Reviewed November 2026 Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 591-1-1-.32(1), effective September 2020 · view rule Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 591-1-1-.32(1) Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 591-1-1-.08(5)–(6) · view rule Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 591-1-1-.08(5)–(6)
Georgia child care is licensed by Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) under O.C.G.A. Title 20, Chapter 1A. Centers (7 or more children) follow Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. Chapter 591-1-1 and family homes (3 to 6 unrelated children) follow Chapter 290-2-3, which keeps its old number. Licenses run for the calendar year, DECAL inspects twice a year unannounced, and visit reports are online. The latest amendments took effect September 22, 2026, and a new background-check certification has applied since July 1, 2026.
Licensing agency: Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL), Child Care Services · public license lookup
Inspection findings public? Yes, the state publishes licensing inspection results.
License types
- Child care learning center: 7 or more children for pay, less than 24 hours a day — Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. Chapter 591-1-1; O.C.G.A. § 20-1A-1 et seq.
- Family child care learning home: 3 to 6 unrelated children under 13 in the provider's residence — Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. Chapter 290-2-3; O.C.G.A. § 20-1A-1 et seq.
- License-exempt programs (government, private school, short-term, faith-based accredited, day camps) — Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 591-1-1-.46; 290-2-3-.22
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Recent and upcoming changes (2025–2026)
Georgia changes its child care rules through DECAL rulemaking, usually once a year with a fall effective date. The latest round took effect September 22, 2026 and is built into DECAL's rule books dated October 1, 2026. DECAL said none of the 2026 changes add cost for providers. The bigger practical changes came in June 2025 (CPR timing and literacy training) and July 2026 (a new background-check certification step).
School-age now starts at age 4 for centers
Since September 22, 2026, "School-age Children" means children who are at least 4 years old by September 1 of the current school year and eligible to attend public school (it used to say 5). DECAL made the change to accommodate Pre-K-age children in school-age programs. The same round corrected a federal code reference in the definition of "Crime", clarified the medical-emergency language in Rule .21 to match the posted-notice and emergency-plan rules, and clarified that the swimming ratios in Rule .35 apply to water exactly 2 feet deep.
Family home rule clean-up
Effective September 22, 2026, family child care learning homes no longer collect Social Security numbers in personnel files, the 2-foot swimming threshold was clarified, and DECAL simplified the children's records and equipment rules to remove duplicate requirements. DECAL said these changes add no new cost or paperwork.
New exemption for military-regulated family homes
A new rule exempts a family child care home from DECAL licensing if it is regulated by a branch of the U.S. military, serves only military families (on or off base) and does not take CAPS subsidy. The home completes an online self-assessment with DECAL and must redo it after a move or a change in hours or ages served.
New background-check certification since July 1, 2026
Since July 1, 2026, every licensed program, support center, CAPS-funded exempt or informal provider and DECAL-licensed Head Start must complete the Georgia NCPA/VCA Qualified Entity Certification Statement in DECAL KOALA, signed by both the director and the owner. DECAL sends it to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation for approval. Until it is approved, the program can't submit background checks or get determination letters, so new hires can't start.
Pediatric CPR within 45 days, and in every room
Since June 4, 2025, first aid and CPR must be pediatric, new caregivers have 45 days to get certified (it was 90), and centers must have at least one person with current pediatric CPR and first aid in every classroom where children are present. In family homes, a certified person must be on the premises whenever any child is there.
Annual training now includes 2 hours of language and literacy
Since June 2025, the 10 annual training hours must include at least 2 hours of evidence-based language and literacy practice and at least 2 hours of child development or health and safety. DECAL said the literacy hours carry out state legislation requiring annual literacy training for early childhood staff.
Written suspension and expulsion policy
Since June 2025, the written discipline policy you give parents must describe your practices for suspending and expelling children. DECAL added this for federal compliance.
Public schools must open after-school programs to Pre-K students
Starting with the 2026-27 school year, a public elementary school that runs Georgia's Pre-K and offers an after-school program must make that program available to its Pre-K students on the same basis as other students. DECAL can waive the requirement one school year at a time for extenuating circumstances. Governor Kemp signed HB 1123 on May 5, 2026. This is a school law, not a licensing rule, but it changes where many 4-year-olds go after school.
Who needs a license, and what kind
Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) licenses child care through its Child Care Services division, under O.C.G.A. Title 20, Chapter 1A. There are two license types: child care learning centers (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. Chapter 591-1-1) and family child care learning homes (Chapter 290-2-3). The home rules kept their old 290 number when DECAL took them over; they have not been renumbered. DECAL counts roughly 3,200 centers, 1,100 family homes and 5,300 license-exempt programs. Every Georgia license runs for the calendar year and expires December 31.
Center or family home?
A child care learning center cares for 7 or more children under 18, for pay, for less than 24 hours a day. A family child care learning home is a private residence caring for at least 3 but no more than 6 children under 13 who are not related to the provider, for pay. Anyone caring for more than 6 children for pay, related or not, needs a center license. Small centers (capacity of 18 or fewer) follow the center rules with some differences noted on this page.
Center license steps
Before applying, attend a DECAL-approved orientation of up to 16 hours. Before the first license is issued, the director must finish a 40-hour DECAL-approved director's training course. You need a separate license for each address. DECAL can issue a temporary license (up to 1 year, with a plan of correction), a restricted license, or a 21-day permit (for example after a change of ownership). Apply for an amended license at least 30 days before changing your name, ages served, hours into evenings or nights, services or building use. A new owner can't operate on the old license.
Family home license steps
Before applying, the provider completes pre-service training: a licensure orientation meeting, a pre-licensure course on provider competencies, and pediatric CPR and first aid (DECAL's training page puts this at 20 hours). DECAL then makes a pre-licensing visit. Everyone 17 or older who lives in the home, and anyone who works there, needs a satisfactory comprehensive background check before the license is issued. A license can't be transferred, and a move or a new provider needs a new license.
