Change of Ownership Applicant Guide - Bright from the Start

STEPS FOR SUCCESSFUL CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP APPLICATION
1. New owner must obtain the change of ownership licensing application package and become familiar
with appropriate rules for the type of facility you are acquiring. The package may be downloaded from
the Bright from the Start website at www.decal.ga.gov
2. Plan your facility for compliance with the rules and submit your completed application to the Applicant
Services Unit (ASU) at Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning. The
mailing address is: 2 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive SE, Suite 670-East Tower, Atlanta, GA 30334.
3. Submit the completed Affidavit Verifying Status for Child Care Learning Center/Group Day Care
Home License Application. This should be signed and notarized and submitted with your completed
application. This should be completed by the owner of the business or the person legally responsible for
the business.
4. Submit with your application a copy of the floor and site plans of your facility. The floor plan should
show all rooms of your facility and ages assigned to these rooms. Your site plan should show the
property of your location and the building(s) and playground(s) on this property. Please be as detailed as
possible. You may submit original floor and site plans from the former owner, however, if you have
made any changes to the facility or playgrounds please indicate these on the floor and site plans that you
submit.
5. If the ownership of your facility is under a Corporation (Inc.) or a Limited Liability Company (LLC),
you will need to submit the following documentation:
a certificate of incorporation with the articles of incorporation must be included as well as bylaws,
when applicable. (For LLC- Certificate of Organization and Articles of Organization)
Also for corporations, all information listed on the application regarding your corporation should
match the information listed with Secretary of State. This can be verified at
www.sos.ga.gov/corporations
6. A signed copy of the purchase agreement or a copy of the signed lease agreement must be submitted
with your application verifying your ownership of the facility. Both the seller (former owner) and the
buyer (new owner) must also send a letter indicating their consent for the change of ownership to take
place. The buyer (new owner) must note in his/her letter an agreement to meet all updated rules and
regulations of Bright from the Start. Both letters must make note of the official date of the change of
ownership.
7. The director of your facility should submit a complete, notarized criminal record check application and
complete the live scan fingerprinting procedure. (If director has already done this – fingerprint results
must be less than a year old to be considered current. If they are over a year old – director must complete
this process again.)
8. After your application has been submitted and reviewed, supporting documentation will be pulled
from the former facility’s state file in an attempt to complete your application. This documentation will
include copies of the following:
zoning approval
fire marshal approval
building inspector approval
documentation of city or county water and/or approvals for septic systems or well water
*Please note that if any of these approvals are unable to be pulled from the original state file, it will be
your responsibility to obtain and submit them in order to complete your application. All documentation
must be complete and on file before an initial licensing study will be done at your facility.