8:1

10:1 for 3 years and older

NA

12:1, if SAC

NA = Not addressed in regulations
NC = No category of facility
NL = Facility not licensed
SAC = School-age childre

Notes:

^*States includes the District of Columbia for a total of 51 entities.

For the purposes of this document, a licensed program is required to have permission from the State to operate and must meet specified family child care standards. Some States may call their regulatory processes certification or registration; the term licensed is used to represent all regulatory processes.
Several States have county or city licensing regulations that may supersede State requirements; this table does not include such regulations.

State Notes:

Alabama

^* For small FCC homes, children younger than age 12 who visit the home unaccompanied by an adult are counted in the maximum number of children allowed.

Alaska

^* A large/group FCC home (“child care group home”) requires only one provider if the provider has completed 1 year of licensed home child care or the equivalent or meets the college credit or CDA requirements and there are no more than a total of 10 children, with no children younger than the age of 30 months; or no more than a total of 12 children who are all school-age. FCC regulations governing group size and ratio differ slightly between the State and the city of Anchorage.

Arizona

^* Regulations for large/group FCC homes include a staffing option of one provider caring for up to five children. Licensing is voluntary for these homes, unless the home receives public funds. Large/group FCC homes can have up to 15 children. Compensation can be received for up to 10 children. The remaining five must be the provider’s own children or family members.

Arkansas

^* A licensed home may care for two school-age children for not more than 3 hours per day before and/or after a school day; these two children are not required to be counted in the child-staff ratio.

California

^*Excludes child care that is provided for the children of only one family. For a small FCC home, the maximum number of children for whom care shall be provided, including children younger than age 10 who live in the licensee’s home, are four infants; six children, no more than three of whom may be infants; or eight children, if at least two of the children are at least 6 years of age, no more than two infants are cared for during any time when more than six children are cared for, and the licensee notifies each parent that there may be up to seven or eight children in the home at one time. Large/group FCC homes may care for up to 14 children when at least 2 are at least 6 years of age, no more than 3 infants are in care, and the licensee notifies each parent that there may be up to 13 or 14 children in the home at one time.

Colorado

^* Excludes child care that is provided for the children of only one family. A small FCC home may be approved to care for three children younger than 2 years of age with no more than two children under 12 months, including the caregiver's own children, under the following conditions:

Colorado has separate rules that apply to infant and toddler and experienced provider homes.

Delaware

^* There are two levels of small FCC homes. A Level II provider has more extensive qualifications, as demonstrated by education, credentials, or experience specified in the rules, and is permitted to enroll more children. In Level I homes, the provider must meet the qualifications for initial licensure. The following table is an example of the differences that are permitted when the provider is more qualified:

There are two types of large FCC homes. Type 1 large FCC homes may care for 712 children. A Type 2 large family child care home is also called an “infant/toddler” home. The data reported in the table are for Level l small FCC homes and Type 1 large FCC homes.

Florida

^* Excludes child care that is provided for the children of only one family.

Georgia

^* In large (“group”) homes, mixed-age ratios are determined by the age of youngest child if younger than 3; ratios in groups with children older than 3 years of age are determined by the age of the majority of children.

Idaho

^* The State has a licensing law, but licensing is not required for centers and FCC homes at the State level. The State has voluntary licensing for small and large/group FCC homes. State certification is required for large/group FCC homes, which includes obtaining a fire inspection and a staff criminal history check.

Illinois

^* Excludes child care that is provided for the children of only one family. In a small FCC home, one provider may care for a group consisting of up to eight children younger than age 12, of which up to five children may be younger than age 5, of which up to three children may be younger than age 2; or up to eight children younger than age 12, of which up to six may be younger than age 5, of which up to two may be younger than 30 months of age. In a large/group FCC home, the provider and assistant may care for 16 children: no more than 12 can be younger than age 6, and no more than 6 can be younger than 30 months of age, of which no more than 4 can be younger than 15 months of age.