Annual license fee and calendar-year renewal
Centers pay $50 (1–25 children), $100 (26–50), $150 (51–100), $200 (101–200) or $250 (over 200) a year; family homes pay $50. All current licenses expire December 31, 2026, and the 2027 fee is due December 1, 2026 through DECAL KOALA. After December 31 a late fee of half the license fee is added (the rules allow up to $250), and DECAL revokes licenses whose fees go unpaid. You must verify lawful presence in the U.S. before the license is issued, and family providers must complete a disclosure statement in KOALA first.
Programs exempt from licensing
Exempt programs include government-owned and operated programs, school-age programs of national membership organizations, private schools, programs open no more than 4 hours a day (such as part-time preschool or parents' night out), accredited faith-based programs, and day camps for children 5 and up during school breaks. Each must apply for an exemption or complete DECAL's online self-assessment, post a notice that it isn't licensed, and keep attendance. Programs run in a residence can't be exempt, and exempt programs that take CAPS subsidy still need background checks.
What to post by the front door
Centers post: the current license, a copy of the rules, the communicable disease chart, a statement that parents may visit any child care area, who is in charge when the director is out, the dated weekly menu, emergency plans, a visitor check-in notice, no-smoking signs, and DECAL's notice that parents may ask to see your most recent licensing report.
Staff-to-child ratios
Georgia's center ratios are looser than many states': 1:6 for infants, 1:8 for walking one-year-olds and 1:10 for two-year-olds. A lot depends on licensed capacity. Centers licensed for 19 or more children use the 20% rule for mixed ages and must keep under-3s apart; centers licensed for 18 or fewer use the youngest-child rule and have no group-size limit. Family homes don't have a ratio table: they have a capacity limit and assistant triggers.
Center ratios and group sizes
Infants under 1, and children under 18 months who aren't walking: 1:6, group of 12. Walking one-year-olds: 1:8, group of 16. Two-year-olds: 1:10, group of 20. Three-year-olds: 1:15, group of 30. Four-year-olds: 1:18, group of 36. Five-year-olds: 1:20, group of 40. Six and older: 1:25, group of 50. Directors, cooks and office staff count only while they give the children their full attention.
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 Georgia's number for that room's age group. SafePass's built-in defaults are stricter than Georgia's where we compared them (infant 1:4 against Georgia's 1:6, toddler 1:6 against 1:8 for walking one-year-olds, two-year-old 1:8 against 1:10, school-age 1:15 against 1:25), so leaving them in place won't hide a violation but will alert you too early. SafePass does not apply Georgia's mixed-age rule or check group sizes.
Mixed ages and keeping under-3s apart
In centers licensed for 19 or more, the ratio for a mixed-age group follows the youngest age group that makes up more than 20% of the group, and children under 3 must be in separate areas from older children except at early-morning arrival and late-afternoon departure (when the youngest child sets the ratio). A child who turns 3 during the school year may stay with the twos with the parent's agreement. In centers licensed for 18 or fewer, the youngest child under 3 sets the ratio; if everyone is 3 or older, the majority age does.
Nap time and overnight care
During daytime naps, ratios may be doubled for children 3 and older if at least one staff member stays in each room and every staff member needed for the normal ratio is in the building to help evacuate. In evening and night care, ratios may be doubled once most children are asleep, with all required staff on the premises.
Family home capacity and when you need a helper
A family home may care for up to 6 unrelated children, paid or unpaid, plus 2 more children aged 3 or older during two designated one-hour periods a day if DECAL approves. Counting related children and children who live in the home, no more than 12 children under 13 may be present, with 35 square feet each. An employee aged 16 or older must help whenever more than 3 children under 12 months, more than 6 under 3, or more than 8 under 5 are present. The infant trigger can apply at normal capacity (4 or more babies); the other two only come into play when related or resident children push the headcount up.
SafePass tip: SafePass Kiosk check-ins give a running count of who is in care right now, by child and age. Add your own or related children as enrolled children if you want them in the count. SafePass does not check Georgia's home capacity rules for you.
Swimming and water play ratios
In water 2 feet deep or more: 1:2 for children under 2½, 1:5 for ages 2½ to 4, 1:6 for children 4 and up who can't swim 15 yards, and 1:15 in centers (1:8 in family homes) for children who can. Someone present must have lifeguard training from the Red Cross, YMCA or a similar body. In shallower water, centers use their normal ratios, and an extra staff member is needed in some situations, such as crowded pools. Parents must give written permission for swimming.
Group size and space
Maximum group sizes are double the ratio for each age (the table above). They don't apply outdoors, during special activities of up to 2 hours, or in centers licensed for 18 or fewer children.
35 square feet per child
A center's licensed capacity is based on 35 square feet of usable space per child, not counting kitchens, bathrooms, halls, offices, storage and space under adult furniture. With DECAL approval, a center can use 25 square feet per child for children 3 and older during two set one-hour periods a day, to absorb before- and after-school children. Family homes also need 35 square feet per child (290-2-3-.13).
Outdoor play space
Centers licensed for 19 or more need an outdoor play area of at least 100 square feet times one-third of licensed capacity; centers licensed for 18 or fewer need 100 square feet times capacity (both rules apply to centers first licensed after 1991). Whoever is outside at one time must have 100 square feet each, so rotate groups if needed.
Daily schedule limits
Children under 3 may not spend more than 30 minutes at a time in swings, highchairs, jumpseats, carriers or walkers, and infants get supervised tummy time daily. Centers open 5 hours or more give each child at least 1½ hours outdoors a day (infants at least 1 hour), weather permitting. Screen time is limited to 2 hours a day, with other activities available. Family homes have the same 30-minute and screen-time limits (290-2-3-.09).
Director and staff qualifications
Georgia sets credential paths rather than college credit totals. A Child Development Associate (CDA) or a technical certificate of credit (TCC) in early childhood qualifies for most roles.
