Daycare regulations by state

About these pages

Plain-English summaries of each state's child care licensing rules, written by a team that builds daycare software. Every rule we summarize links to the official source and carries its citation, so you can check it yourself.

26 of 51 (the 50 states and DC) reviewed so far: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin. States marked “Coming soon” link straight to their licensing agency.

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All states at a glance

State Licensing agency Status Last reviewed
Alabama Alabama Department of Human Resources, Child Care Services Division Coming soon —
Alaska Alaska Department of Health, Child Care Program Office Coming soon —
Arizona Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS), Bureau of Child Care Licensing; family child care homes that take subsidy are certified by the Department of Economic Security (DES) 88 rules · 20 topics November 2026
Arkansas Arkansas Department of Education, Office of Early Childhood Coming soon —
California California Department of Social Services (CDSS), Community Care Licensing Division - Child Care Licensing Program 96 rules · 20 topics November 2026
Colorado Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC), Division of Early Learning, Licensing, and Administration 71 rules · 20 topics November 2026
Connecticut Connecticut Office of Early Childhood (OEC), Division of Licensing 75 rules · 20 topics November 2026
Delaware Delaware Department of Education, Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) 76 rules · 20 topics November 2026
District of Columbia Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE), Division of Early Learning, Licensing and Compliance Unit 71 rules · 20 topics November 2026
Florida Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF), Child Care Licensing; local licensing agencies in Broward, Palm Beach, Pinellas and Sarasota counties 84 rules · 20 topics November 2026
Georgia Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL), Child Care Services 78 rules · 20 topics November 2026
Hawaii Hawaii Department of Human Services, Child Care Program Coming soon —
Idaho Idaho Department of Health and Welfare Coming soon —
Illinois Illinois Department of Early Childhood (IDEC), Child Care Licensing (Division of Quality and Safety) 74 rules · 20 topics November 2026
Indiana Indiana Family and Social Services Administration, Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning Coming soon —
Iowa Iowa Department of Health and Human Services Coming soon —
Kansas — Coming soon —
Kentucky Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Office of Inspector General, Division of Regulated Child Care 72 rules · 20 topics November 2026
Louisiana Louisiana Department of Education Coming soon —
Maine Maine Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Child and Family Services Coming soon —
Maryland Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), Office of Child Care Licensing Branch, part of the Office of Early Childhood (the Division of Early Childhood until October 1, 2026) 82 rules · 20 topics November 2026
Massachusetts Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) 74 rules · 20 topics November 2026
Michigan Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP), Child Care Licensing Bureau 68 rules · 20 topics November 2026
Minnesota Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF), Licensing; county agencies license family child care 81 rules · 20 topics November 2026
Mississippi Mississippi State Department of Health, Child Care Facilities Licensure Coming soon —
Missouri Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), Office of Childhood, Child Care Compliance and Regulation 74 rules · 20 topics November 2026
Montana Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Child Care Licensing Coming soon —
Nebraska Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Division of Public Health, Licensure Unit: Children's Services Licensing 75 rules · 20 topics November 2026
Nevada Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health, Child Care Licensing Coming soon —
New Hampshire New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, Child Care Licensing Unit Coming soon —
New Jersey New Jersey Department of Children and Families (DCF), Office of Licensing; county sponsoring organizations register family child care providers 80 rules · 20 topics November 2026
New Mexico New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department Coming soon —
New York New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS), Division of Child Care Services; in New York City, child care centers are permitted by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene 78 rules · 20 topics November 2026
North Carolina North Carolina Division of Child Development and Early Education Coming soon —
North Dakota North Dakota Health and Human Services Coming soon —
Ohio Ohio Department of Children and Youth (DCY), Division of Regulatory Compliance; county job and family services agencies inspect family child care homes 74 rules · 20 topics November 2026
Oklahoma Oklahoma Human Services, Child Care Services Coming soon —
Oregon Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care Coming soon —
Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL), Bureau of Certification Services, a joint office of the Pennsylvania Departments of Human Services and Education 88 rules · 20 topics November 2026
Rhode Island Rhode Island Department of Human Services, Child Care Licensing Coming soon —
South Carolina South Carolina Department of Social Services, Division of Early Care and Education Coming soon —
South Dakota South Dakota Department of Social Services, Office of Licensing and Accreditation Coming soon —
Tennessee Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS), Child Care Services – Child and Adult Care Licensing 79 rules · 20 topics November 2026
Texas Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), Child Care Regulation (CCR); DFPS investigates abuse and neglect reports 104 rules · 20 topics November 2026
Utah Utah Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Division of Licensing and Background Checks, Office of Licensing, Child Care Licensing 55 rules · 20 topics November 2026
Vermont Vermont Agency of Human Services, Department for Children and Families (DCF), Child Development Division (CDD), Child Care Licensing 96 rules · 20 topics November 2026
Virginia Virginia Department of Education, Office of Child Care Health and Safety Coming soon —
Washington Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF), Licensing Division 79 rules · 20 topics November 2026
West Virginia — Coming soon —
Wisconsin Wisconsin Department of Children and Families (DCF), Bureau of Early Care Regulation 67 rules · 20 topics November 2026
Wyoming Wyoming Department of Family Services, Child Care Licensing Coming soon —

Educational information, not legal advice. Rules change and inspectors apply them to your specific program. Always confirm requirements with your state child care licensing agency. How we handle your information: privacy policy.