Childcare Ratios by State (2026)
Staff-to-child ratio requirements for licensed centers, and separately for family and in-home child care, across the 10 largest states by population. Every figure below was cross-checked against an official state source wherever one exists, plus at least one independent secondary source.
We're not licensing attorneys, and this page isn't a substitute for one.
Childcare Owl isn't a licensing authority in any state, and staffing decisions carry real legal weight. Treat every ratio on this page as a starting point for your own research, not a final answer — confirm current requirements against your state's official licensing documentation and with your assigned licensing representative before making a staffing decision. Regulations change: Ohio's family-home ratios increased as recently as November 2025, and Illinois' entire licensing agency changed on July 1, 2026. This page reflects our research as of August 2026.
One pattern holds across every state below: licensed centers and licensed family / in-home child care are never governed by the same ratio table. They're usually set in entirely separate chapters of a state's code, often with a different underlying model — a center uses an age-banded per-staff ratio, while a home is typically capped by total household capacity. A number that's correct for a center down the street doesn't automatically apply to an in-home provider next door, or the reverse.
California
California Department of Social Services (CDSS), Community Care Licensing Division
Licensed child care centers — 22 CCR (Title 22) §101416.5, §101216.3–.4, §101516.5
| Age band | Ratio | Group cap |
|---|---|---|
| Infants, licensed Infant Care Center | 1:4 | 12 |
| Toddlers, optional 18–30 month component | 1:6 | 12 |
| General / preschool, 2 yrs–school age (no aide) | 1:12 | — |
| General / preschool, with teacher + aide | 1:15 | — |
| School-Age Center, teacher alone | 1:14 | — |
| School-Age Center, teacher + aide | 1:28 | — |
State-subsidized centers must additionally meet the separate, stricter Title 5 standard: 1:3 infants, 1:4 toddlers, 1:8 preschool, 1:14 school-age. A lot of secondary sources quote Title 5 or Title 22 numbers as if there were only one standard — there are two, and which one applies depends on whether the program is state-subsidized.
Center sources: CDSS official Child Care Center regulations manual (official); ACF National Database, CA center regulations mirror
Family / in-home child care — 22 CCR (Title 22) Chapter 3, §102416.5; Health & Safety Code §§1597.44, 1597.465
Family Child Care Homes run on a flat household-capacity model instead of an age-banded ratio. A Small Family Child Care Home (one licensee, no assistant) tops out at 4 infants alone, or 6 total children with no more than 3 infants. A Large Family Child Care Home (licensee plus one assistant) tops out at 12 total (no more than 4 infants), extendable to 14 under specific statutory conditions.
Family/in-home sources: CDSS official Family Child Care Homes manual (official); Title 5 / Title 22 comparison chart, 4Cs of Santa Clara County
Texas
Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), Child Care Regulation
Licensed child care centers — 26 TAC Chapter 746, §746.1601 & §746.1609
| Age band | Ratio | Group cap |
|---|---|---|
| 0–11 months | 1:4 | 10 |
| 12–17 months | 1:5 | 13 |
| 18–23 months | 1:9 | 18 |
| 2 years | 1:11 | 22 |
| 3 years | 1:15 | 30 |
| 4 years | 1:18 | 35 |
| 5 years | 1:22 | 35 |
| 6–13 years | 1:26 | 35 |
A separate, more flexible set of ratios applies to centers licensed for 12 or fewer children, and ratios relax to 1:16 for children 18 months and up during the 45 minutes before opening and after closing.
Center sources: HHSC official Chapter 746 Minimum Standards (rev. Dec 2025) (official); CentreCareOS Texas ratio reference
Family / in-home child care — 26 TAC Chapter 747, §747.1701 (Registered) & §747.1801 (Licensed)
Child-care homes run on a household cap, not an age-banded table: 12 children per home regardless of age mix, with no more than 4 infants (birth–17 months) at a time. A Registered Child-Care Home stays capped at 12 no matter how many caregivers are present. A Licensed Child-Care Home can flex upward with 3 or more caregivers present, up to 12 children of any age from birth through 13.