Center director
The director must be at least 21 and meet one of 13 paths: for example a CDA, a TCC or technical college diploma in early childhood, an associate degree in early childhood or child development, or 15 semester hours in the field, each with 6 months of experience; a bachelor's in another field with 3 months of experience; a bachelor's or master's in early childhood; or the 40-hour director course plus 5 years as an on-site center director. When the director is away, a designated person must be on site with access to all records.
SafePass tip: SafePass staff profiles store certifications and documents with expiration dates, so credentials and training records are in one place when the consultant asks.
Lead teachers
Centers licensed for 19 or more need a lead teacher for each group. Lead teachers must be at least 18 and hold a CDA, TCC, technical diploma, associate degree, paraprofessional certificate, 15 semester hours in early childhood, or a bachelor's or master's degree. You may hire someone without one if they enroll within 6 months, finish within 18 months of enrolling, and you keep a written professional development plan in their file.
SafePass tip: SafePass staff profiles store certifications and documents with expiration dates, so credentials and training records are in one place when the consultant asks.
Aides, volunteers and work hours
In centers licensed for 19 or more, aides may be 16, but 16- and 17-year-olds may never be solely responsible for children. In centers licensed for 18 or fewer, aides must be 18 and have a high school diploma, GED or 3 months of experience. Parents, volunteers and students-in-training are never alone with other people's children. Staff may not regularly be scheduled for more than 12 hours of child care in 24 hours.
Family home provider
The provider must be at least 21 and hold a CDA (kept current), a TCC or technical diploma in early childhood education, an associate, bachelor's or master's degree in early childhood education, or a Georgia paraprofessional certificate. Providers who applied on or before June 30, 2009 need only a high school diploma or GED, unless they close and reapply.
SafePass tip: SafePass staff profiles store certifications and documents with expiration dates, so credentials and training records are in one place when the consultant asks.
Background checks
Georgia runs background checks through DECAL KOALA. A "comprehensive" check covers FBI fingerprints, sex offender registries, and criminal and child abuse registries in every state the person lived in for the past 5 years. DECAL has paid for child care fingerprinting since October 1, 2018.
Check before anyone is present with children
The director and every employee need a satisfactory comprehensive records check determination before being at the center while children are there. A provisional employee may start with a satisfactory fingerprint determination but must be supervised at all times by someone with a comprehensive clearance, and must request out-of-state records. The clearance date must be within 12 months of hire. Keep the electronic evidence for the length of employment plus 1 year.
SafePass tip: SafePass stores each staff member's background check date and flags checks more than five years old on the Compliance page, which lines up with Georgia's five-year recheck. It does not submit fingerprints or port determination letters; that happens in DECAL KOALA.
Family homes: residents count too
The provider, every employee and every resident aged 17 or older need a satisfactory comprehensive determination before being in the home while children are in care. Provisional employees follow the same supervised-start rules as in centers. Anyone with an unsatisfactory determination may not be present or live in the home.
SafePass tip: SafePass stores each staff member's background check date and flags checks more than five years old on the Compliance page, which lines up with Georgia's five-year recheck. It does not submit fingerprints or port determination letters; that happens in DECAL KOALA.
Portability and rechecks
A determination letter can be ported to a new employer only electronically through DECAL KOALA, and only if it is less than 12 months old (24 months for students-in-training) and the person hasn't been out of child care work for 180 days or more. A new comprehensive check is required at least every 5 years, after a 180-day break, after an arrest or charge for a covered crime, and whenever DECAL asks. Paper letters are no longer accepted.
SafePass tip: SafePass stores each staff member's background check date and flags checks more than five years old on the Compliance page, which lines up with Georgia's five-year recheck. It does not submit fingerprints or port determination letters; that happens in DECAL KOALA.
Report staff arrests within 24 hours
Within 24 hours or the next work day after you know (or should know) that a director, employee, provider, resident or provisional employee was arrested or had their determination change, report it and the person's name to DECAL. Letting someone with a criminal record or unsatisfactory determination be present is a mandatory revocation ground.
Training, first aid and CPR
Training happens in three layers: an orientation before working, a health and safety orientation in the first 90 days, and 10 hours every calendar year (January to December) after the first year. Hours can be recorded in the personnel file or Georgia's workforce registry (GaPDS).
Orientation before work, health and safety within 90 days
Before working with children, every staff member, volunteer, student and contractor gets an orientation covering your policies, the health and safety rules, their duties, abuse reporting, communicable disease, emergency plans, injury control, medication, safe sleep (SUID/SIDS), handwashing, fire and water safety, and bloodborne pathogens. Staff with direct care duties must then complete DECAL-approved health and safety orientation training within 90 days; those hours count toward the first year.
SafePass tip: SafePass keeps dated training records in each staff profile, so you can total each person's hours for the calendar year.
10 hours a year
Every calendar year after the first year of employment, directors, caregivers, family providers and their staff need 10 clock hours from an accredited school or DECAL-approved source: at least 2 hours on language and literacy, at least 2 on child development or health and safety, and no more than 2 on business topics. Volunteers, students-in-training and independent contractors are exempt.
SafePass tip: SafePass keeps dated training records in each staff profile, so you can total each person's hours for the calendar year.
Pediatric CPR and first aid
Every direct-care staff member needs pediatric CPR (renewed every 2 years) and pediatric first aid (every 3 years) within 45 days of hire; family providers need it before licensure. In centers, at least half the caregivers present and one person in each classroom must be certified, plus someone on every field trip and vehicle, and the director must always be current. These hours don't count toward annual 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.
Food and nutrition training
Within the first year, the director and the person mainly responsible for cooking need 4 clock hours of training in nutrition planning, food preparation and serving, dishwashing and food storage.
Supervision, health and safety
Supervision and hygiene are core rules, checked at every DECAL visit.
Supervision
Children must be supervised at all times, including meals, naps, transport, field trips and transitions. Staff must be in the area, alert and positioned to see and hear the children. At meals, staff sit with the children and within arm's length of those 36 months and younger. In centers, the person who locks up must walk the whole building first to make sure no child is left behind.
SafePass tip: SafePass shows staff a live list of children checked in to each room, so a caregiver can confirm names and headcount at a glance.
