Reviewed November 2026 Regs. Conn. State Agencies §§ 19a-79-4a(d)(4)–(5), 19a-79-10(c), 19a-79-11(d)–(e), effective October 2024 · view rule Regs. Conn. State Agencies §§ 19a-79-4a(d)(4)–(5), 19a-79-10(c), 19a-79-11(d)–(e) Regs. Conn. State Agencies § 19a-79-3a(d)(1), effective October 2024 · view rule Regs. Conn. State Agencies § 19a-79-3a(d)(1)
Connecticut child care is licensed by the Office of Early Childhood (OEC) through its Division of Licensing. Child care centers (13 or more children) and group child care homes (7 to 12) follow one set of rules, Regs. Conn. State Agencies §§ 19a-79-1a to 19a-79-13, which OEC rewrote effective October 16, 2024. Family child care homes follow §§ 19a-87b-1 to 19a-87b-18. The 2024 rules loosened the ratio for two-year-olds to 1:5 and for school-age children to 1:15. OEC posts cited violations on the state open-data portal.
Licensing agency: Connecticut Office of Early Childhood (OEC), Division of Licensing · public license lookup
Inspection findings public? Yes, the state publishes licensing inspection results.
License types
- Child care center (more than 12 children outside their own homes) — Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 19a-77, 19a-80; Regs. Conn. State Agencies §§ 19a-79-1a to 19a-79-13
- Group child care home (7 to 12 children, in a home or a commercial building, with two staff 18 or older on site whenever children are present) — Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 19a-77(a)(2), 19a-80; Regs. Conn. State Agencies §§ 19a-79-1a to 19a-79-13
- Family child care home (in the provider's own residence: up to 6 children, plus up to 3 school-age children during the school year; up to 9 with an OEC-approved assistant or substitute present) — Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 19a-77(a)(3), 19a-87b; Regs. Conn. State Agencies §§ 19a-87b-1 to 19a-87b-18
- Large family child care endorsement (pilot: up to 12 children for family homes licensed before June 30, 2025; 30 endorsements a year; ends June 30, 2029) — Public Act 25-82, Section 7
- Family child care home incubator (family child care license in space provided by a partner organization, not a private home; up to 20 statewide) — Conn. Gen. Stat. § 19a-87b(l)
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Recent changes (2024–2026)
The biggest change is the rewrite of the center and group home rules (§§ 19a-79-1a to 19a-79-13), effective October 16, 2024. OEC kept the same section numbers but renamed "child day care center" to "child care center" and "group day care home" to "group child care home." The family child care home rules (§§ 19a-87b-1 to 19a-87b-18) were last rewritten in March 2021, with a medication change in August 2023. The legislature has also passed several acts that affect licensed programs each year from 2024 to 2026.
October 2024: new ratios for two-year-olds and school-age children
Two-year-olds can now be cared for at 1:5 with a group of up to 10. Before, every child under 3 was at 1:4 with a group of 8. Children under 2 stay at 1:4 (group of 8). The school-age ratio changed from 1:10 to 1:15, with a group of up to 30. OEC first put the school-age change in place by policy in August 2024 under Public Act 24-78, Section 33, then in the rules. OEC says the 1:5 ratio is a minimum, not a requirement to change. A program that wants more than 8 two-year-olds in a room must send OEC a Notification of Change with local health and fire marshal approval, and OEC re-measures the room at 35 square feet per child.
SafePass tip: If you change a room to the 1:5 two-year-old ratio or the 1:15 school-age ratio, update that room's ratio setting in SafePass so its over-ratio alerts match.
October 2024: other center and group home changes
OEC's plain-language summary lists these among the changes: the director must be 20 or older; the TB test requirement was removed; medical statements for current staff are due every 36 months instead of 24; operators must check the last 5 years of child care employment history of new hires; attendance records are kept 1 year instead of 2; diagnosed fractures, second- or third-degree burns and concussions must be reported to OEC; video recordings must be kept 30 days; medication errors must be told to the parent right away and in writing within 72 hours; swaddling needs a health care provider's written instructions; and outdoor equipment is anchored only when the manufacturer says so. Homeless children may attend for 90 days, and foster children for 45 days, before the physical exam and immunization records are due.
2024: post OEC's developmental milestones document
Since July 1, 2024, licensed centers, group homes and family homes must post OEC's developmental milestones document for parents to see. Programs that serve only school-age children are exempt. The same act requires programs to let a child with an individualized family service plan receive Birth to Three early intervention services at the program (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 17a-248n).
2025: large family child care endorsement (pilot)
OEC may issue up to 30 large family child care endorsements in each fiscal year from 2026 to 2029. An endorsement lets a family home licensed before June 30, 2025 care for up to 12 children, including the provider's own, shown on the license as 6 + 3 + up to 3. In most cases an extra approved staff person is needed when more than 9 children are present. The home needs 35 square feet per child indoors and 75 outdoors, a fire marshal certificate and local zoning, building and health sign-offs. The first application window opened July 15, 2026. Endorsements expire June 30, 2029 unless the legislature extends the pilot.
2025: epinephrine nasal spray
Since July 1, 2025, a center or group home may not turn away a child because the child has a prescription for epinephrine nasal spray or other FDA-approved equipment for allergic reactions or glucagon. Any licensed provider, including family homes, may keep epinephrine in forms other than an auto-injector.
2026: background check categories and conviction reporting
Since July 1, 2026, the law lists who must have a fingerprint-based background check to meet FBI rules: licensees, employees, volunteers, staff members, program staff, assistants, substitute staff and household members. A household member of a family home is now defined as someone 18 or older. Family home licensees and approved staff must report right away any conviction or placement on the DCF abuse and neglect registry for themselves or an adult household member. Center and group home licensees must tell OEC of any conviction or registry placement of the licensee or a caregiving employee. Not reporting can lead to suspension or revocation and a civil penalty.