Family/in-home sources: HHSC official Chapter 747 Minimum Standards (rev. Dec 2025) (official); ACF National Database, Chapter 747 mirror
Florida
Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF)
Licensed child care centers — Florida Statutes §402.305(4)(a)
| Age band | Ratio | Group cap |
|---|---|---|
| Birth–1 year | 1:4 | — |
| 1–2 years | 1:6 | — |
| 2–3 years | 1:11 | — |
| 3–4 years | 1:15 | — |
| 4–5 years | 1:20 | — |
| 5 years and older | 1:25 | — |
No maximum group-size cap is set in statute. Mixed-age groups follow the oldest applicable band except two special rules: if any child under 1 is present, one staff member covers no more than 4 children of any age; if the youngest is 1-but-under-2, no more than 6 of any age.
Center sources: Florida Statutes §402.305, flsenate.gov (official); Florida DCF, Child Care Laws and Requirements (official)
Family / in-home child care — Florida Statutes §402.302(8) & (11)
Family Day Care Homes (one caregiver) cap out at 4 infants alone, or 6 total with no more than 3 infants, or 10 total under a mixed-age formula. Large Family Child Care Homes (two required staff, one the owner-occupant, after 2 years running a Family Day Care Home) cap out at 8 children under 24 months, or 12 total with no more than 4 under 24 months.
Family/in-home sources: Florida Statutes §402.302, flsenate.gov (official); Brightwheel, Florida Large Family Child Care Home requirements
New York
New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS)
Licensed child care centers — 18 NYCRR Part 418-1, §418-1.8
| Age band | Ratio | Group cap |
|---|---|---|
| Under 6 weeks | 1:3 | 6 |
| 6 weeks–18 months | 1:4 | 8 |
| 18–36 months | 1:5 | 12 |
| 3 years | 1:7 | 18 |
| 4 years | 1:8 | 21 |
| 5 years | 1:9 | 24 |
| School-age through 9 years | 1:10 | 20 |
| School-age 10–12 years | 1:15 | 30 |
Center sources: Cornell Law LII, 18 NYCRR 418-1.8 (verbatim NYCRR text); OCFS official Part 418-1 regulation (official)
Family / in-home child care — 18 NYCRR Part 417 (Family Day Care) & Part 416 (Group Family Day Care)
Family Day Care and Group Family Day Care homes use a capacity model, not this age-banded table — and notably require 1 caregiver per 2 children under age 2, stricter than a center's infant ratio. Family Day Care caps at 6 children (8 with school-agers), single caregiver only. Group Family Day Care runs 7–12 children once an assistant is added, plus up to 4 more school-agers.
Family/in-home sources: OCFS official Part 417 (Family Day Care) regulation (official); Cornell Law LII, 18 NYCRR 417.8
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS), Office of Child Development and Early Learning
Licensed child care centers — 55 Pa. Code Chapter 3270, §3270.51
| Age band | Ratio | Group cap |
|---|---|---|
| Infant, birth–1 year | 1:4 | 8 |
| Young toddler, 1–2 years | 1:5 | 10 |
| Older toddler, 2–3 years | 1:6 | 12 |
| Preschool | 1:10 | 20 |
| Young school-age (K–4th) | 1:12 | 24 |
| Older school-age | 1:15 | 30 |
Mixed-age groups follow the youngest child's ratio and group size. Relaxed nap-time ratios also apply.
Center sources: Pennsylvania Code & Bulletin, official §3270.51 (official); Justia, PA Code Chapter 3270 mirror
Family / in-home child care — 55 Pa. Code Chapter 3290 (Family Child Care Homes) & Chapter 3280 (Group Child Care Homes)
Family Child Care Homes cap at 4–6 total children unrelated to the operator, with a combined infant/toddler sub-cap of 5 (no more than 2 infants). Group Child Care Homes sit in between — 7–12 children — under a scaled version of the center ratio table, a distinct middle tier worth not conflating with either end.
