Fla. Admin. Code R. 65C-15.003 (2026)

(1) Application for an agency license shall be made on the “Master License Application for Child-Placing Agencies,” CF-FSP 5135, (March 2026), which is hereby incorporated by reference and available at https://flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-19467. The application shall be signed by the owner, chief executive officer or executive director exercising authority over the operation, policies and practices of the agency. All information requested in the application form and the rule must be submitted as part of the application.

(2) Applicants requesting to be licensed as a child-placing agency serving as a community based care lead agency shall meet requirements pursuant to Section 409.986, F.S. through s. 409.997, F.S. prior to providing services.

(3) A licensed agency may operate satellite offices without separate licenses for those offices. However, each satellite office must be disclosed in the application for license by submitting a copy of form CF-FSP 5135, incorporated in subsection (1), of this rule, for each office. If the agency opens a satellite office during the licensed term, the agency shall file form CF-FSP 5135 not less than 30 business days prior to the opening of the new office; a full application packet is not required.

(4) Each satellite office shall be required to submit client records and personnel files for review.

(a) Description of the services, if the satellite office will offer the same services as the parent agency; and,

(b) Prior to issuance of a license and annually thereafter, the child-placing agency satellite office must be inspected by the Department. The Department must complete an on-site visit inspection when a complaint or concern rises to the level of for potential violation of licensing standards. The Department may conduct scheduled or unannounced visits to a satellite office.

(c) Licensed child placing agencies requesting to provide the same services for private adoptions or foster home maintanence outside of the licensed area are not required to have a satellite office when service delivery is conducted in the home of the prospective family and all staff and client files are stored electronically. All files must be made available for review upon request by the Department.

(5) The agency shall have an office and professional staff permanently housed within the state.

(6) Upon determination that the applicant meets the state licensing requirements, a license shall be issued to a specific agency, at a specific location, noting all satellite office locations.

Rulemaking Authority 409.175 FS. Law Implemented 409.175 FS. History–New 12-19-90, Amended 10-27-93, Formerly 10M-24.005, Amended 11-14-16, 2-25-18, 7-14-26.

Effective: 7/14/2026.