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Family child care home licensing by state

Child care for a small group of children in the provider's own home

Nearly every state regulates paid child care in your own home, but the credential may be a license, a registration or a certificate, and it becomes mandatory anywhere from one child to nine. Three facts decide your case: how many unrelated children you care for, whether your own children count, and whether public child care funds pay for any of them.

The child count that triggers a license

Alabama and Michigan license from one unrelated child. DC and Wyoming start above two unrelated children, and Georgia and North Carolina at three. Maine, Nebraska, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Wisconsin start at four, Arizona, Nevada and Virginia at five, and Arkansas and Indiana at six. Utah exempts homes with 8 or fewer children. Who counts matters: California counts your own children under 10, Florida under 13 and Maryland under 6, while Virginia and Indiana leave your own children out.

Registration, certification and no requirement at all

Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, Maryland, Montana, South Carolina and Vermont register family homes instead of licensing them (Hawaii from 3 children), and New York registers homes with 3 to 6 children. Maryland’s certificate of registration is mandatory and MSDE describes it as a form of license, and Kentucky’s and Arizona’s “certificates” are mandatory. In Florida, 15 counties require a license instead of registration, and four, including Broward and Palm Beach, run their own licensing.

Some states require nothing for small private-pay homes. Idaho requires no license for 6 or fewer children, though caring for four or more still requires a DHW criminal history check. Louisiana requires registration only if you receive state or federal child care funds, and South Dakota exempts privately paid homes of up to 12 children. New Jersey’s registration for 3 to 5 children is voluntary. Ohio’s smaller Type B home needs a license to take publicly funded children.

Small homes, large homes and the line to a center

Most states license two sizes of home. California’s small home takes up to 6 children (8 with school-age children) and its large home up to 12 (14) with an assistant. Texas has three steps: a listing for up to 3 unrelated children, registration from 4, and a license for 7 to 12. Michigan splits at 6, New York at 6 and Oregon at 10, with certified Oregon homes allowed 16. Illinois group day care homes and Indiana Class II homes go up to 16, and Ohio’s Type A home takes 8 to 14. Past the top tier you need a center license: in Georgia that happens above 6 children, and in New Jersey at 6.

Look up the official name, not the generic term. DC licenses a Child Development Home, Washington a Family Home Early Learning Program, Wisconsin a Licensed Family Child Care Center that usually operates in a home, and Virginia now calls its license Licensed Home-Based Child Care.

Recent changes

On July 1, 2026, Illinois moved licensing from DCFS to the new IDEC, and Kansas moved it from KDHE to KOEC. On Aug. 1, 2026, Wisconsin raised its family center limit from 8 to 12 children. Maine’s statute now sets the licensing threshold at four children, although its rule still says three. Connecticut runs a pilot large family child care endorsement for up to 12 children, limited to 30 licensed providers a year and ending June 30, 2029.

Local rules on top of the state license

The 51 state records we reviewed show no certificate of need or moratorium for family child care homes. The extra limits are local or physical. Rhode Island group homes must meet local zoning, Nevada cities or counties may license locally, and Wyoming caps capacity by indoor and outdoor square footage.

Across the 50 states and DC

What each state requires to operate, at our last review

37 of 51
License required
12 of 51
Registration required
1 of 51
Medicaid/Medicare certification only
1 of 51
No state license
Guides
49 below

