In-home daycare requirements in California: the complete guide

Last updated 2026-07-09

What state agency licenses in-home daycare in California?

The California Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing Division (CCLD) licenses every family child care home in the state. ^[1] One authority, no exceptions. Any provider who cares for children from more than one other family for pay, in their own home, must hold an active CCLD license before a single child walks through the door.

This applies whether you run a tiny setup or a full 14-child large family home. The requirement comes from California Health and Safety Code Section 1596.78. ^[2] No city license replaces the state license, though some counties bolt on their own fire and zoning steps.

New York does this differently. Its Office of Children and Family Services runs a registration system for in-home daycare requirements in NY, while California runs a full licensing model, which means more documentation and more enforcement behind it.

CCLD works through Regional Offices. California has them in Sacramento, Oakland, San Jose, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and San Diego, plus others. Find the office covering your county before you start, because processing timelines swing hard from region to region.

What are the two types of California family child care home licenses?

California sorts in-home daycare into two license tiers, set by how many children you serve. ^[1] One tier caps at 8. The other caps at 14.

License Type	Children Allowed	Notes
Small Family Child Care Home (SFCCH)	Up to 8 total (including provider's own children under 10)	No additional staff required at most ratios
Large Family Child Care Home (LFCCH)	Up to 14 total (including provider's own children under 10)	Requires at least one additional adult caregiver on site

A Small Family Child Care Home may serve up to 6 children as a base, plus up to 2 school-age children, for a maximum of 8. A Large Family Child Care Home may serve up to 12 as a base, plus up to 2 school-age children, for a maximum of 14. ^[1]

Here's the part that trips people up. Your own children under age 10 count toward the total. Kids 10 and older don't. A provider with two or three young kids of her own can't just take on 6 paying children; those young kids eat into the cap.

Moving from a small to a large license isn't automatic. You apply for a separate Large Family Child Care Home license, meet the staffing requirement, and pass a fresh inspection.

What are California's child-to-staff ratios for family child care homes?

A Small Family Child Care Home lets one provider supervise all children with no required second adult, as long as total enrollment stays at 8 or below. ^[1] CCLD still recommends a helper, and your own judgment about infant loads should carry weight here.

A Large Family Child Care Home needs at least one additional adult caregiver present whenever children are in care. ^[1] That second adult clears a background check too.

Infants create real ratio pressure even where the law draws no hard staffing line. California Health and Safety Code Section 1596.878 caps infants directly: no more than 4 infants at any one time in a large family home, and no more than 3 in a small family home unless there are no other children present. ^[2]

Comparing to in-home daycare requirements in NY: New York holds registered family day care homes (1 to 6 children) to no more than 2 children under age 2. California's infant limits run a bit higher, but the staffing strain feels the same when three babies need bottles at once.

For how these ratios play out across age groups and settings, see daycare cost and ratio comparisons.

What background checks does California require for in-home daycare?

Every adult who lives in the home must clear a background check, not only the licensee. ^[1] That covers spouses, partners, adult children, and any other resident 18 or older. Where they sleep is what matters, not whether they touch the daycare.

California runs a two-part check:

1. A California Live Scan fingerprint check through the California Department of Justice (DOJ). 2. A Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) fingerprint check.

Both are required. ^[1] CCLD won't issue a license until clearances come back clean for everyone in the household. The Live Scan rolling fee runs roughly $32 to $49, plus a DOJ processing fee and an FBI fee on top. Fees change, so check the current California DOJ fee schedule before you budget. ^[3]

New employees and additional caregivers at a large home also finish Live Scan before their first day with children. There's no provisional period that lets someone work while results are pending.

A conviction doesn't automatically end things. CCLD weighs the nature of the offense, how long ago it happened, and evidence of rehabilitation. Convictions involving child abuse, sexual offenses, or violent felonies are generally disqualifying absent a formal exemption.

What training and certifications do California in-home daycare providers need?

Before CCLD issues your license, you complete three things:

• Pediatric First Aid and CPR certification, covering both infants and children, from an in-person or blended course that meets California standards. ^[1]
• A Health and Safety training course, minimum 15 hours, covering preventive health, injury prevention, and nutrition.
• A Preventive Health Practices course, which some providers finish as part of the Health and Safety block depending on the course vendor.

Once licensed, California's ongoing training requirement through the California Child Development Training Consortium is 16 hours of professional development every two years. ^[4] The state also publishes the California Early Childhood Educator Competencies, a recommended knowledge framework that isn't a mandatory credential for family child care providers.

CPR cards usually expire every 2 years. Put renewal dates on a calendar, because CCLD can ask for proof of current certification during an inspection, and an expired card is a citable deficiency.

Your additional caregiver at a large home carries the same First Aid and CPR requirement. That obligation isn't the licensee's alone.

Pets are common in family child care homes, and supervision protocols matter for both child safety and liability, which is why understanding home daycare insurance coverage before you open is money well spent.