2026: immunization rules reaffirmed
Since April 27, 2026, the act says Connecticut's Religious Freedom Restoration Act does not apply to the immunization requirements for child care centers, group homes and family homes, and it directs OEC to keep rules requiring age-appropriate immunization before a child attends. OEC notes it already has those rules, and the Department of Public Health is not recommending a new child schedule at this time.
Who needs a license, and what kind
Connecticut defines the license types by number of children and setting in Conn. Gen. Stat. § 19a-77. Group child care homes follow the same rules as child care centers, so on this page "center" rules apply to group homes too unless we say otherwise. Programs run by public schools, municipal agencies and some accredited private schools are exempt from licensing (§ 19a-77(b)).
Centers, group homes and family homes
A child care center provides supplementary care to more than 12 children outside their homes on a regular basis. A group child care home cares for 7 to 12 children, or is a family-home-sized program run somewhere other than a private home. A family child care home is a private home caring for up to 6 children (counting the provider's own children not in school full time) without help, or up to 9 with an OEC-approved assistant or substitute present and assisting. During the school year a family home may also have up to 3 school-age children. Care is 3 to 12 hours a day, with extended or overnight care allowed up to 72 hours.
Center and group home licenses
Apply on OEC forms at least 60 days before opening, with a notarized affidavit, the fire marshal certificate, and written proof of compliance with building, zoning and local health rules. A license lasts 4 years, can't be transferred, and costs $500 for a center or $250 for a group home. A change of location, operator or ownership needs a new application. A group home in a residence is inspected for lead paint hazards.
Age endorsements
A center or group home may enroll only the ages its license covers: 6 weeks to 3 years (under-three endorsement), preschool 3 to 5, school age, and night care (care between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.). With written permission from the parent and the director, a preschool program may treat a child 32 to 36 months old as 3, and the authorization must be kept on file.
Family child care home license
OEC visits and inspects the home, including for lead hazards, before licensing it. A license costs $40 and lasts 4 years. A renewal must certify that enrolled children are immunized. The license is good only for that residence and that person, can't be assigned, and the license number must appear in any advertising. The provider may not use a substitute for more than an hour a day on a regular basis in a way that hands the business to the substitute. Changes such as a move, renovation, a new pool, new household members or a criminal conviction must be reported in writing within 5 working days.
How family home capacity is counted
The license shows a regular capacity (no more than 6 under the rule, counting the provider's own children not in school full time) and a school-age capacity (no more than 3 extra full-time students before and after school). School-age children who aren't the provider's own and attend 3 or more hours before or after school count in the regular capacity. Full-day kindergartners count as school age, and half-day kindergartners as preschoolers. Staff members' children count. The provider's own children 12 and older don't count. The statute (last amended on this point in 2022) allows up to 9 children with an approved assistant or substitute present, while the rule text and OEC's license format still show 6 + 3, so confirm your capacity with your licensing specialist.
SafePass tip: SafePass Kiosk check-ins give a running count of who is in care right now, by child and age. Add your own young children as enrolled children if you want them in the count.
Changes centers must report
Personnel changes go to OEC, parents and staff within 5 business days. A plan for interim head teacher coverage is needed when the head teacher leaves, and a qualified head teacher or approved plan must be in place within 30 days. Changes in licensed capacity or services, and a voluntary closing, need 30 days' notice. Fee changes need 30 days' notice to parents. Closing without 30 days' written notice to OEC, staff and parents can bring a civil penalty of up to $5,000 (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 19a-86c).
SafePass tip: SafePass parent messaging and announcements can send a fee change or closing notice to every family at once and give you a dated record that you sent it.
Operating without a license
Running a center, group home or family home without a current license can bring a civil penalty of up to $100 a day, after notice and the chance for a hearing. OEC can also ask the Attorney General to seek a court order to stop the operation.
Staff-to-child ratios
Connecticut sets one general ratio for centers and group homes (1:10) and stricter ones in the under-three endorsement. School-age programs use 1:15. Family homes are limited by total capacity and by a cap on children under 18 months rather than by a ratio table.
Center and group home ratios and group sizes
Under 2 years: 1:4, group of 8. Two-year-olds: 1:5, group of 10. Preschool (3 to 5): 1:10, group of 20. School age: 1:15, group of 30. Under-three groups must be separated by a physical barrier, indoors and outdoors. In a mixed-age group, the youngest child sets the ratio and group size. Ratios apply at all times, indoors and outdoors, and every child must be supervised at all times.
SafePass tip: SafePass shows a live count for each room: children checked in against staff clocked in, with an alert to directors when a room goes over ratio. Set each room's ratio to Connecticut's number. SafePass's built-in defaults are not Connecticut's: the infant default (1:4) matches Connecticut's under-2 ratio, but the toddler default (1:6) and two-year-old default (1:8) are looser than Connecticut's 1:4 for children under 2 and 1:5 for two-year-olds, so the defaults would not flag a room Connecticut considers over ratio. The school-age default (1:15) matches. SafePass does not check group size or apply the youngest-child rule for mixed rooms.
Two adults on site, and nap time
At least two program staff 18 or older must be on the licensed premises whenever one or more children are present, and both must be available to care for children. During nap time, when every child in a group is asleep, the overall ratios must still be met on the premises, and no group may be left unsupervised.
SafePass tip: SafePass's staff time clock shows who is clocked in right now, so a director can see at a glance whether two adults are on site.
Swimming and wading ratios
Whenever children swim or wade, at the program or on a field trip: infants 12 months and younger 1:1 with the staff member touching the child; under 3, 1:2; preschoolers 1:4; school age 1:6. Non-swimmers must be clearly marked. A staff member 20 or older with CPR must directly supervise, and the operator must verify that a certified lifeguard is supervising. Wading pools may not be used.
Family homes: children under 18 months
A family home provider may care for no more than 2 children under 18 months at one time, counting the provider's own. With an approved assistant present and helping, the limit is 6 under 18 months.
SafePass tip: SafePass Kiosk check-ins show which children are in care right now with their ages, so you can see how many under 18 months are present.
Group size and space
Space is measured room by room. Group size limits are in the ratio rules above.