Sick children and telling parents
In centers, a child with a temperature of 101°F or higher plus another contagious symptom (such as a rash, diarrhea or sore throat) can't attend; family homes must exclude anyone with symptoms of a contagious disease. Separate a child who becomes ill and supervise them. Call parents right away when a child needs medical attention, has moderate symptoms (fever, vomiting, diarrhea) or was in a risky incident such as going missing or being left on a vehicle; tell them by the end of the day about minor injuries and symptoms. Notify all parents in writing within 24 hours of a disease on DECAL's communicable disease chart.
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.
Handwashing
Children and staff wash with liquid soap and warm running water on arrival, after outdoor play, before and after eating or handling food, after toileting and diapering, and after touching animals or body fluids. Staff also wash before and after giving medication and preparing bottles. Use an individual washcloth for infants who can't be held at a sink.
Reports DECAL must get within 24 hours
Report to DECAL within 24 hours or the next work day: a child's death; an illness or injury needing hospital or medical care beyond first aid; any missing child (including one left on a vehicle, one who leaves the building or playground, or one left behind on a trip); a fire or structural disaster; a relocation; and any change in operating status, such as a temporary closure. Suspected abuse goes to the county Division of Family and Children Services and DECAL within 24 hours. Reportable diseases go to DECAL and the county health department immediately. Required reports are filed in DECAL KOALA.
SafePass tip: SafePass incident reports record what happened, the action taken and first aid, notify the parent, and capture the parent's e-signature. You still file DECAL's required report yourself.
No smoking, alcohol or drugs
No smoking on the premises or in vehicles carrying children during operating hours, with no-smoking signs posted. Staff may not use or be under the influence of alcohol, marijuana or other controlled substances while responsible for children.
Facility, furniture, equipment and hazards
Playgrounds and physical-plant hazards were the two most cited rule areas in Georgia from 2024 through June 2025, for both centers and family homes. Anchoring heavy furniture is a core rule.
Anchor furniture that can tip
Secure any furniture or equipment heavy enough to injure a child if it tips, falls or is pulled over: televisions, chests of drawers, bookcases, shelving, cabinets and fish tanks, for example. Child-sized tables and chairs, rocking chairs and cribs don't need to be secured. Use all furniture and equipment as the manufacturer intends and only with the right age group.
Lock up hazards
Store hazardous items in a locked area children can't reach: aerosols, flammable and corrosive materials, cleaning supplies, poisons, insecticides, office supplies, and any bucket or rigid container of 3 gallons or more that a toddler could fall into. Other physical-plant rules: cap unused outlets within reach, keep rooms between 65°F and 85°F, keep fans and heaters out of reach, use safety glass or guards on floor-level windows and glass doors, and remove poisonous plants.
Family home hazards
Keep poisons, medicines, cleaners, razors and aerosols out of reach or locked, and store firearms where children can't get them. Have a working UL-approved smoke detector on each floor and a 2-A:10-B:C fire extinguisher in the child care area no more than 30 feet from the kitchen. Don't store gasoline or kerosene inside, don't use extension cords or multi-plug adapters, cover outlets within reach, and fence pools.
Playgrounds
Fence playgrounds with a secure barrier at least 4 feet high and keep gates closed. Anchor climbing and swinging equipment and keep resilient surfacing under it and across its fall zone. Equipment must be age-appropriate, free of lead paint, rust, splinters and sharp edges. In centers, hard surfaces like concrete may cover no more than a quarter of the playground, and there must be shade (school-age centers excepted). Keep play areas free of litter, rocks, roots, holes and standing water.
Toys
No toys that launch projectiles, and no balloons within reach of preschoolers. Toys for children under 3 must be non-toxic, lead-free, too large to swallow, free of small parts and sharp edges, and cleaned with a disinfectant daily.
Fire safety, drills and emergency plans
Georgia requires monthly fire drills and twice-yearly tornado and other emergency drills, with records kept for 2 years. DECAL also publishes a Georgia Statewide Child Care Emergency Plan for providers.
Written emergency plan
Have a written plan for fire, severe weather, loss of power or water, the death, serious injury or loss of a child, threatening events and natural disasters. It must cover evacuation, relocation, shelter-in-place, lock-down, communication and reunification with families, and continuity of operations, with specific steps for infants and toddlers, children with disabilities and children with chronic medical conditions. No one may get in the way of emergency medical responders.
SafePass tip: SafePass's checked-in list shows who is in care right now, and parent messaging can reach every family at once during a relocation or reunification. SafePass does not log drills, so record them separately.
Drills
Hold a fire drill every month and a tornado drill and other emergency drill every 6 months. Record the date and time of each drill and keep the records for 2 years.
SafePass tip: SafePass's checked-in list shows who is in care right now, and parent messaging can reach every family at once during a relocation or reunification. SafePass does not log drills, so record them separately.
Fire code, phone and first aid kit
Centers must meet state and local fire marshal requirements, including a certificate of occupancy where required. Keep a working phone with the doctor or hospital, county health department, poison control, ambulance, fire and police numbers posted beside it (family homes may post 911). Each building and vehicle needs a first aid kit with the listed supplies and a first aid manual, out of children's reach.
Medication
Medication administration is a core rule for both centers and homes.
Centers: authorization, log and storage
Except for first aid or as Georgia law allows, give prescription or over-the-counter medicine only with written authorization from the parent or physician listing the date, child's full name, medicine, any prescription number, dose, dates and time of day, signed by the parent. An authorization lasts no more than 2 weeks unless a doctor prescribes longer. Give medicine only from its original labeled container, record the date, time, amount, any reaction and the giver's initials, lock it away from children and chemicals, and return unused medicine to the parent.
SafePass tip: SafePass collects the parent's signed medication request electronically. Staff approve it, and each dose is logged with the time, amount and staff name, with a notification to the parent. Track Georgia's two-week limit on the authorization yourself.