Family child care home rules in every state

All states
Family child care home licensing in each state: requirement, official license name, agency and size threshold
Alabama License required Family Day Care Home license (Group Day Care Home license for 7 to 12 children) Alabama Department of Human Resources (DHR), Child Care Services Division Up to 6 unrelated children for 4+ hrs; 7 to 12 is a group home
Alaska License required Child Care Home license / Child Care Group Home license Alaska Department of Health, Division of Public Assistance, Child Care Program Office Home: up to 8 children; group home: 9-12; 4 or fewer unrelated: no license
Arizona License required Child Care Group Home certificate Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS), Bureau of Child Care Licensing 5 to 10 children (through age 12) in a home; 4 or fewer need no ADHS certificate
Arkansas License required Licensed Child Care Family Home Arkansas Department of Education, Division of Elementary and Secondary Education, Office of Early Childhood (OEC), Child Care Licensing Unit 6+ children from 2+ families in your home (max 16); 5 or fewer may register
California License required Family Child Care Home license (small or large) California Department of Social Services (CDSS), Community Care Licensing Division, Child Care Licensing Program Small home up to 6 (8) children; large home up to 12 (14)
Colorado License required Family Child Care Home license (Large Family Child Care Home and Experienced Family Child Care Provider licenses for bigger homes) Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC), Division of Early Learning Licensing and Administration (DELLA) Up to 6 children (+2 school-age); large home up to 12; 4 or fewer exempt
Connecticut License required Family Child Care Home license Office of Early Childhood (OEC), Licensing Private home: up to 6 children, up to 9 with an approved assistant
Delaware License required Family Child Care Home license (Level I or Level II) and Large Family Child Care Home license Delaware Department of Education, Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) Paid care in your home: Level I 5-6 children, Level II 9, large home 12
District of Columbia License required Child Development Home license (Expanded Child Development Home license for up to 12 children) Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE), Child Care Licensing Over 2 unrelated children in your home; up to 6, or 12 in an Expanded Home
Florida Registration required Family child care home registration or license DCF Children from 2+ unrelated families in your home; 6 preschoolers or 10 total
Georgia License required Family Child Care Learning Home license Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) 3 to 6 unrelated children under 13 in your home
Hawaii Registration required Family Child Care Home Certificate of Registration Department of Human Services (DHS), Child Care Licensing Unit 3 to 6 unrelated children in your home; 2 or fewer exempt
Idaho No state license Family daycare home (no license required; optional Basic Daycare License) Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (DHW) 6 or fewer children: no license; 4+ need a criminal history check
Illinois License required Day Care Home license (Group Day Care Home for 13-16 children); the statute now calls them early care and education homes Illinois Department of Early Childhood (IDEC), Child Care Licensing More than 3 children under 12 in your home, up to 12 (group home: 16)
Indiana License required Licensed Child Care Home (Class I or Class II) Indiana FSSA, Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning 6+ unrelated children in your home; Class I up to 12+3, Class II up to 16
Iowa Registration required Child Development Home registration (Category A, B or C) Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Child Care Regulation No registration up to 5 children (6 with a school-age child); A, B, C above
Kansas License required Family Child Care Home license (also called day care home or group day care home) Kansas Office of Early Childhood (KOEC), Child Care Licensing Over 4 unrelated children, or 35+ hours a week; up to 12 children in a home
Kentucky License required Certified Family Child-Care Home (certificate) Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS), Office of Inspector General, Division of Regulated Child Care 4-6 unrelated children in your home need certification; 10 total with own
Louisiana Medicaid/Medicare certification only Family Child Care Provider registration (only to receive state or federal child care funds) Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE), Office of Early Childhood 6 or fewer children in your home; registration only for funded care
Maine License required Family Child Care Provider License Maine DHHS, Office of Child and Family Services (OCFS), Children's Licensing and Investigation Unit 4 to 12 children under 13 in your home, not counting your own
Maryland Registration required Family Child Care Home Certificate of Registration Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), Office of Child Care (OCC) Up to 8 children in your home; 9 to 12 is a large family child care home
Massachusetts License required Family Child Care License Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) Care in your own home for up to 6 children, or 10 with an assistant
Michigan License required Family Child Care Home license and Group Child Care Home license Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP), Child Care Licensing Bureau 1-6 unrelated children (family) or 7-12 (group) in your home
Minnesota License required Family Child Care License (family day care or group family day care) Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) Home care for up to 10 children (family) or 14 (group family)
Mississippi License required Child Care Family Home license Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH), Bureau of Child Care Facilities Licensure Up to 5 children under 13 in your home; 6 to 12 needs a facility license
Missouri License required Family Child Care Home license Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), Office of Childhood License needed above 6 children (3 under age 2); up to 10 in a home