Indoor and outdoor space for centers
A center or group home first licensed after January 1, 1986 needs 35 square feet of usable indoor program space per child, measured wall to wall, room by room (30 square feet for facilities licensed before then). Rooms used only for napping or eating don't count. Children need access to at least 75 square feet of outdoor space per child using it at one time, which may include parks or school yards. The outdoor area must be fenced or protected.
SafePass tip: SafePass Kiosk check-ins show how many children are in the building at any time, which you can compare with your licensed capacity.
School-age groups of up to 30 on trips and outdoors
The general group size is 20. Field trips, outdoor play and staff-organized activities only for school-age children may have groups of up to 30, as long as ratios are kept.
Family home play space
A family home needs enough indoor and outdoor play space for safe activities. If there is no outdoor play space at the home, the provider must name an alternate site and write a plan for getting children there and back safely. OEC sets capacity based on the space and the provider's qualifications (§ 19a-87b-5(d)(6)).
Staff qualifications
Centers and group homes need a designated director and an OEC-approved head teacher. Family home providers, substitutes and assistants need OEC approval.
Director
Every center and group home must document a designated director who is 20 or older. A director hired or newly designated on or after January 1, 2010 must complete 3 college credits in early childhood program administration or educational administration within a year.
SafePass tip: SafePass staff profiles store certifications and credentials with expiration dates, so your director's documents are in one place for the licensing specialist.
Head teacher
An OEC-approved head teacher, 20 or older, must be on site at least 60% of the program's weekly operating hours. In a center, the head teacher needs a high school diploma and 1,080 hours of supervised experience with children under 6 plus a CDA or 12 credits in early childhood education or child development, or a bachelor's degree in one of those fields with 360 hours of experience and student teaching. A group home head teacher needs a high school diploma and 1,080 hours of experience with children under 13. School-age-only programs have their own, lower head teacher requirements (§ 19a-79-11(g)).
SafePass tip: SafePass staff time clock records give you dated hours for each person, which helps show the head teacher's on-site time.
Other program staff
The second staff person, who works under the head teacher, must be 18 or older with a high school diploma, an equivalency certificate, or 540 hours of documented experience with children of the same ages. Other program staff must be at least 16 and supervised.
Consultants
Each center and group home must have a written consultation plan, signed each year by the consultants, and carry it out. This includes an OEC-approved education consultant who advises on the program's educational content. Health consultants review injury, illness and incident reports every quarter. Programs with children under 3 need health consultant visits weekly for children up to 24 months (§ 19a-79-10(i)).
Family home providers, substitutes, assistants and emergency caregivers
A provider needs current hands-on first aid and CPR certification before licensing, three references, and a medical statement (within 12 months at application, then every 36 months). Substitutes must be 20 or older and meet the provider's requirements. Assistants must be adults and meet them except for the training. Each substitute or assistant needs written OEC approval ($15, valid 2 years). The provider must also name at least one emergency caregiver, 20 or older, who can arrive within 15 minutes for unforeseen emergencies.
SafePass tip: SafePass tracks each staff certification's expiration date. Staff get a reminder 30 days out, and directors are alerted when one expires.
Staff medical statements
Each center staff file needs a medical statement signed by a physician, APRN or physician assistant within 12 months before the person starts, and again every 36 months. Since October 2024, a TB test is no longer required.
SafePass tip: SafePass staff profiles can hold each person's medical statement with an expiration date, so you get a reminder before the 36 months are up.
Background checks
OEC runs comprehensive background checks through its Background Check Information System (BCIS). OEC said it will cover the $87 background check fee for child care programs and youth camps through December 31, 2026.
Center and group home staff
Everyone in a job that involves caring for children or unsupervised access to them must have a comprehensive check before starting work, as federal rules (45 CFR 98.43) require. The check covers criminal records, abuse and neglect registries and sex offender registries in every state lived in during the past 5 years, an FBI fingerprint check, and the national sex offender registry. Operators may not employ anyone, including volunteers, whose record OEC finds makes them unsuitable, and must keep proof of compliance at the program.
SafePass tip: SafePass stores each staff member's background check date on the Compliance page. Keep the BCIS clearance itself on file, because that is what OEC checks.
Employment history check
For each new hire 18 or older, get a list of every child care or children's services job held in the U.S. in the last 5 years. Take reasonable steps to contact each employer to verify the job title, duties and dates, and ask whether they would rehire the person. OEC can ask to see it.
Family home providers, staff and household members
Applicants, providers, assistants, substitutes and household members 18 or older must have comprehensive background checks, including state and national criminal checks and the Connecticut child abuse and neglect registry. Since July 1, 2026 the statute defines a household member as someone 18 or older (Public Act 26-105). The provider keeps proof at the home and must report convictions or DCF registry placements of themselves, staff or adult household members.
Reporting a staff member's conviction
A licensed center or group home must tell OEC right away about any criminal conviction of the owner or operator or of anyone in a caregiving job, as soon as it learns of it. Failing to report can lead to suspension or revocation and a civil penalty of up to $100 a day.
Signed consent before fingerprinting
Since September 30, 2024, each person must sign the FBI privacy consent forms electronically in BCIS and bring proof (the BCIS ID card, a printout or a screenshot) to the fingerprint appointment. OEC asks applicants to get their request from the employer, use only BCIS, and not create duplicate tracking numbers.
Training hours
Center and group home staff must complete OEC-designated health and safety training and ongoing training equal to 1% of their hours worked. The family home rules require first aid and CPR for providers and substitutes but set no annual hours.
Health and safety training and 1% ongoing training
Program staff must complete OEC-designated health and safety training (the federal 45 CFR 98.44(b)(1) topics) within 3 months of hire. Staff already shown in OEC's Early Childhood Professional Registry as having done it by April 1, 2025 don't need to repeat it. Each year, staff need ongoing training equal to at least 1% of their total annual hours worked, covering topics such as safe sleep, medication, allergies, emergency preparedness, hazards, abusive head trauma, transportation, first aid and CPR, and children with disabilities. Proof stays at the program.