Family homes
Give medication only with written authorization from the parent or physician (first aid excepted). Store it as the label directs, out of children's reach, and document every dose with the child's name, the medicine, date and time, and who gave it. The home rules don't set a 2-week limit.
SafePass tip: SafePass collects the parent's signed medication request and logs each dose with the time, amount and staff name.
Immunizations and health records
Two agencies set immunization rules for child care in Georgia: DECAL's licensing rules and the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) rules in Chapter 511-2-2. Their deadlines differ, so follow DECAL's stricter 30 days for licensing.
Immunization records within 30 days
Each child's file must show age-appropriate immunizations on the DPH-approved certificate, or a signed religious objection affidavit or a physician's statement that a vaccine is medically contraindicated. A child may not stay enrolled more than 30 days without it.
SafePass tip: SafePass lets parents upload vaccine records. Staff verify them, and the dashboard lists overdue and due-soon doses, with an exemption field.
DPH certificate, exemptions and required vaccines
Every child entering child care must give a valid Georgia Certificate of Immunization. Children in child care must also be protected against pneumococcal disease and, if born on or after January 1, 2006, hepatitis A. A certificate for a child still catching up shows an expiration date, and a new one is due within 30 days after it expires. DPH lets a child attend for up to 90 calendar days without a valid certificate while catching up on shots, but DECAL's licensing rules allow only 30 days. A religious exemption uses notarized DPH Form 2208, but during an outbreak public health officials can exclude unvaccinated children.
SafePass tip: SafePass lets parents upload vaccine records. Staff verify them, and the dashboard lists overdue and due-soon doses, with an exemption field.
Food and nutrition
Meals follow the USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) patterns, whether or not you take part in the food program.
Meals, menus and infant feeding
Serve meals and snacks that meet CACFP guidelines, at least 2 hours apart, and offer water between them. Post the current week's menu, note substitutions on it and keep menus for 6 months. Get a signed feeding plan from parents for each baby under 1 and post it in the room. Hold babies under 6 months to feed them, never prop bottles, label bottles with the child's name, refrigerate at 40°F or below, and don't serve honey before age 1. Don't use food to punish or reward.
SafePass tip: SafePass weekly menus and meal logs show parents what was served and how much their child ate.
Choking hazards
Don't serve foods linked to choking, such as peanuts, hot dogs, raw carrots, popcorn, fish with bones, cheese cubes and grapes, to children under 4. Cut food to ¼ inch or smaller for infants and ½ inch or smaller for toddlers. Children must be seated while eating and never put down to sleep with food in their mouths.
Safe sleep
Infant sleep safety is a core rule. In Georgia an "infant" for sleep purposes is any child under 12 months, or under 18 months and not yet walking. The rules don't set a timed sleep-check interval, but the lighting must let staff see each sleeping infant's face and breathing.
Back to sleep, nothing in the crib
Place infants on their backs to sleep unless a physician's written statement says otherwise; once a baby can roll both ways, don't reposition them. Nothing goes in or on the crib: no toys, pillows, blankets, bumpers or mobiles. Sleep sacks and wearable blankets that fit are allowed; swaddling, wedges, positioning devices and monitors need a physician's written statement. Move an infant who falls asleep in a car seat, swing, bouncy seat or on the floor to a crib.
SafePass tip: SafePass nap logs record when each child went down and woke up, and parents see them. SafePass does not run timed sleep-check logs.
Cribs, cots and spacing
Each infant needs a CPSC/ASTM-compliant crib (family homes may also use compliant play yards and bassinets) with a firm, tight-fitting mattress at least 2 inches thick and only a fitted sheet. No stack cribs or drop-side cribs. Children 2 and older who nap get an individual cot or mat; no pillows under 2. Leave a 24-inch aisle between rows and 12 inches between cots, and place children head to feet.
Nap time and your safe sleep policy
Give children under 5 a supervised nap or rest period, but don't make a child who isn't sleeping lie down for more than 1 hour. Your written safe sleep policy, which parents sign for, must cover back-to-sleep, no soft items, sleep clothing, individual bedding, moving infants to cribs, and no swaddling or positioning devices.
SafePass tip: SafePass nap logs record when each child went down and woke up, and parents see them. SafePass does not run timed sleep-check logs.
Discipline and guidance
Discipline is a core rule in both rule books, and the prohibited list is the same for centers and homes.
Prohibited discipline
Discipline must never harm a child's physical or mental health. Banned: corporal punishment; shaking, jerking, pinching or rough handling; threats, profanity or belittling remarks; isolating a child in a dark room, closet or unsupervised area; restraints; medication to control behavior without medical authorization and parent consent; restricting bathroom use or punishing toileting accidents; force-feeding or withholding meals; forcing or withholding naps; letting children discipline each other; and confining a child to a swing, highchair, carrier, walker or jumpseat as punishment.
Written policies parents receive
Your written policies must describe your behavior management and discipline practices, including suspension and expulsion, and how you prevent shaken baby syndrome and abusive head trauma for children up to age 5 (recognizing, responding to and reporting signs, coping with a crying child, and prohibited behaviors).
SafePass tip: SafePass messaging gives you a dated record that every family was notified.
Records
Children's records were among the five most cited rule areas for Georgia family homes in 2024–25. Keep children's files for 1 year after a child leaves and personnel files for 1 year after a person leaves.
Each child's file
Keep identifying information on the child and parents, who may pick the child up (with address, phone and relationship), emergency contacts, the child's doctor, allergies and medical conditions, special care procedures, written permission for emergency medical care, and records of incidents needing medical attention. Centers also need parents' signed acknowledgment that children will be escorted in and out. Family homes also keep transportation, field trip and swimming permissions. Files are confidential.
SafePass tip: SafePass registration packets collect guardians, emergency contacts, authorized pickups, physician and allergy information, with a parent signature.
Parent acknowledgment of policies
Give each family a copy of your policies and keep a parent-signed statement in the child's file that you provided the policies, explained your safe sleep practices, discussed the child's progress and needs, and invited the parent to take part in activities.
