* Permit   

*Conditional Use permits are required for specific land use in a zoning district where it is allowed only under certain conditions. 

Type 2 

• Fee waivers for Existing Expansion of High-Quality Childcare Programs  

  • This type of fee waiver is only for childcare programs that are:  

  • Childcare Centers Licensed with Texas Childcare Regulation, that have a high-quality childcare designation; OR  

  • Childcare Home Providers Licensed or Registered with Texas Childcare Regulation, that have a high-quality childcare designation; and  

  • Located within a City of Austin Council District; and   

  • Serve children who receive a childcare scholarship through Workforce Solutions Capital Area.  

 Type 3 

• Fee waivers for New Childcare Construction Projects  

  • This type of fee waiver is only for childcare programs that:  

  • Located within a City of Austin Council District   

What information do I need to provide as part of my application?

If you are applying for a new construction project:

• Invoice from a City of Austin department (Development Services, Energy, Water, or Health).

• If available plans for project.

• Project invoice.  

If you are applying for an Expansion or Rehabilitation project:

• A copy of your Texas Child Care Regulation License and/or Registration

• A copy of your high-quality certification from one of the following agencies: The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), The National Accreditation Commission (NAC), The National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC), or a four-star quality certification from Texas Rising Star (TRS) Program

• A copy of your most recent enrollment roster from Workforce Solutions.  Please do not include names of children; use a version with assigned unique WFS ID numbers, or any other redaction.

• Complete applications will be reviewed in order of submission (when all necessary documentation is submitted). Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

If I have a second childcare expansion project at the same location, can I re-apply for a fee waiver?

• Applicants may only apply for one type of fee waiver once per year, per location. The City of Austin fiscal year is October 1st – September 30.

How will Austin Development Services know that I am eligible for a fee waiver?

• If eligible, Austin Economic Development will reach out to Austin Development Services to advise on the fees and amount to be waived. Austin Development Services will then reflect the reduced amount on the applicable invoice. At that time, make your payment in your ADS portal. 

If my initial childcare expansion project becomes larger or changes are needed after I submit my application, can I reapply?

• A childcare program may only apply once per location, per fiscal year. 

• If any changes occur within the same expansion project and re-inspection fees are generated, the re-inspection fees are not eligible to be waived. 

If I am eligible but do not receive a fee waiver because funding is not available, may I reapply in the next fiscal year for the same project?

• Austin Economic Development will notify childcare programs of any future application cycles as new fee waiver funding becomes available. 

Am I able to apply for childcare expansion fee waivers for multiple locations?

• Yes. If a childcare program has multiple locations, one application may be submitted per location each fiscal year. 

Do these fee waivers cover childcare custodial health and annual fire inspections?

• No. Information can be found at Health Inspections & Food Permits for Child Care Programs.