SafePass tip: SafePass keeps dated training records in each staff profile, and the time clock gives you the hours worked to figure each person's 1%.
Orientation and annual policy training
New program staff must attend orientation, and all program staff need annual training on the program's policies, plans and procedures. Each staff file must document it.
SafePass tip: SafePass keeps staff training records with dates in each staff profile.
CPR and first aid on site at all times
At all times a center or group home is open, at least one staff member with current hands-on CPR certification and at least one with current hands-on pediatric-appropriate first aid certification (American Red Cross, American Heart Association, National Safety Council or Health and Safety Institute) must be present. Keep proof for 3 years after the training.
SafePass tip: SafePass tracks each staff certification's expiration date. Staff get a reminder 30 days out, and directors are alerted when one expires. It does not check that a certified person is on every shift.
Family home first aid and CPR
Providers need current first aid and CPR certification, based on a hands-on demonstration and appropriate for the ages served, before the license is approved, and must keep it current with proof at the home. Substitutes need the same. Assistants are exempt from this training requirement.
SafePass tip: SafePass tracks training and certification expiration dates for each caregiver you add as staff.
Health and safety
These rules cover illness, injuries and reporting. Furniture and hazards are in the facility section below.
Injury and illness reports
Tell the parent right away when a child becomes ill or is injured in care. Write a report of each injury, illness, DCF-reportable incident, or behavior that makes staff change how they care for the child. It must say what happened, the date, time and place, what staff did, and whether the child went to an emergency room or doctor. Give the parent a copy by the next business day, keep it 2 years, and show it to OEC immediately on request. Family homes keep a similar incident log for each child (§ 19a-87b-10(b)(4)).
SafePass tip: SafePass incident reports record what happened and what was done, notify the parent right away and capture the parent's e-signature. Add the location and whether the child was taken for medical care so the report has everything Connecticut lists.
What to report to OEC by the next business day
Centers, group homes and family homes must report to OEC no later than the next business day the death of an enrolled child that happened in care or at a program event, and any injury in care that results in a diagnosed fracture, a diagnosed second- or third-degree burn, a diagnosed concussion, or hospital admission. Centers also report reportable diseases to the local health director and the Department of Public Health. Suspected abuse or neglect is reported to DCF under the mandated reporter law.
SafePass tip: SafePass incident reports keep the record of what happened. Reports to OEC and DCF are still made directly to those agencies.
Daily health checks, sick children and first aid kits
Staff observe each child on arrival and throughout the day for signs of illness. A child with signs of a short-term contagious illness goes to an isolation area under continuous watch, and a parent is called to pick the child up. A first aid kit with the listed supplies must be readily available indoors, outdoors and on field trips.
SafePass tip: SafePass can run an optional health check at check-in (temperature and symptoms) and notifies directors and parents when a child doesn't pass.
Keep video for 30 days
If a center, group home or family home records video, it must keep the recordings at least 30 days and make them available to OEC immediately on request, and no later than the next business day under the center rule (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 19a-87b(f)(7) for family homes).
Facility, furniture and hazards
Connecticut has no separate rule on anchoring indoor furniture. Instead, the 2024 center rules require every program to follow the manufacturer's guidelines for all furniture, equipment and toys, and to remove or repair anything the Consumer Product Safety Commission has found unsafe or recalled.
Furniture, equipment and recalls
Follow all manufacturer guidelines for furniture, equipment and toys used by or around children, which includes any anchoring or wall-mounting the manufacturer calls for. Remove or repair anything the CPSC has identified as unsafe or recalled. Indoor climbing equipment needs a shock-absorbing surface under and around it, and carpet doesn't count. Family homes must also remove or repair recalled items.
Playgrounds, fences and water
Outdoor play equipment needs at least 8 inches of shock-absorbing surface (such as mulch, sand or wood chips), kept loose and dry. Outdoor equipment is anchored when the manufacturer recommends it, with anchors buried below ground. Newly built playgrounds need sign-off from a certified playground safety inspector. Play areas must be protected from traffic, water and other hazards with barriers at least 4 feet high, and a pool or other body of water needs a 4-foot fence or barrier with self-closing, self-latching gates. Infant and toddler play space licensed on or after January 1, 2025 needs a 4-foot fence (§ 19a-79-10(l)).
Outlets, hot water and chemicals
In programs for children younger than school age, electrical outlets need safety covers or devices. Hot water at the tap must be 60 to 120°F. Hazardous substances must be in labeled containers showing the exact contents and dilution, used as the manufacturer directs, and kept out of children's reach (a separate locked area is no longer required). Adults' bags and purses must be out of children's reach. Family homes have matching rules: covered outlets, 60 to 120°F water and harmful substances inaccessible (§ 19a-87b-9).
Lead, radon and carbon monoxide
Water from at least one drinking or food-prep tap (two if there are more) must be tested for lead every 2 years. A building constructed before 1978 needs a comprehensive lead inspection by a DPH-licensed lead consultant before use, with hazards fixed by an EPA-certified firm. Programs using a basement or first floor need a radon test, unless school radon rules apply. Buildings with combustible fuel need a working CO detector on each occupied level.
No smoking, vaping or weapons
No one may smoke or vape inside or on the grounds of a center or group home, and no-smoking signs must be posted at entrances. Matches and lighters must be out of children's reach. No dangerous weapon or facsimile firearm is allowed on the premises unless carried by a peace officer.
Family homes: hazards, fire safety and guns
The home and equipment must be in good repair and reasonably free of anything dangerous. Cleaning supplies, cosmetics, medicine, alcohol and other toxins must be out of children's reach. Doors must not lock a child in. There must be two safe exits from each child care room, a working smoke detector on every level, a CO detector on each level if the home uses combustible fuel, and a 5-pound ABC fire extinguisher. Guns must be stored unloaded and locked, with ammunition locked separately.