SafePass tip: SafePass messaging gives you a dated record that every family was notified.
Personnel files
Keep a file on every staff member, volunteer and student for the length of employment plus 1 year, with identifying information, work history (10 years for family homes), education, the signed orientation record, and all training (title, date, trainer, location and hours). Centers also keep staff attendance or payroll records for the last 6 months. Since September 2026, family homes no longer collect Social Security numbers.
SafePass tip: SafePass staff profiles store certifications and documents with expiration dates, so credentials and training records are in one place when the consultant asks.
Family home disclosures
Family homes must tell parents in writing about any firearm in the home, anyone regularly on the premises, pets, infant sleep practices, and who else provides care. If you don't carry liability insurance, notify each parent in writing, keep their signed acknowledgment, and post a notice in letters at least ½ inch high (failing to post can bring a $1,000 civil fine). Keep notarized statements for related children and for children cared for without pay.
SafePass tip: SafePass messaging gives you a dated record that every family was notified.
Attendance and release of children
Georgia requires the parent or authorized person, not staff, to record each drop-off and pick-up. Electronic sign-in is allowed, but you must be able to print the records for DECAL.
Daily attendance and sign-in/sign-out
Centers keep daily attendance records and arrival and departure records for the past 12 months. The parent or authorized person documents, in writing or electronically, each drop-off and pick-up with the date, the child's name, the arrival and departure times, and their signature or initials. Records must be available to DECAL in printed or written form on request.
SafePass tip: SafePass Kiosk records each check-in and check-out with a timestamp and who dropped off or picked up, and it exports attendance reports as PDF.
Family homes: sign-in/sign-out
The parent or authorized person records each drop-off and pick-up with the date, the child's name, the times and their signature or initials, and the record must be available to DECAL in printed or written form. The home rules don't state a retention period.
SafePass tip: SafePass Kiosk records each check-in and check-out with a timestamp and who dropped off or picked up, and it exports attendance reports as PDF.
Release only to authorized people
Release a child only to a person the parent has authorized, and check that the person matches the identifying information the parent gave you.
SafePass tip: At check-out, SafePass shows staff the child's guardians and authorized pickups, with photos, and records who picked the child up.
Parents' right to visit
Custodial parents may visit every child care area at any time their child is there, unless a court has ordered otherwise. In centers they must let staff know they are there before taking the child.
Transportation and field trips
Transportation was the third most cited rule area for Georgia centers in 2024–25, and DECAL reported ten children left in vehicles by child care providers in state fiscal year 2025. The center rules require a DECAL-format passenger checklist and two separate walk-through checks of every vehicle.
Passenger checklist and two vehicle checks
Use a DECAL-approved passenger checklist for each vehicle, list each child by first and last name, and mark each child on and off at every stop, with departure and arrival times. After the last child gets off, a staff member who rode the vehicle walks the whole vehicle, checks every seat, under seats and compartments, and signs; then a second staff member does the same, with the vehicle watched in between. If no second person is available, the driver checks, signs and phones the director, documenting the call. Keep the checklists for 1 year.
SafePass tip: SafePass doesn't keep DECAL's passenger transportation checklist or the two-person vehicle check. Use the attendance list to count children on and off the vehicle and keep the DECAL checklist separately.
Staff on board
The driver must be 18 or older with the right license. A second staff member (18 or older) rides along when 3 or more children under 3, 7 or more under 5, or 18 or more aged 5 and up are on board. Two staff besides the driver are needed with 8 or more children under 3 or more than 20 under 5 mixed with other children. Larger loads follow the classroom ratios or one extra staff member per 20 school-agers.
Training, vehicles and parent permission
Drivers and staff who transport children need 2 hours of DECAL-approved transportation training before starting and every 2 years. Each vehicle needs an annual safety check, a fire extinguisher, heat, secure seats and proper child restraints, within the manufacturer's seating capacity. Get the parent's written authorization for routine pick-up and drop-off, keep each child's trip no longer than 45 minutes, never leave a child alone in a vehicle, and never drop a child off where no authorized person is present.
Field trips
Tell parents in advance where and when you're going, and get dated written permission. Keep normal ratios plus one extra adult (16 or older) per 25 children; anyone helping who isn't a parent needs a background check. Leave a list of children and adults and each child's emergency medical information at the center and take copies along, and give each child a tag with their name and the center's name, address and phone.
SafePass tip: SafePass shows staff a live list of children checked in to each room, so a caregiver can confirm names and headcount at a glance.
Family homes
If you or your staff drive children, the driver needs a current license, every child must be in a seat belt or the right car seat, no child may be left alone in a vehicle, and each child's emergency medical authorization must be in the vehicle.
SafePass tip: SafePass doesn't keep DECAL's passenger transportation checklist or the two-person vehicle check. Use the attendance list to count children on and off the vehicle and keep the DECAL checklist separately.
Inspections and enforcement
DECAL consultants inspect every licensed center and family home twice a year, unannounced, and post the visit reports online. Enforcement follows a points-based Compliance and Enforcement Chart.
Two unannounced visits a year
Each year DECAL makes a full licensing study visit in one half of the year and a monitoring visit, focused on core rules and earlier citations, in the other half. Consultants also investigate complaints and serious incidents. You consent to entry at any time during operating hours, with access to all staff, children and records, including video, photos and social media posts. Refusing access or not cooperating is grounds for denial, suspension or revocation. Reports are signed with you, uploaded to DECAL KOALA and posted on DECAL's website.
SafePass tip: SafePass keeps records with dates and times, and it exports attendance reports as PDF for a consultant.
16 core rule categories
At every visit consultants check "core rules": the rules DECAL considers most important to children's health and safety, grouped in 16 categories, including background checks, diapering, discipline, furniture anchoring, CPR coverage, handwashing, capacity, medication, hazards, playgrounds, infant sleep, ratios, supervision, swimming and transportation. Each cited core rule is rated low, medium, high or extreme risk, and the count and risk level set your compliance status.
