Wisconsin Department of Children and Families - Division of Early Care and Education
Bureau of Early Care Regulation
Child Care Licensing Procedure Manual
If the licensing materials and fees are not received 30 days prior to the license continuation review date, the License Continuation Reminder Letter and a Noncompliance Statement and Correction Plan (DCF-F-CFS294) (for non-submittal of required continuation materials and fees) is sent to the licensee via regular U.S. mail. The reminder letter informs the licensee that BECR will verify correction of the violation when materials and fees are submitted. The letter explains that if the licensee fails to submit the materials on or before the license continuation review date, late fees of $5.00 per day will be charged for up to 30 calendar days following the continuation date.
If the continuation materials and licensing fees have not been received by five days after the license continuation review date, a regional program associate is responsible for generating and issuing the License Continuation Past Due Warning Letter. The past due letter is sent to the licensee via certified and regular U.S. mail. The past due notice indicates that a licensed center that fails to pay the required fees by the license continuation review date is assessed a late fee for up to 30 calendar days. Wis. Stat. § 48.65(3) requires that an additional fee is charged when the licensing fees are not paid by the license continuation date of a regular license. The late fee is $5.00 per day for every day past the due date, including weekend days. The number of days the fee is deemed late is determined by the postmark on the envelope or the date the fee payment is personally delivered, or the date that the fees are paid online via the Child Care Provider Portal (CCPP). The past due letter also states that pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 48.66(5), if the licensee fails to apply for continuance of the license within 30 days of receipt of the warning letter, the department may revoke the license as provided in Wis. Stat. §§ 48.715(4) and (4m)(b).
If the required fees and application materials have not been received by 31 days after the license continuation review date, the Revocation - Incomplete Application is issued to the licensee via certified and regular mail.
If there are extenuating circumstances (e.g., illness) preventing the licensee from submitting the continuation materials within 30 days of the license continuation review date, BECR may accept the continuation materials, licensing fee and the assessed late fees rather than revoke the license of the facility. These situations are assessed on a case-by-case basis and must be approved by the licensing manager/licensing supervisor.
If a facility closes or is closed while still owing any outstanding late fees, the facility is responsible for payment of those fees should they reapply for licensure.
This page last updated 08/2021.