Montana Registration required Family Day-Care Home or Group Day-Care Home registration Montana DPHHS, Early Childhood and Family Support Division, Child Care Licensing 3 to 8 children (family home) or 9 to 15 (group home) in a residence
Nebraska License required Family Child Care Home I license and Family Child Care Home II license Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Licensure Unit 4+ children from other families; Home I up to 8, Home II up to 12
Nevada License required Child care facility license: Family Home (5-6 children) or Group Home (7-12 children) Nevada Department of Human Services, Division of Social Services (Child Care Licensing) 5-6 children (family home) or 7-12 (group home); 4 or fewer: registration
New Hampshire License required Family Day Care Home license or Family Group Day Care Home license DHHS, Child Care Licensing Unit Up to 6 children (7-12 for group home); own plus 4 others exempt
New Jersey Registration required Family Child Care Provider Certificate of Registration (voluntary) DCF Office of Licensing sets the rules Voluntary: 3 to 5 children under 13 in your home; 6+ needs a center license
New Mexico License required Family Child Care Home license and Group Child Care Home license Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD) 5 to 6 children (family) or 7 to 12 (group) in your home; 4 or fewer exempt
New York Registration required Family day care home registration; group family day care home license Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) 3-6 children registered; 7-12 group family day care license
North Carolina License required Family Child Care Home License (star-rated license) NC DHHS, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) 3+ children in your home, up to 8-10 by age; own school-age kids not counted
North Dakota License required Family child care license North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Early Childhood Services 4+ children 24 months and under, or 6-7 children through age 11, at home
Ohio License required Type A Family Child Care Home license; licensed Type B Family Child Care Home Ohio Department of Children and Youth (DCY) Own home: Type B 1-7 children, Type A 8-14; Type A needs a license
Oklahoma License required Family Child Care Home license; Large Family Child Care Home license Oklahoma Human Services (OKDHS), Child Care Services Licensing Home-based care: 7 or fewer children, or 8 to 12 in a large home
Oregon License required Registered Family Child Care Home (registration) / Certified Family Child Care Home (certification) Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC), Child Care Licensing Division Over 3 children, 2+ families, in a home; registered up to 10, certified up to 16
Pennsylvania License required Certificate of compliance: family child care home (group child care home for 7 to 12) Department of Human Services, Office of Child Development and Early Learning (regional offices) 4-6 unrelated children; 7-12 need a group home certificate
Rhode Island License required Family Child Care Home (FCCH) license; Group Family Child Care Home (GFCCH) Department of Human Services (DHS), Office of Child Care Licensing 4+ unrelated children in your home; 6, or up to 12 with assistants
South Carolina Registration required Family Child Care Home registration (optional Family Child Care Home license; Group Child Care Home license for 7-12 children) South Carolina Department of Social Services (SCDSS), Child Care Licensing Up to 6 children in your home (7-12 = licensed group home); register with DSS
South Dakota Registration required Family Day Care Home registration certificate Department of Social Services (DSS), Child Care Services Up to 12 children incl. your own under 6; registered only if publicly paid
Tennessee License required Family Child Care Home license (Group Child Care Home license for 8 to 12 children) Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS), Child Care Licensing 5 to 7 unrelated children 3+ hrs/day; 8 to 12 is a group home
Texas Registration required Listed Family Home, Registered Child Care Home or Licensed Child Care Home permit Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), Child Care Regulation 1-3 children listed, 4-6 registered, 7-12 licensed
Utah License required Licensed Family Child Care (license); Residential Certificate Child Care (optional certificate) Utah Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Division of Licensing and Background Checks, Office of Licensing Home care for 9+ unrelated children, or more than 10 in total; 8 or fewer exempt
Vermont Registration required Registered Family Child Care Home (larger homes are Licensed Family Child Care Homes) Vermont Department for Children and Families, Child Development Division (CDD) Registered home: up to 10 children (12 summer); 2 or fewer families exempt
Virginia License required Licensed Home-Based Child Care (formerly Licensed Family Day Home) Virginia Department of Education (VDOE), Office of Child Care Health and Safety 5 to 12 children in a home needs a license; 4 or fewer may register voluntarily
Washington License required Family Home Early Learning Program License Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF), Child Care Licensing Child care in your own home, up to 12 children at a time
West Virginia Registration required Family Child Care Home certificate of registration (4-6 children); Family Child Care Facility statement of certification (7-12 children) West Virginia Department of Human Services, Bureau for Family Assistance, Division of Early Care and Education 4-6 children in your home register; 7-12 need certification
Wisconsin License required Licensed Family Child Care Center Department of Children and Families (DCF), Bureau of Early Care Regulation 4 to 12 children, usually in the provider's home
Wyoming License required Family child care home license (family child care center license for up to 15 children) Wyoming Department of Family Services (DFS), Child Care Licensing More than 2 unrelated children; home up to 10, family child care center up to 15