Penalties
Citations earn points based on how often and how seriously you violate the rules. Actions range from technical assistance and citations through fines, public reprimands, restricted licenses, emergency monitors and short suspensions, to suspension, revocation and emergency closure. Fines are up to $500 per day per violation, capped at $25,000. Some violations skip the chart: DECAL must revoke for allowing someone with a disqualifying record to be present, falsifying records, unpaid fines or repeatedly denying access.
Contesting a citation or sanction
There are two routes: an informal refutation of a visit citation through DECAL KOALA, and a formal hearing under the Georgia Administrative Procedure Act for adverse actions.
Disputing a visit citation
Raise a disagreement with the consultant during the visit if you can. If it isn't resolved, submit a refutation in DECAL KOALA within 10 business days of the visit's completion, explaining why. The regional manager reviews it within 10 business days and emails whether the citation stays, changes or is removed.
Adverse actions and hearings
You may send DECAL a written statement within 10 days of a notice of intent to take adverse action. A revocation, suspension or restriction takes effect 30 days after notice unless you request a hearing in writing within 10 days. For an emergency closure, the hearing request is due within 48 hours, excluding weekends and holidays. Fines are due within 30 days. Revocation and emergency notices must be posted where parents can see them and handed to every family.
Waivers and variances
DECAL may grant a variance when following a rule exactly would cause undue hardship and children stay protected, a waiver when another approach gives equivalent protection, or an experimental waiver to try new approaches. Apply on DECAL's forms; conditions may be attached.
What the public can see
DECAL posts enforcement actions such as fines, restricted licenses, emergency orders, denials and revocations on its website. Most stay up for 5 years while the program is open; revocations stay permanently. Violations from substantiated complaints stay online for 60 months, and parents can ask you for your most recent licensing report.
Most common citations
Source: DECAL Child Care Services Newsletter, Fall 2025, "Top 5 Most Often Cited Rules Chapters"
Period: 2024 through June 2025 (as published by DECAL)
How it was counted: These are DECAL's own rankings, not our count. DECAL published the top five rule chapters cited at licensed centers and at family homes from 2024 through June 2025, in rank order only, as a chart in its Fall 2025 provider newsletter. It did not publish counts or shares, and the period is 18 months rather than a calendar year. Georgia has no bulk violation dataset: DECAL's Provider Data Export has no citation fields, and visit reports are posted as separate PDFs for each program. We matched each chapter name to its rule number; for family homes, where there is no single physical plant or playground rule, we used the rule paragraphs DECAL lists under those headings in its core rule list.
| Rule | Topic | How to avoid it |
|---|---|---|
| Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 591-1-1-.26 | Centers #1: Playgrounds | Walk the playground weekly: fence and gates secure, climbing and swinging equipment anchored, surfacing raked and deep enough under every fall zone, no rust, splinters, rocks or roots. |
| Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 591-1-1-.25 | Centers #2: Physical plant (safe environment) | Do a daily room sweep for unlocked chemicals and aerosols, uncapped outlets, reachable fans or heaters and large buckets, and anchor any furniture that could tip. |
| Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 591-1-1-.36 | Centers #3: Transportation | Complete the DECAL passenger checklist at every stop and never skip the second signed walk-through of the vehicle; keep vehicle safety checks and driver training current. |
| Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 591-1-1-.33 | Centers #4: Staff training | Track each caregiver's orientation date, 90-day health and safety orientation and 10 annual hours (with the 2 literacy hours) by December. |
| Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 591-1-1-.30 | Centers #5: Safe sleeping and resting | Check every crib at nap time: baby on back, nothing in the crib, fitted sheet only, sleeping infants moved out of seats and swings, cots spaced 12 inches apart with 24-inch aisles. |
| Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 290-2-3-.11(2)(f)–(i); 290-2-3-.13(1)(d) | Family homes #1: Physical plant (safe environment) | Before children arrive, check that medicines, cleaners, razors and aerosols are locked or out of reach, firearms are inaccessible, smoke detectors work and stoves and heaters are screened. |
| Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 290-2-3-.13(2)(a)–(d) | Family homes #2: Playgrounds | Keep a 4-foot fence around the play area and pool, anchor fixed climbing and swinging equipment over resilient surfacing, and clear debris, holes and standing water. |
| Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 290-2-3-.08 | Family homes #3: Children's records | Audit each child's file quarterly: immunization certificate, emergency medical permission, authorized pickups, allergies, signed sign-in/out sheets and the required parent disclosures. |
| Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 290-2-3-.07(5)–(10) | Family homes #4: Staff training | Keep certificates for your 10 annual hours (2 in literacy), pediatric CPR and first aid, and your helpers' orientation and training in one binder or in GaPDS. |
| Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 290-2-3-.21 | Family homes #5: Criminal records and comprehensive background checks | Make sure every helper and every household member who turns 17 has a satisfactory comprehensive determination in KOALA before they are around children, and recheck every 5 years. |
Frequently asked questions
How many children can I watch in my home without a license in Georgia?
Georgia's family child care learning home license starts at 3 unrelated children under 13 cared for in your home for pay, so caring for 1 or 2 unrelated children falls below it. With 3 to 6 unrelated children you need a family home license, and above 6 children for pay you need a center license. Children related to you within the third degree don't count toward the 6, but no more than 12 children under 13 may be present in total. (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 290-2-3-.03(k), 290-2-3-.04(1), 290-2-3-.07(16)–(17))
What are the staff-to-child ratios for daycare centers in Georgia?
1:6 for infants (under 1, or under 18 months and not walking), 1:8 for walking one-year-olds, 1:10 for two-year-olds, 1:15 for threes, 1:18 for fours, 1:20 for fives and 1:25 for children 6 and older. Group sizes are double the ratio (12, 16, 20, 30, 36, 40, 50) in centers licensed for 19 or more. (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 591-1-1-.32)
Were the Georgia family child care home rules renumbered under Chapter 591?