Family/in-home sources: Pennsylvania Code & Bulletin, official §3290.52 (official); Pennsylvania Code & Bulletin, official Chapter 3290 table of contents (official)
Illinois
Illinois Department of Early Childhood (IDEC)
Licensing authority transferred from DCFS to the newly created IDEC on July 1, 2026; DCFS retains background-check responsibility only, through July 1, 2027.
Licensed child care centers — 89 Ill. Admin. Code 407.190
| Age band | Ratio | Group cap |
|---|---|---|
| Infants, 6 weeks–14 months | 1:4 | 12 |
| Toddlers, 15–23 months | 1:5 | 15 |
| 2 years | 1:8 | 16 |
| 3 years | 1:10 | 20 |
| 4 years | 1:10 | 20 |
| 5 years (preschool) | 1:20 | 20 |
| School-age (kindergartners present) | 1:20 | 30 |
The youngest child in a mixed-age group governs the ratio and group size.
Center sources: Illinois JCAR, official Title 89 Part 407 (official); Cornell Law LII, 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.190
Family / in-home child care — 89 Ill. Admin. Code 406.13 (Day Care Home) & 408 (Group Day Care Home)
Day Care Homes cap a solo caregiver at 8 children under age 12 total, with sub-limits on how many can be under 5 or under 24–30 months; adding an assistant allows more school-agers or more under-5s. Group Day Care Homes allow up to 12 children under 12 with an adult assistant. Both count the caregiver's own children toward capacity — a meaningfully different math than a center classroom.
Family/in-home sources: Illinois JCAR, official Title 89 Part 406 (official); Cornell Law LII, 89 Ill. Adm. Code 406.13
Ohio
Ohio Department of Children and Youth (DCY)
DCY took over child care licensing from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) in 2023 — many older sources still cite ODJFS and the prior rule prefix 5101:2-xx.
Licensed child care centers — Ohio Administrative Code 5180:2-12-18, Appendix A
| Age band | Ratio | Group cap |
|---|---|---|
| Young infants, birth–<12 months | 1:5 | 12 |
| Older infants, 12–<18 months | 1:6 | 12 |
| Young toddlers, 18 months–<2½ years | 1:7 | 14 |
| Older toddlers, 2½–<3 years | 1:8 | 16 |
| Young preschoolers, 3–<4 years | 1:12 | 24 |
| Older preschoolers, 4 years | 1:14 | 28 |
| Young school-age | 1:18 | 36 |
| Older school-age, 11–<15 years | 1:20 | 40 |
Center sources: Ohio Administrative Code, official rule 5180:2-12-18 (official); Seedlist, Ohio daycare ratios
Family / in-home child care — OAC 5180:2-13-01 & 5180:2-13-18 (Type A & Type B Family Child Care)
Type A homes (8–14 children) and Type B homes (1–7 children) both run on a flat 1:7 ratio with a sub-limit of no more than 3 children under age 2 before an additional staff member is required. These ratios increased from a prior 1:6 as recently as November 2, 2025 — a good example of why this page needs periodic re-verification, not a one-time check.
Family/in-home sources: Ohio DCY official Memo 25-069 (Nov. 2025 ratio increase) (official); Hamilton County JFS, Type A/B home overview
Georgia
Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL)
Licensed child care centers — Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 591-1-1-.32
| Age band | Ratio | Group cap |
|---|---|---|
| Infants, under 1 year (or under 18 months, not yet walking) | 1:6 | 12 |
| 1-year-olds, walking | 1:8 | 16 |
| 2-year-olds | 1:10 | 20 |
| 3-year-olds | 1:15 | 30 |
| 4-year-olds | 1:18 | 36 |
| 5-year-olds | 1:20 | 40 |
| 6 years and older | 1:25 | 50 |
Group-size caps don't apply to centers with licensed capacity of 18 or fewer, or to outdoor play and other special activities under 2 hours — the ratio itself still applies.