License names link to our guide where we have one, otherwise to the agency’s own page. Agency names and size thresholds are shortened here; state hubs give them in full.

Family child care home guides

All guides

  1. Opening a licensed child care home in Alaska: state rules and the Anchorage exception

    How Alaska licenses home child care: the 4-child exemption, the 8-child home and 12-child group home, 7 AAC 57 ratios, fire rules, background checks and Anchorage.

    Alaska · Family child care homeUpdated

  2. California family child care home license: small (8) or large (14) home

    How CDSS licenses home child care in California: the one-other-family exemption, small vs. large capacity, zoning protections, fees, training and 2026-2027 changes.

    California · Family child care homeUpdated

  3. Licensing a family child care home in Colorado: five home licenses and how to qualify

    How Colorado licenses home child care: the 4-child exemption, five CDEC home license types, 15-hour pre-licensing course, background checks, home safety rules and fees.

    Colorado · Family child care homeUpdated

  4. Opening a family child care home in Florida: registration, license or large home

    How Florida regulates home child care: county-by-county registration or licensure, capacity counting your own kids, 35 training hours, Level 2 screening and fees.

    Florida · Family child care homeUpdated

  5. Massachusetts family child care license: the EEC route from 6 to 10 children

    How EEC licenses home child care in Massachusetts: the 6, 8 and 10-child tiers, 16 hours of pre-application training, LEAD, background checks, space rules and C3 grants.

    Massachusetts · Family child care homeUpdated

  6. Nebraska Family Child Care Home I and II licenses: who needs one and how to get it

    Nebraska licenses home child care from the fourth child from other families: Home I vs Home II, the $25 fee, $100,000 insurance, zoning, ratios and the provisional year.

    Nebraska · Family child care homeUpdated

  7. Ohio family child care home license: Type A and Type B homes

    How Ohio licenses home child care: Type B (1-7 children) vs Type A (8-14), the $25 DCY application, county inspections, ratios, training and the July 2026 rule changes.

    Ohio · Family child care homeUpdated

  8. Pennsylvania family child care home certificate of compliance, and the group home step up

    How Pennsylvania certifies home child care for 4-6 unrelated children: orientation, clearances for every adult at home, the provisional first certificate and no DHS fee.

    Pennsylvania · Family child care homeUpdated

  9. Opening a family day care home in Alabama: the DHR home license

    How Alabama licenses home child care: the 6-child and 12-child limits, how your own kids count, 24 training hours, fire marshal approval, background checks and Arise.

    Alabama · Family child care homeReviewed

  10. Arizona child care group home certificate: caring for 5 to 10 children at home

    How ADHS certifies Arizona child care group homes: the 5-to-10 child threshold, live-in provider, 30 sq ft per child, gas inspection and the $330 fee.

    Arizona · Family child care homeReviewed

  11. Opening a licensed child care family home in Arkansas

    When an Arkansas home daycare needs an OEC license, the 6-to-16 child range, ratios, 11-child fire and health trigger, background checks, $15 fee and the steps.

    Arkansas · Family child care homeReviewed

  12. Connecticut family child care home license: capacity, application and inspection

    How Connecticut OEC licenses home daycares: the 6-plus-3 capacity rule, infant limits, the $40 four-year license, lead and water tests, and the inspection.

    Connecticut · Family child care homeReviewed

  13. Opening a family child care home in Delaware: Level I, Level II or large family home

    How Delaware licenses home child care: OCCL Level I (5-6 children), Level II (9) and large family homes (12), no state fees, lead and radon tests, training and steps.

    Delaware · Family child care homeReviewed

  14. Opening a child development home in DC: OSSE license, zoning permit and the expanded-home tier

    How to license home child care in Washington, DC: the OSSE Child Development Home and Expanded Home, the DOB home occupation permit, CDA rules, ratios and $300 in fees.

    District of Columbia · Family child care homeReviewed

  15. Georgia Family Child Care Learning Home license: credentials, KOALA filing and the six-child cap

    How DECAL licenses home child care in Georgia: the 3-6 child rule, the age-21 and credential requirement, pre-service training, KOALA filing, the $50 fee and CAPS.

    Georgia · Family child care homeReviewed

  16. Registering a family child care home in Hawaii

    How Hawaii DHS registers home child care for 3 to 6 unrelated children: exemptions, infant limits, space rules, condo and townhouse rights, training and renewal.