No. As of DECAL's October 1, 2026 rule books, centers are Chapter 591-1-1 and family child care learning homes are still Chapter 290-2-3, a number left over from before DECAL took over child care licensing. Support centers are Chapter 591-3-1. Both chapters cite O.C.G.A. § 20-1A-1 et seq. as their authority. (DECAL Rules and Regulations page; Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 290-2-3-.01)
How much does a Georgia child care license cost, and when does it expire?
Family homes pay $50 a year. Centers pay $50 to $250 depending on capacity. Every license expires December 31; the 2027 fee is due December 1, 2026 in DECAL KOALA, and a late fee of half the license fee is added after December 31. Unpaid fees lead to revocation. (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 591-1-1-.16(e), 290-2-3-.04(1)(f); DECAL License Fee Information page)
How often does DECAL inspect daycares?
Twice a year, unannounced: a full licensing study in one half of the year and a monitoring visit focused on core rules and earlier citations in the other half. Complaints and serious incidents bring extra visits. Visit reports are posted on DECAL's provider search. (DECAL Annual Regulatory Inspection Policy; Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 591-1-1-.37)
Who needs a background check, and who pays for it?
Directors, employees, volunteers who help regularly, students-in-training, contractors and, in family homes, every resident 17 or older need a satisfactory DECAL determination before being around children; provisional staff with a fingerprint-only clearance must be supervised. DECAL has paid for fingerprinting since October 1, 2018. Letters can be ported to a new job through KOALA if under 12 months old, and everyone is rechecked at least every 5 years. Since July 1, 2026, your program also needs an approved NCPA/VCA certification statement before it can submit checks. (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 591-1-1-.09, 290-2-3-.21; DECAL Criminal Records Check page)
How many training hours do Georgia child care staff need each year?
10 clock hours every calendar year after the first year, with at least 2 hours on language and literacy and at least 2 on child development or health and safety, and no more than 2 on business topics. New staff also need an orientation before starting, health and safety orientation within 90 days, and pediatric CPR and first aid within 45 days. (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 591-1-1-.14, 591-1-1-.33, 290-2-3-.07)
Do Georgia daycares have to use sign-in and sign-out sheets?
Yes. The parent or authorized person records each drop-off and pick-up with the date, the child's name, the times and their signature or initials. It can be electronic, but DECAL must be able to get it in printed form. Centers keep these records for 12 months. (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 591-1-1-.08(6), 290-2-3-.08(9))
How do I dispute a citation from a DECAL visit?
Talk to the consultant first. If that doesn't settle it, file a refutation in DECAL KOALA within 10 business days of the visit; the regional manager decides within 10 business days. For a fine, restriction, suspension or revocation, you can send a written statement within 10 days and request a hearing in writing within 10 days of the notice (48 hours for an emergency closure). (DECAL Refutation Information page; Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 591-1-1-.38(4), 290-2-3-.15(4))
What changed in the Georgia child care rules in 2026?
Amendments effective September 22, 2026 lowered the school-age definition to children who are at least 4 by September 1 and eligible for public school, clarified the medical-emergency and 2-foot swimming wording, removed Social Security numbers from family home personnel files and created a licensing exemption for military-regulated family homes. Since July 1, 2026 programs must also have an approved NCPA/VCA certification statement to run background checks. (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 591-1-1-.02, 290-2-3-.22; DECAL NCPA/VCA instructions)
Sources
- DECAL, Child Care Services: Rules and Regulations (rule books, indicator manuals, checklists, proposed revisions) (accessed November 8, 2026)
- DECAL, Rules and Regulations for Child Care Learning Centers, Chapter 591-1-1 (October 1, 2026) (accessed November 8, 2026)
- DECAL, Rules and Regulations for Family Child Care Learning Homes, Chapter 290-2-3 (October 1, 2026) (accessed November 8, 2026)
- Georgia Secretary of State, Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia, Subject 591-1-1 (accessed November 8, 2026)
- Georgia Secretary of State, Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia, Subject 290-2-3 (accessed November 8, 2026)
- Georgia Secretary of State, Rules and Regulations, Subject 511-2-2 (DPH immunization of students and children in child care) (accessed November 8, 2026)
- DECAL, Notice of Public Hearing for Proposed Rulemaking (July 27, 2026, updated August 5, 2026) (accessed November 8, 2026)
- DECAL, Proposed Rule Changes, October 1, 2026: Child Care Learning Centers (accessed November 8, 2026)
- DECAL, Proposed Rule Changes, October 1, 2026: Family Child Care Learning Homes (accessed November 8, 2026)
- DECAL, Proposed Rule Changes, July 2025: Child Care Learning Centers (accessed November 8, 2026)
- DECAL, License Fee Information (accessed November 8, 2026)
- DECAL, Criminal Records Check (accessed November 8, 2026)
- DECAL, NCPA/VCA Certification Statement Instructions (effective July 1, 2026) (accessed November 8, 2026)
- DECAL, Training Requirements (accessed November 8, 2026)
- DECAL, Annual Regulatory Inspection Policy: Licensing Study and Monitoring Visits (accessed November 8, 2026)
- DECAL, Core Rules Information (accessed November 8, 2026)
- DECAL, Disagreeing with/Refuting Licensing Visit Citations (accessed November 8, 2026)
- DECAL, Enforcement Actions (accessed November 8, 2026)
- DECAL, About Child Care Services (accessed November 8, 2026)
- DECAL, Child Care Services Newsletter, Fall 2025 (Top 5 Most Often Cited Rules Chapters) (accessed November 8, 2026)
- DECAL, Child Care Services Newsletter, Spring 2026 (children left in vehicles, FY2025–FY2026) (accessed November 8, 2026)
- DECAL, Federal Reporting Data, FFY 2025 (serious injuries, deaths and substantiated abuse) (accessed November 8, 2026)
- Georgia General Assembly, HB 1123 (2026), as passed House and Senate (accessed November 8, 2026)
- Office of the Governor, Gov. Kemp Signs Bills Strengthening Literacy and K-12 Schools (May 5, 2026) (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: Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL), Child Care Services. How we handle your information: privacy policy.