State Requirements

Child Care

CDSS' Community Care Licensing Division oversees the licensing of all child care facilities in California. These facilities provide non-medical care and supervision to children up to 18 years old for less than 24-hours a day.

There are two types of licensed child care facilities:

Family child care homes provide child care in the licensee's own home. A license is required for family child care homes that provide care for the children of more than one family in addition to the operator's own children.

A small family child care home may be licensed for a capacity of either 6 or 8 children. If licensed for 6, a provider may care for no more than 3 infants or 4 infants only (0 to 2 yrs). If licensed for 8, 2 children must be at least 6 years of age and no more than 2 may be infants. The licensee and assistant provider's children under age 10 are always counted in the capacity.

A large family child care home may be licensed for a capacity of either 12 or 14 children. If licensed for 12, no more than 4 may be infants (0 to 2 yrs). If licensed for 14, 2 children must be at least 6 years of age and no more than 3 may be infants. The licensee and assistant provider's children under age 10 are always counted in the capacity.

Child care centers provide child care outside the licensee's own home and are usually located in commercial buildings. Child care staff must have completed courses in Child Development or Early Childhood Education. There is no limit to how many children a center may accept, as long as staff-child ratios and other licensing requirements are met.

Age of Children	Child: Staff Ratio	Group Size
6 weeks	4 to 1	Not Regulated (NR)
9 months	4 to 1	12
18 months	6 to 1	12
27 months	6 to 1	NR
3 years	12 to 1	NR
4 years	12 to 1	NR
5 years	14 to 1	NR
6 years	14 to 1	NR
7 years	14 to 1	NR
8 and 9 years	14 to 1	NR
10 years and older	14 to 1	NR
Source: Center Child Care Licensing Regulations: Child:Staff Ratios and Maximum Group Size Requirements (August 2004), by Sarah LeMoine of the National Child Care Information Center (NCCIC). Compiled from licensing regulations posted on the National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care's Web site: http://nrc.uchsc.edu, August 5, 2004. Original methodology developed by Gwen Morgan.

All child care facilities must meet state health and safety standards. In addition, child care center staff and family child care licensees must be trained in Pediatric Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and first aid.

Contact Information

Child Care Licensing Agency Department of Social Services Community Care Licensing Division Child Care Program 744 P Street, Mail Stop 19-48 Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone: (916) 229-4500 Fax: (916) 229-4508 Web site: http://ccld.ca.gov/	Child Care Subsidy Agency California State Dept. of Education Child Development Division 1430 N Street - Suite 3410 Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone: (916) 322-6233 Fax: (916) 323-6853 Web site: http://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cd
Head Start - State Collaboration Office California Department of Education Child Development Division Head Start - State Collaboration Office 1430 N Street - Suite 3410 Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone: (916) 323-9727 Fax: (916) 323-6853 Web site: http://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cd/re/chssco.asp	Child Care Food Program Agency California Department of Education Attn.: State Director, Nutrition Services Division 1430 NStreet Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone: (916) 445-0850 Fax: (916) 445-4842 Web site: http://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/nu/cc/
State Child Care Resource & Referral Contact California Child Care Resource & Referral Network 111 New Montgomery St. - 7th Floor San Francisco, CA 94105 Phone: (415) 882-0234 Fax: (415) 882-6233 Web site: http://www.rrnetwork.org/	Office of Child Support Enforcement California Department of Child Support Services P.O. Box 419064 Rancho Cordova, CA 95741-9064 Phone: (916) 464-5000 Fax: (916) 464-5065 Web site: http://www.childsup.cahwnet.gov/
Child Abuse Reporting Hotline To report suspected child abuse in California, call any state licensing office, any law enforcement office or any child protective office in any of the county social/health/welfare offices. For national child abuse information, call the Childhelp USA National Child Abuse Hotline (staffed 24 hours daily with professional crisis counselors): 1-800-4-A-CHILD (800-422-4453) or 1-800-2-A-CHILD (T.D.D) (800-222-4453).