    Hawaii · Family child care homeReviewed

  17. Licensing a day care home in Illinois: the IDEC home and group home licenses

    How to get an Illinois day care home or group day care home license from IDEC: the 3-child exemption, capacity by staffing, 15 training hours, radon and lead tests.

    Illinois · Family child care homeReviewed

  18. Indiana licensed child care home: Class I and Class II licensing

    When Indiana requires a child care home license: Class I vs Class II capacity, CDA and background checks, fire and water standards, I-LEAD steps and the 2027 rewrite.

    Indiana · Family child care homeReviewed

  19. Registering a child development home in Iowa: categories A, B and C

    When Iowa home child care must register, how Categories A, B and C differ in capacity, age, experience and space, plus record checks, training and inspections.

    Iowa · Family child care homeReviewed

  20. Licensing a family child care home in Kansas under the Office of Early Childhood

    How Kansas licenses family child care homes since the July 2026 move to KOEC: the 35-hour exemption, group-size tables, orientation, $48 fingerprints and fire approval.

    Kansas · Family child care homeReviewed

  21. Kentucky certified family child-care home: getting your certificate of operation

    Who must certify a Kentucky home daycare, the 6-unrelated/10-total cap, the $10 fee, $50,000 insurance, zoning letter, training hours and the unannounced inspection.

    Kentucky · Family child care homeReviewed

  22. Becoming a licensed family child care provider in Maine

    Maine family child care licensing: the 2025 four-child threshold, State Fire Marshal inspection, water and lead tests, ratios, $80 provisional and $160 full license fees.

    Maine · Family child care homeReviewed

  23. Maryland family child care home: getting your certificate of registration

    How MSDE registers home daycares in Maryland: the 8-child cap, under-2 limits, orientation, CJIS checks, 24 training hours, inspections and the 2-year initial term.

    Maryland · Family child care homeReviewed

  24. Licensing a family or group child care home in Michigan

    How Michigan licenses home child care: family (1-6) vs group (7-12) homes, the April 2026 MiLEAP rules, ratios, radon and furnace checks, zoning and fees.

    Michigan · Family child care homeReviewed

  25. Minnesota family child care license: classes, ratios, training and the 2027 rewrite

    How Minnesota licenses home daycare: county-run applications, license classes up to 14 children, no state fee, required training, and the new rules starting July 1, 2027.

    Minnesota · Family child care homeReviewed

  26. Licensing a child care family home in Mississippi (5 or fewer children)

    How the Mississippi State Department of Health licenses home daycares for 5 or fewer children: who counts, the 22-item packet, $130 + $50 fees, director rules, subsidy.

    Mississippi · Family child care homeReviewed

  27. Licensing a family child care home in Missouri: the 7-child line, ratios and DESE inspections

    When Missouri requires a family child care home license, the up-to-10 ratio table, fire and sanitation inspections, 2026 fingerprint costs and the DESE steps in order.

    Missouri · Family child care homeReviewed

  28. Montana family and group day-care home registration: who needs it and how to get it

    How Montana registers home child care: 3-8 and 9-15 child tiers, the six-child exemption, ARM 37.96 rules in force since 2025, background checks, no state fee.

    Montana · Family child care homeReviewed

  29. Licensing a family or group child care home in Nevada

    How Nevada licenses home child care: family homes of 5-6 children, group homes of 7-12, the 4-child registration option, ratios, training, fire inspection and fees.

    Nevada · Family child care homeReviewed

  30. Licensing a family day care home in New Hampshire: permit, license and the 4-child exemption

    How New Hampshire licenses home child care: the 4-child exemption, 6- and 12-child tiers, local health, fire and zoning sign-offs, well tests and the 6-month permit.

    New Hampshire · Family child care homeReviewed

  31. Registering as a family child care provider in New Jersey

    How New Jersey's voluntary family child care registration works: the 5-child cap, county CCR&R sponsors, background checks, home rules, the $25 fee and CCAP subsidies.

    New Jersey · Family child care homeReviewed

  32. Licensing a family or group child care home in New Mexico

    How New Mexico licenses home child care: the 4-child exemption, family (5-6) and group (7-12) homes, ECECD portal steps, training, space rules and subsidy rates.

    New Mexico · Family child care homeReviewed

  33. Registering a family day care home in New York: OCFS rules, ratios and steps

    How New York registers home child care for 3 to 6 children: the OCFS orientation, the 90-day document window, ratios, fire exits, training hours and renewals.