Family homes: pools and water testing
A pool or other body of water at or near the home needs a sturdy barrier at least 4 feet high with self-closing, self-latching gates or locks. Hot tubs, spas and saunas must be locked, and children in care may not use them. A water sample from a drinking and food-prep tap must be tested for lead within 12 months before the first application, and well water must be tested for safety.
Emergency preparedness
Center and group home plans must be developed with the local emergency management director. Fire drills and fire safety for centers come from the State Fire Safety Code and the local fire marshal, not the OEC rules.
Center multi-hazard plan and annual drill
The written plan must cover medical emergencies and multiple hazards: natural and man-made disasters, weather, fire and terrorism. It must assign staff duties and cover exits, evacuation sites, transportation, sheltering in place, lockdown, continuing operations, communicating with and reuniting with parents, and accommodations for infants, toddlers, children with disabilities and children with chronic medical conditions. At least once a year, staff and children must practice a multi-hazard drill that shows sheltering, locking down and evacuating.
SafePass tip: SafePass parent messaging and announcements can reach every family at once during a relocation or reunification. SafePass does not keep a drill log, so keep your drill records on paper or in your own file.
Family home emergency plan and quarterly drills
Family homes need a written emergency plan covering fire, medical, weather and other disasters, with evacuation, sheltering in place, lockdown, continuing operations, reunification and plans for infants, toddlers and children with disabilities or chronic conditions. The provider, staff and children must practice an evacuation drill at least every three months, exiting the home, and keep a written drill log for 1 year. This was one of the most-cited family home rules in 2025.
SafePass tip: SafePass does not keep a drill log, so keep the dated drill record on paper or in your own file.
When a child isn't picked up
Centers need a written policy for a child not picked up as planned. It must keep at least two staff 18 or older on the premises and set time frames, contacting parents or emergency contacts, alternate pickup people and when to call the police.
SafePass tip: At check-out, SafePass shows staff each child's guardians and authorized pickups with photos, and parent messaging lets you reach the family quickly.
Medication
Connecticut's medication rules are detailed. Staff need training from a licensed health professional before giving any medicine other than diaper creams and similar topical products, and every other medicine, including over-the-counter, needs a prescriber's written order.
Orders, permission and topical products
Nonprescription topical products (diaper ointments without antibiotic, antifungal or steroid ingredients, medicated powders, and teething, gum or lip products) need only the parent's written permission. All other medicine, prescription or nonprescription, needs a written order from an authorized prescriber and the parent's written permission on file. A program may not refuse a child because of an allergy, an auto-injector or glucagon prescription, or asthma and an inhaler.
SafePass tip: SafePass collects the parent's signed medication request, and staff approve it before logging doses. Connecticut also needs the prescriber's written order for every non-topical medicine, so upload or file that order too.
Who may give medicine
Before giving any non-topical medicine, staff must be trained by a pharmacist, physician, physician assistant, APRN or registered nurse and get written approval. Approval lasts 3 years for oral, topical, inhalant, rectal and injectable medicines, and 1 year for auto-injectors. A staff member trained for a child's medicine must be on site whenever that child is. Keep the approvals and training outline 3 years.
SafePass tip: SafePass tracks staff certification expiration dates, so you can add each medication approval and get a reminder before it expires.
Dose records, errors and storage
Keep a medication administration record for each child, review it before each dose, and keep it 2 years after the child leaves. It must show the child, medicine, dose and method, pharmacy and prescription number, prescriber, date, time and dose given, the staff member's signature (in ink or in a form that can't be altered), allergies, the child's cooperation, start and end dates, and any errors. Tell the parent of any error right away and in writing within 72 hours, and report significant errors to OEC. Store medicine in its original child-resistant container, locked and away from food.
SafePass tip: SafePass logs each dose with the time, amount and staff name, and the parent gets a notification. Connecticut's record also needs the pharmacy and prescription number, the child's cooperation and any errors, and the staff signature must be one that can't be altered, so check with your licensing specialist whether SafePass's log meets that or keep a paper record.
Family home medication
Family homes follow the same structure: parent permission for topical products; a prescriber's order and parent permission for everything else; training by a licensed health professional (3-year approval, 1 year for auto-injectors); no first dose of a new medicine except in an emergency; a medication record signed in ink; and errors told to the parent right away and in writing within 72 hours.
SafePass tip: SafePass logs each dose with the time, amount and staff name. Because the family home rule calls for a signature in ink, keep a signed paper record as well.
Immunizations
Children must be immunized on the Department of Public Health schedule before attending.
Proof of immunization before attending
No child may be admitted without proof of age-appropriate immunization, immunizations in progress, or an exemption. For a child in progress, the doctor's certificate names the next appointment, and the child may keep attending past 30 days after it only with proof the shots were given or rescheduled for medical reasons. The only exemptions are a medical certificate, or a religious exemption presented before April 28, 2021 together with a provider's declaration that required shots have been given and the rest are in progress. Homeless children may attend 90 days and foster children 45 days before the records are due.
SafePass tip: SafePass lets parents upload vaccine records. Staff verify them, and the dashboard lists overdue and due-soon doses, with an exemption field.
Nutrition
Meal rules depend on how long a child is in care.
Meals, snacks and menus
Under 5 hours: a nutritious snack. 5 to 8 hours: one meal and one snack. 8 hours or more: one meal and two snacks, or two meals and one snack. Food the program provides must meet the USDA child care food program meal standards (7 CFR 226.20). Keep perishable food at 41°F or colder. Post dated menus at least a week ahead, note changes by the end of the day, and keep a copy of what was served for 3 months. Family homes must serve adequate, nutritious meals and snacks and offer drinking water throughout the day (§ 19a-87b-10(c)).
SafePass tip: SafePass weekly menus and meal logs show parents what was served and how much their child ate. Keep the posted menu copies for 3 months.
Infant feeding
Get a written statement from the parent of each infant's formula, breast milk or other liquids and feeding schedule. Hold infants for all bottle feedings. Throw away unused formula or breast milk after each feeding, and label each bottle with the child's name.