Center sources: DECAL official Child Care Learning Center rules (official); Seedlist, Georgia daycare ratios
Family / in-home child care — Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 290-2-3-.07 (Family Child Care Learning Homes)
Family Child Care Learning Homes cap a solo provider at 6 unrelated children (extendable to 8 for limited daily periods with DECAL approval), and require an additional staff member once more than 3 children under 12 months, 6 under age 3, or 8 under age 5 are present. Note: some secondary sites cite the center rule chapter (591-1-1) for this home-based tier — the correct governing chapter is 290-2-3.
Family/in-home sources: DECAL official Family Child Care Learning Home rules (official); Brightwheel, Georgia small family child care home overview
North Carolina
NC Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE)
Licensed child care centers — 10A NCAC 09 .0713
| Age band | Ratio | Group cap |
|---|---|---|
| 0–12 months | 1:5 | 10 |
| 12–24 months | 1:6 | 12 |
| 2–3 years | 1:10 | 20 |
| 3–4 years | 1:15 | 25 |
| 4–5 years | 1:20 | 25 |
| 5 years and older | 1:25 | 25 |
The youngest child in a combined-age group governs. An optional, stricter "Enhanced Ratio" tier exists under the Star Rated License system — that's a voluntary quality tier, not the legal minimum shown here.
Center sources: NC DCDEE official staff-child ratio chart (official); Cornell Law LII, 10A NCAC 09.0713
Family / in-home child care — N.C.G.S. §110-91(7)(b) & §110-86(3)(b)
Family child care homes are governed directly by state statute rather than the center rule — a single on-site operator capacity model with three allowed age-mix options, topping out at 8 to 10 children total depending on how many are infants versus school-age. Arrangements caring for 2 or fewer children are exempt from licensure entirely.
Family/in-home sources: NC General Assembly, official statute text (official); NC DCDEE, official explainer of the family child care ratio statute (official)
Michigan
Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Child Care Licensing Bureau
Licensed child care centers — Mich. Admin. Code R 400.8222
| Age band | Ratio | Group cap |
|---|---|---|
| Infants and toddlers, birth–30 months | 1:4 | 12 |
| Preschoolers, 30 months–3 years | 1:8 | 16 |
| Preschoolers, 3–4 years | 1:10 | — |
| Preschoolers, 4 years–school age | 1:12 | — |
| School-agers | 1:18 | — |
No group-size cap applies to the three oldest bands (the rule states this explicitly) — treat any chart claiming otherwise as inaccurate. At least 2 adults must be present whenever 3 or more children under 3, or 7 or more children over 3, are in care.
Center sources: Public Health Law Center, mirror of official Michigan center rules; Cornell Law LII, Mich. Admin. Code R 400.8222
Family / in-home child care — Mich. Admin. Code R 400.1910
Family Child Care Homes (1–6 unrelated children) and Group Child Care Homes (7–12 unrelated children) both run on a flat 1:6 ratio, with no more than 4 of those 6 under 30 months and no more than 2 under 18 months per staff member. A licensee's own related children under 6 also count toward the ratio.
Family/in-home sources: Cornell Law LII, Mich. Admin. Code R 400.1910; Michigan.gov / LARA, family & group child care home licensing category (official)
Checking ratios by hand doesn't scale
Every state above requires someone to actually verify a room is in ratio, room by room, on a real schedule — not just know the number. Childcare Owl's Rounds feature logs a building walkthrough as one submission — student count and staff count per room — checked automatically against whichever standard is configured for that room. Each room's per-staff ratio and group-size standard are set individually, so a multi-state operator can run California numbers in a California room and Texas numbers in a Texas room, instead of picking one number and hoping it's close enough everywhere. A room that falls out of ratio shows up on the dashboard the moment it's logged, not on the next walkthrough if at all.
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