Iowa

^* Homes caring for five or fewer children are not required to register. Iowa registers three types of family child care homes: categories A, B, and C. The data reported in the table for small family child care are for category A homes. Requirements for category C homes are reported under large family child care.

Kansas

^* Homes caring for one to six children are registered. In a licensed large/group FCC home serving 712 children, the maximum number of children is as follows:

Kansas also licenses homes with 7 to 10 children. In these FCC homes, one provider may care for the following:

Kentucky

^*The State also has certified FCC homes that are allowed to care for four to six children. Information reported is only for licensed FCC homes.

Massachusetts

^* A third category of FCC homes, Family Child Care Plus Home, is regulated by the licensing office. A provider in a Family Child Care Plus Home may care for up to eight children, provided that at least two of the eight children are school age.

Minnesota

^* Excludes child care that is provided for the children of only one family.

Montana

^* Small FCC homes providing care to infants only may enroll up to four infants. Large FCC homes providing care to infants only may enroll up to eight infants.

Nebraska

^* The number of providers required and the maximum size of the group depends on the ages of children enrolled. The following table summarizes the requirements.

N/A = Not applicable

New York

^* A maximum of 10 children are allowed in large family child care homes if any child is younger than 2 years old.

North Dakota

^* A small family child care home must be licensed if it cares for four or more children ages 24 months and younger, or six or more children at any time.

Oregon

^* The following tables summarize the child-staff ratios for large/group family child care homes:

A) If all children in care are in the same age group, the following determines the staff-child ratio.

Table A

B) If children in care include any infants and/or toddlers, the following table determines the staff-child ratio.

Table B

C) If children in care include a mix of only preschool- and school-age children, the following table determines the staff-child ratio.

Table C

Pennsylvania

^* The following table provides the large/group family child care home ratio and group sizes allowed by the State.

Tennessee

¹ If any child’s physical or mental condition requires special care, if children under 9 living in the home increases the group size, or when a field trip is taken off premises, the number of caregivers required shall be increased by one.

² Before 8 or more children are enrolled, the facility shall be approved by a fire safety inspector and by an environmentalist.

³ If over 12 children are enrolled, the additional children shall be of school-age and a school-age program shall be provided.

Texas

^* Texas requires family child care homes that care for one to three children to be listed with the State. No inspections are conducted, and there are no standards to meet. Small family child care homes are required to be registered and meet State requirements; large family child care homes are required to be licensed. Regulations for registered and licensed homes are combined, with specific stipulations included for each type of home. The following tables present the child-staff ratios and maximum group sizes allowed by the State. A large (licensed) family child care home with 3 providers may care for up to 12 children of any age birth through age 13.

Utah

^*Small family child care homes that care for up to four children may voluntarily become registered; homes that care for one to eight children may elect to become licensed. Small family child care requirements reported in the table are for homes required to have a residential certificate.

Vermont

^* Vermont regulates two types of small homes. Homes with 3­6 children must be registered, and homes with 312 children are licensed. A registered family child care home may care for up to 12 children during the summer if 2 caregivers are on duty. In a licensed family child care home, when only children younger than age 3 are enrolled, two staff are required for four to seven children, and three staff are required when eight or more children are in care.

Virginia

^* In determining the need for an assistant, the following ratios are required, including the provider’s own and resident children younger than 8 years of age:

When children are in mixed-age groups, the provider shall apply the following point system in determining the need for an assistant. Each caregiver shall not exceed 16 points. The provider's own and resident children under 8 years of age count in point maximums.

Washington

Wisconsin

^* The maximum number of children per provider allowed by the State is outlined in the following chart.

Wyoming

^* Excludes child care that is provided for the children of only one family.

Data Provided by: National Child Care Information and Technical Assistance Center

10530 Rosehaven St., Suite 400 • Fairfax, VA 22030 | Phone: (800) 616-2242 • Fax: (800) 716-2242 • TTY: (800) 516-2242

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