SafePass tip: SafePass daily activity logs record bottles and meals, and parents see them.
Safe sleep
Centers and family homes have the same infant sleep rules, including a physical check of sleeping infants every 15 minutes.
Infant sleep
Put infants under 12 months to sleep on their backs in a crib or other equipment designed for infant sleep, with a snug mattress and fitted sheet, unless a health care provider documents a medical reason. Nothing may be in or hung over the crib except a pacifier without attachments, which rules out pillows, bumpers, toys and blankets (the center rule also bars weighted blankets, sleepers and swaddles). Remove bibs and clothing with ties or hoods. No sleeping in car seats, carriers, swings or on soft surfaces, and no swaddling without a provider's written instructions and time frame. Physically check sleeping infants at least every 15 minutes for breathing, color, temperature and comfort. Post the sleep policy where infants sleep.
SafePass tip: SafePass nap logs record when each child went down and woke up, and parents see them. SafePass does not run the 15-minute sleep checks, so keep a separate check log.
Crib documentation
Every crib used or reachable by children must meet current CPSC crib standards. Keep one of these for each crib: a tracking label showing manufacture on or after June 28, 2011, a registration form with that date, or a Children's Product Certificate or lab report showing compliance with 16 CFR 1219 or 1220. Family homes must also use CPSC-compliant cribs (§ 19a-87b-10(c)).
Discipline
The same discipline limits apply in centers and family homes.
Positive guidance and banned punishments
Use developmentally appropriate methods such as positive guidance, redirection and clear limits. Tell parents about your methods before enrollment (centers must document this). Never use abusive, neglectful, physical, corporal, humiliating or frightening punishment, including spanking, slapping, pinching, shaking or striking. Don't tie or bind children, and restrain a child only to protect the child or others, using the least restrictive method. Staff must report suspected abuse or neglect to DCF.
SafePass tip: SafePass messaging gives you a dated record of what you told parents about a behavior incident.
Screens
Children under 2 may not have access to phones, laptops, computers or devices that play video games or DVDs. For children 2 and older, access is limited to educational or physical activity purposes. Children with a disability or developmental delay who need such devices are exempt.
Records and postings
Children's records must be kept at the program. Center records are kept current while the child is enrolled, with a copy available for 30 days after the last day.
Children's records in centers
Each child's record needs enrollment information signed by the parent (child's name, address, birth date and start date, parents' addresses and phone numbers, and the child's doctor) and signed permissions for emergency policies, at least one person other than the parent who may pick the child up, off-site activities and transportation. The health record needs a physical exam done within a year before enrollment and every year after (with 30 days' grace), the immunization record, and any special health needs. A child with special health care needs or disabilities needs an individual plan of care signed by the parent and the staff caring for the child.
SafePass tip: SafePass registration packets collect guardians, emergency contacts, authorized pickups, physician and allergy information, with a parent signature. Track the yearly physical's date so you know when it is due.
Children's records in family homes
Keep an enrollment form for each child (schedule, parents' contact and work information, emergency contacts, birth date and start date) for a year after the child leaves. A health record signed by a physician, APRN or physician assistant, from an exam within the past year, is needed when the child starts and must be updated yearly. Keep the parent's written permission listing who may pick the child up, emergency medical contacts, activities away from home, transportation, swimming and school transitions.
SafePass tip: SafePass registration packets collect guardians, emergency contacts, authorized pickups, physician and allergy information, with a parent signature.
Policies and postings
Centers must have, carry out and review every year written policies on attendance, discipline, children not picked up, emergencies, supervision (group size, ratios, indoor and outdoor, nap time, bathrooms), admissions, administrative oversight, medication, meals, enrollment and personnel. Parents and staff must be told of changes within 5 days. Post the license, OEC's complaint procedure, menus, no-smoking signs, who is in charge when the director is out, the latest OEC inspection report (or make it available on request) and OEC's developmental milestones document. Keep all inspection reports and licensing correspondence on file.
Staff files
Keep a file at the program for each staff member with the medical statement, professional development records (including orientation and annual policy training) and any disciplinary actions. Keep proof of background checks and employment history checks, and CPR and first aid records for 3 years.
SafePass tip: SafePass staff profiles hold certifications, training records and the background check date for each person, and the time clock gives you dated staff hours.
Attendance and sign-in/sign-out
Centers and group homes must record actual arrival and departure times for children and staff. The family home rules do not set a daily attendance-record requirement, though OEC asks large family homes for written attendance records at inspection.
Daily attendance for children and staff
Record attendance for both children and program staff every day at the time they arrive and leave, showing the specific times. Keep the records at the facility for at least 1 year (2 years before October 2024).
SafePass tip: SafePass Kiosk records each child's check-in and check-out with a timestamp and who dropped off or picked up, and the staff time clock records staff arrival and departure. Both export as PDF reports. The rule doesn't say what format to use, so confirm with your licensing specialist that an electronic record is acceptable.
Authorized pickups
Centers must have the parent's written permission naming at least one responsible person other than the parent who may take the child. Family homes must keep the parent's updated written list of everyone allowed to pick the child up, with addresses and phone numbers.
SafePass tip: At check-out, SafePass shows staff the child's guardians and authorized pickups, with photos, and records who picked the child up.
Transportation
Connecticut's child care rules say little about transportation beyond following motor vehicle law and getting parent permission.
Centers: motor vehicle law and permission
The operator is responsible for following all motor vehicle laws when transporting children. Each child's record must include the parent's signed permission for transportation and for activities away from the program. Emergency plans must cover transportation for evacuation.
SafePass tip: SafePass does not keep transportation logs or vehicle checks, so keep those records separately.
Family homes: safe transportation
When children ride for an emergency or an activity, the provider must use safe transportation, including child restraints as Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-100a requires, and follow all motor vehicle laws. Parents must give written permission for transportation.
Inspections and enforcement
OEC inspects every licensed program unannounced at least once a year and investigates complaints, which can be made anonymously.