    New York · Family child care homeReviewed

  34. Licensing a family child care home in North Carolina: the DCDEE process, step by step

    How North Carolina licenses home daycares: the 3-child trigger, 8-10 child capacity groups, $75 workshop, lead water tests, temporary license and star ratings.

    North Carolina · Family child care homeReviewed

  35. Opening a licensed family child care home in North Dakota

    When North Dakota requires a family child care license, how self-declaration differs, the HHS orientation and CCL portal steps, space and fire rules, fees and training.

    North Dakota · Family child care homeReviewed

  36. Licensing a family child care home in Oklahoma: the OKDHS permit, ratios and the large-home tier

    How Oklahoma licenses home daycare: the 7- and 12-child tiers, which of your own children count, the six-month permit, OPDL training, insurance and fire safety.

    Oklahoma · Family child care homeReviewed

  37. Oregon family child care: registered homes (up to 10) and certified homes (up to 16)

    How Oregon licenses home child care: the RF and CF tiers, the 2025 rules, capacity and ratios, exits, lead testing, training, DELC fees and the application order.

    Oregon · Family child care homeReviewed

  38. Rhode Island family child care home license: FCCH and group home rules

    How to license a family or group family child care home with Rhode Island DHS: the 4-child threshold, assistant rules, ratios, inspections, RISES steps and fees.

    Rhode Island · Family child care homeReviewed

  39. Starting a family child care home in South Carolina: DSS registration, step by step

    How SC DSS registers family child care homes for up to 6 children: who must register, background checks from age 15, zoning, the home visit, training and renewal.

    South Carolina · Family child care homeReviewed

  40. South Dakota family day care registration: when you need it and how to get it

    South Dakota registers, not licenses, home daycares of up to 12 children, and only requires it when care is publicly paid. Ratios, checks, training, fire rules, CCA.

    South Dakota · Family child care homeReviewed

  41. Opening a family child care home in Tennessee: the TDHS license, step by step

    Licensing a Tennessee home daycare: the 5-to-7 child threshold, how your own kids count, the $100 fee, $300,000 insurance and the 120-day provisional license.

    Tennessee · Family child care homeReviewed

  42. Texas child care home permits: listed, registered or licensed

    How HHSC Child Care Regulation permits home child care in Texas: the three tiers by number of unrelated children, caregiver qualifications, ratios, insurance and fees.

    Texas · Family child care homeReviewed

  43. Utah licensed family child care: when your home program needs a license

    When a Utah home daycare needs a license (9+ unrelated children), the certificate option, R430-90 ratios and group sizes, space, training, background checks and fees.

    Utah · Family child care homeReviewed

  44. Starting a registered family child care home in Vermont

    Vermont registration for home child care: the two-family exemption, the 10-child and 12-child summer options, BFIS application, water and lead tests, and training.

    Vermont · Family child care homeReviewed

  45. Licensed home-based child care in Virginia: who needs it and how to get it

    Virginia licensing for home child care of 5 to 12 children: the VDOE process, the 16-point caregiver rule, provider qualifications, zoning, background checks and fees.

    Virginia · Family child care homeReviewed

  46. Licensing a family home child care in Washington: the DCYF family home early learning program

    How to get a DCYF family home early learning program license in Washington: the experience-based capacity ladder, 90-day application, $30 fee and house rules.

    Washington · Family child care homeReviewed

  47. Registering a family child care home in West Virginia (4 to 6 children)

    How West Virginia registers home daycares for 4 to 6 children under 78CSR19: who must register, self-certification, WV CARES checks, training, house rules, subsidy rates.

    West Virginia · Family child care homeReviewed

  48. Licensing a family child care center in Wisconsin under DCF 250, now up to 12 children

    How to get a Wisconsin Licensed Family Child Care Center license: the 4-12 child limit in effect Aug. 1, 2026, weighted ratios, pre-licensing, training, radon and fees.

    Wisconsin · Family child care homeReviewed

  49. Opening a family child care home in Wyoming: the DFS license for up to 10 children

    How Wyoming licenses home child care: the more-than-two-children trigger, the 10-child cap, ratios, 75% on-site rule, fingerprints, fire standards, fees and renewal.

    Wyoming · Family child care homeReviewed

Beyond the state licenseEntity and EIN, caregiver pay rules, NPI, Medicaid or Medicare enrollment, EVV and background checks.

Other care business types

All license types