Childcare licensing requirements, by state
Plain-English guides to what each state actually requires of a licensed center — the ratios and group sizes, training hours, inspection cadence, records retention, and background checks — with the rule and statute citations, so you can verify every number against the source.
We wrote these while building childcare software, reading each state's rules cover to cover. Every figure carries its citation; every guide flags what changed recently and what the stale write-ups get wrong — the agency that renamed itself, the rule number that moved, the retention period nobody actually states. Not legal advice. A map.
Pick your state to see what its guide covers.
California
the Title 22 ratios, training, and inspections that actually apply
Read the California guide →Florida
the 402.305 ratios, the Handbook trap, and what changed in 2025
Read the Florida guide →Georgia
the DECAL ratios, the 20% mixed-age rule, and two unannounced visits a year
Read the Georgia guide →Illinois
the Part 407 ratios, the new IDEC era, and the 5-year records rule
Read the Illinois guide →Massachusetts
the 1:3 infant rule, EEC certifications, and the parent's right to walk in
Read the Massachusetts guide →Michigan
the May 2025 rule rewrite, MiLEAP, and the new group-size caps
Read the Michigan guide →Minnesota
the 9503 ratios, training hours, and the new 142B chapter numbers
Read the Minnesota guide →New Jersey
the 3A:52 Manual, the decimal mixed-age rule, and the 3-year license
Read the New Jersey guide →New York
the 418-1 ratios, the NYC carve-out, and the 30-hour training clock
Read the New York guide →North Carolina
the star-rated license, the new Pathways rules, and the 75% rule
Read the North Carolina guide →Ohio
the DCY handoff, the 5180 renumbering, and the 6-hour training floor
Read the Ohio guide →Pennsylvania
the 3270 ratios, the 12-month certificate, and the annual unannounced visit
Read the Pennsylvania guide →Texas
ratios, training, inspections — the requirements in one place
Read the Texas guide →Virginia
the VDOE era, the flat two-year license, and twice-yearly inspections
Read the Virginia guide →Washington
the choice-based ratios, the 2030 deadline the WAC hasn't caught up to, and the nonexpiring license
Read the Washington guide →15 of the largest childcare markets, covering well over half of the country's licensed capacity. More as we write them.
Getting ready for a visit? The printable inspection checklist works in any state. Or read the rest of the blog.