Unannounced inspections
OEC makes an unannounced visit to every center, group home and family home at least once a year, and the local health director inspects centers and group homes at least every 2 years. Family homes get announced inspections at application and after a move. Refusing OEC immediate access to the program, staff or records is grounds for suspension or revocation.
Complaints
Anyone who believes a program is unlicensed, breaking the rules or putting children at risk may report it to OEC, which must investigate. The reporter's name is kept confidential. Family home complaints may be made anonymously, and investigators may interview parents and, with permission, children.
Penalties
After a contested case hearing, OEC may revoke or suspend a license, put it on probation with conditions, or impose a civil penalty of up to $100 a day for each day of violation. A provider whose license is revoked can't reapply for a year (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 19a-84(a)). When public safety requires it, OEC may order an immediate summary suspension or summary probation while the case proceeds. Centers must tell parents within 24 hours of a suspension or revocation order.
What the public can see
Anyone can look up a license on Connecticut's eLicense site, which shows active licenses and the past three years of substantiated complaints and incidents. Parents can also search programs on 2-1-1 Child Care. OEC publishes violations, inspections and investigations as open data on data.ct.gov. Centers must post the latest inspection report or show it on request, and family homes must show parents their last inspection form on request.
Disputing findings and appeals
License actions go through a hearing at OEC, then to Superior Court.
Requesting a hearing
OEC sends written notice by certified mail of an intended suspension, revocation or other licensure action, with the reasons. To contest it, send a signed written hearing request explaining why you are aggrieved within 30 days of receiving the notice. For centers, OEC must hold the hearing within 60 days and give 10 days' notice of the date. You may have a lawyer. A decision takes effect 30 days after it is mailed. Without a timely request, OEC can impose the action. Centers must notify parents by certified mail at least 10 days before the hearing (§ 19a-79-3a(i)).
Court appeal
A licensee aggrieved by OEC's final decision may appeal under the Uniform Administrative Procedure Act (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 4-183). The appeal is filed in the judicial district of New Britain and is given priority on the trial calendar.
Most common citations
Period: Calendar year 2025 (by visit date), data downloaded 2026-11-08
How it was counted: Our own count from OEC's official bulk data. We downloaded only each violation record's ID, visit ID, case type, visit type, visit date and rule code. We did not download the violation descriptions, and this dataset has no provider names. We kept visits dated January 1 to December 31, 2025, removed 85 duplicate records, and kept rule codes under the center and group home rules (19a-79) or the family home rules (19a-87b). We left out 1,489 youth camp citations, 2,935 records with no rule code and about 150 with other codes. We counted findings from routine inspections and complaint investigations but not follow-up visits, so a violation that was still open at a re-visit isn't counted twice. That leaves 13,322 citations at 3,100 visits: 8,419 at centers and group homes and 4,903 at family homes. Share is each code's count divided by 13,322. The rule codes are OEC's inspection-checklist codes, and some cover several subsections. Centers and family homes are ranked together, so each topic says which one it is. Including follow-up visits (13,988 citations) does not change the top 8.
| Rule | Topic | Citations | Share of citations | How to avoid it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regs. Conn. State Agencies § 19a-79-4a(i) | Education consultant and consultation plan (centers and group homes) | 658 | 4.9% | Keep the OEC-approved education consultant's approval and the consultation plan, signed this year, on file, along with the consultant's visit notes. |
| Regs. Conn. State Agencies § 19a-79-7a(h) | Outdoor play space, surfacing and fences (centers and group homes) | 461 | 3.5% | Rake and top up surfacing under equipment to 8 inches, and walk the fence line and equipment before children go out. |
| Regs. Conn. State Agencies § 19a-79-7a(c)(2) | Building, equipment and furnishings in good repair (centers and group homes) | 422 | 3.2% | Run a written monthly maintenance walk-through and fix chipped paint, broken furniture and damaged surfaces before your inspection. |
| Regs. Conn. State Agencies § 19a-79-5a(a)(2)(E) | Individual plan of care for a child with special health needs (centers and group homes) | 398 | 3% | For every child with an allergy, asthma or other special need, have a written care plan signed by the parent and the child's staff, and review it when anything changes. |
| Regs. Conn. State Agencies § 19a-87b-10(b)(2) | Child's health record (family homes) | 395 | 3% | Get a signed health record from an exam within the past year before the child starts, and calendar each child's annual update. |
| Regs. Conn. State Agencies § 19a-87b-10(b)(2)(A)(v), (l) | Child's immunization record (family homes) | 383 | 2.9% | Keep a dated immunization record (or valid exemption) for every child and check it against the next scheduled shot. |
| Regs. Conn. State Agencies § 19a-79-9a(b)(3) | Prescriber's order and parent permission for medication (centers and group homes) | 375 | 2.8% | Don't give any non-topical medicine, including over-the-counter, until both the prescriber's written order and the parent's permission are on file. |
| Regs. Conn. State Agencies § 19a-79-4a(a)(2), (h) | Staff professional development records (centers and group homes) | 308 | 2.3% | File each person's orientation, annual policy training, health and safety training and 1% ongoing training certificates in their staff file. |
| Regs. Conn. State Agencies § 19a-87b-9(d)(5) | Quarterly evacuation drill and drill log (family homes) | 236 | 1.8% | Put a drill on the calendar every three months, practice exiting with the children, and write the date and time in the drill log. |
| Regs. Conn. State Agencies § 19a-87b-9(h) | Hot water temperature, 60 to 120°F (family homes) | 222 | 1.7% | Test the hot water at the taps children use with a thermometer and turn the water heater down if it's over 120°F. |
Frequently asked questions
Who licenses daycares in Connecticut?
The Office of Early Childhood (OEC), through its Division of Licensing. OEC took over child care licensing from the Department of Public Health. It licenses child care centers, group child care homes, family child care homes and youth camps under Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 19a-77 to 19a-87e and the regulations at Regs. Conn. State Agencies §§ 19a-79-1a to 19a-79-13 (centers and group homes) and §§ 19a-87b-1 to 19a-87b-18 (family homes). The Licensing Division can be reached at 860-500-4450 or 800-282-6063.
How many children can I watch in my home in Connecticut?
A licensed family child care home may care for up to 6 children, counting your own children who aren't in school full time, plus up to 3 school-age children before and after school during the school year (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 19a-77(a)(3); Regs. Conn. State Agencies § 19a-87b-5). No more than 2 may be under 18 months unless an approved assistant is present. Since 2025, a pilot large family child care endorsement allows up to 12 children for homes licensed before June 30, 2025. Caring for 7 to 12 children otherwise requires a group child care home license.
What are the staff-to-child ratios in Connecticut child care centers?
Under 2 years 1:4 (group of 8); two-year-olds 1:5 (group of 10); preschool 1:10 (group of 20); school age 1:15 (group of 30). The youngest child in a mixed group sets the ratio, and at least two staff 18 or older must be on site whenever children are present (Regs. Conn. State Agencies §§ 19a-79-4a(d), 19a-79-10(c), 19a-79-11(d)–(e)). The two-year-old and school-age ratios were loosened in October 2024.
Did Connecticut change its child care regulations recently?
Yes. OEC rewrote the center and group home rules effective October 16, 2024. Changes include the 1:5 ratio for two-year-olds, 1:15 for school age, no TB test, staff medical statements every 36 months, 5-year employment history checks, reporting diagnosed fractures, burns and concussions, keeping video 30 days, and keeping attendance records for 1 year. Recent laws added the large family child care pilot (2025), epinephrine nasal spray (2025) and new background check and conviction reporting rules (July 2026).
How often are Connecticut daycares inspected?
OEC makes an unannounced inspection of every licensed center, group home and family home at least once a year, and investigates complaints. The local health director also inspects centers and group homes at least every 2 years (Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 19a-80(b)(3), 19a-87b(a)).
How do I check a Connecticut daycare's license and inspection history?
Use the state eLicense lookup, which shows active licenses and the past three years of substantiated complaints and incidents, or 2-1-1 Child Care's program search. Centers must post their latest OEC inspection report or show it to parents on request, and family homes must show parents their last inspection form on request.
What are the most common licensing violations in Connecticut?
In 2025, by our count of OEC's open data, the most-cited center and group home rules were the education consultant and consultation plan, outdoor play space, building and equipment repair, individual care plans for children with special health needs, and medication orders. For family homes they were children's health records, immunization records, quarterly evacuation drills and hot water temperature. Most are paperwork or maintenance problems a monthly self-check can catch.
Can Connecticut daycares accept a religious exemption from vaccines?
Only for a child whose religious exemption statement was presented before April 28, 2021, and only with a provider's declaration that required immunizations have been given and the rest are in progress. Otherwise the only exemption is a medical one certified by a physician, APRN or physician assistant (Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 19a-79(b), 19a-87b(g)). Public Act 26-3 (2026) says the state's Religious Freedom Restoration Act does not apply to these requirements.
How long must Connecticut centers keep attendance records?
At least 1 year. Centers and group homes must record the actual arrival and departure times of both children and staff each day and keep the records at the facility (Regs. Conn. State Agencies § 19a-79-3a(d)(1)). The retention period was 2 years before October 2024. Injury and illness reports and medication records are kept 2 years.
Sources
- OEC, Statutes and Regulations for Child Care Centers and Group Child Care Homes (May 2025; statutes revised to Jan. 1, 2025; regulations revised Feb. 26, 2025) (accessed November 8, 2026)
- OEC, Statutes and Regulations for Family Child Care Homes (May 2025; regulations revised Oct. 23, 2024) (accessed November 8, 2026)
- Connecticut eRegulations System, Regs. Conn. State Agencies §§ 19a-79-1a to 19a-79-13 (accessed November 8, 2026)
- Connecticut eRegulations System, Regs. Conn. State Agencies §§ 19a-87b-1 to 19a-87b-18 (accessed November 8, 2026)
- Conn. Gen. Stat. chapter 368a (§§ 19a-77 to 19a-87g), revised to Jan. 1, 2025 (see the 2026 Supplement for 2025 amendments) (accessed November 8, 2026)
- OEC, Summary of Changes to the Regulations for Child Care Centers and Group Child Care Homes (effective Oct. 16, 2024; updated Nov. 13, 2024) (accessed November 8, 2026)
- OEC memo, Updates to statutes and regulations from the 2023 and 2024 legislative sessions (centers and group homes, July 10, 2025) (accessed November 8, 2026)
- OEC memo, Updates to statutes and regulations concerning family child care homes (July 31, 2025) (accessed November 8, 2026)
- OEC, Q & A: New Ratio and Group Size Regulations for 2-Year-Olds (accessed November 8, 2026)
- OEC, Policies and Procedures Regarding School-Age Ratios and Group Size (August 2024 memo) (accessed November 8, 2026)
- OEC, Public Acts Recently Enacted 2024 (accessed November 8, 2026)
- OEC, Public Acts Recently Enacted 2025 (accessed November 8, 2026)
- OEC, Public Acts Recently Enacted 2026 (accessed November 8, 2026)
- Public Act 25-82, An Act Concerning Early Childhood Care and Education (accessed November 8, 2026)
- OEC, Large Family Child Care Home Frequently Asked Questions (accessed November 8, 2026)
- OEC, New requirements for background check fingerprinting (Sept. 30, 2024) (accessed November 8, 2026)
- OEC, OEC will cover Background Check fees through December 31, 2026 (accessed November 8, 2026)
- OEC, Look Up Providers and Programs (accessed November 8, 2026)
- OEC, Report a Serious Incident (accessed November 8, 2026)
- data.ct.gov, Child Care & Youth Camp Licensing Violations (ccit-2ev8) (accessed November 8, 2026)
- data.ct.gov, Child Care & Youth Camp Licensing Inspections (6rnk-h6iy) (accessed November 8, 2026)
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: Connecticut Office of Early Childhood (OEC), Division of Licensing. How we handle your information: privacy policy.