What does a California family child care home inspection cover?

CCLD inspects before it issues your license. After that, licensed homes get at least one unannounced visit per year, and homes with complaints or prior deficiencies see more. ^[1]

The checklist covers:

• Indoor and outdoor space minimums (35 sq ft per child indoors, 75 sq ft per child outdoors, per California Code of Regulations Title 22). ^[5]
• Safe sleep setup for infants (separate sleep surfaces, no soft bedding, no co-sleeping).
• Locked, labeled storage for medications and hazardous materials.
• Working smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors on every level.
• A fire extinguisher in the kitchen.
• Secure fencing around outdoor play areas.
• Clean drinking water access.
• Handwashing facilities children can reach.
• A current First Aid kit.
• A posted emergency evacuation plan.

Inspectors cite deficiencies as Type A (an immediate health and safety threat that can trigger suspension) or Type B (less immediate, with a correction timeline). Repeat Type B violations get upgraded.

One thing providers miss: the space requirement measures against your licensed capacity, not your average headcount. Licensed for 8 but usually have 6 present? CCLD still measures against 8. Size your yard and rooms for the license you hold, not the day you're having.

A documented cleaning schedule helps you clear inspections faster. Our guide on daycare cleaning covers what inspectors look for in sanitation records.

How do you actually apply for a California family child care home license?

The application runs through CCLD's online portal (the California Child Care Portal, or CCCP) and usually takes 60 to 120 days from submission to license, depending on your regional office's workload and how fast your background checks clear. ^[1]

The sequence:

1. Create a CCCP account and submit a Family Child Care Home application. 2. Pay the application fee (see the fee table in the next section). 3. Submit proof of Live Scan completion for all household adults. 4. Gather your documents: proof of residence, photo ID, proof of age (18 minimum), First Aid and CPR certificates, Health and Safety training certificate. 5. CCLD reviews the file and schedules your initial home inspection. 6. Pass the inspection and get your license.

You can't legally care for unrelated children for pay while your application is pending. That's not a gray area. Operating without a license is a misdemeanor under California Health and Safety Code Section 1596.85. ^[2]

Some counties want a separate zoning clearance or business license before you operate. Los Angeles County, for one, may require a home occupation permit depending on your zoning. Call your local planning department while the CCLD process runs, not after.

How much does it cost to get a California family child care home license?

CCLD charges an annual license fee based on type and capacity. As of the 2024 to 2025 fee schedule: ^[1]

License Type	Annual Fee
Small Family Child Care Home (1-8 children)	$75 per year
Large Family Child Care Home (9-14 children)	$100 per year

The license fee is cheap. Everything around it is where the money goes:

• Live Scan fingerprinting: roughly $79 to $98 per adult household member (DOJ plus FBI fees plus the rolling fee).
• Pediatric First Aid and CPR course: $50 to $100 per person.
• Health and Safety training: often free through local Resource and Referral agencies, or $50 to $150 through private vendors.
• Home modifications (fencing, cabinet locks, outlet covers, fire extinguisher): $200 to $1,500 or more, depending on your home's starting condition.
• Liability insurance: $400 to $1,200 per year for a basic home daycare policy. See daycare liability insurance for what coverage amounts actually make sense.

Realistic total startup cost for a California family child care home lands between $1,000 and $3,500 before your first child enrolls. Nobody has clean population-wide data on this; those ranges come from provider forums and Resource and Referral agency estimates, so treat them as a working budget, not gospel.

Once you're open, a big share of revenue can come through California's subsidized system (CalWORKs Stage 1, 2, and 3, plus the California Alternative Payment Program). A contract with a local Alternative Payment agency requires a valid CCLD license, so the licensing spend pays back fast at subsidized rates.

For a wider look at how childcare costs break down for families and providers, daycare cost covers national and California-specific data.

How much is daycare in California, and what can a licensed home provider charge?

California is one of the most expensive states for childcare, year after year. Child Care Aware of America's 2023 report puts the average annual cost of center-based infant care in California near $19,700 and family child care home infant rates around $14,000 per year. ^[6]

That's roughly $1,167 a month for family child care infant care on average, and the Bay Area and Los Angeles run well past it. A Bay Area family child care home charging $2,200 to $2,800 per month for an infant isn't unusual in 2025.

You set your own rates. No state cap exists for private-pay families. Your real floor is your cost: food, supplies, insurance, training, your time. Experienced providers tend to agree that rates below $800 to $1,000 per month per child rarely cover actual costs once insurance, food, and supplies come out.

For subsidized families, the California Department of Education sets Regional Market Rate (RMR) ceilings that cap what an Alternative Payment agency reimburses. ^[7] RMR rates update periodically and vary by region and age group. Pull the current RMR schedule from the California Department of Education's Early Education Division before setting rates if you plan to take subsidized children.

Child Care Aware of America reports that "In 2022, infant care in a family child care home cost an average of 9.5% of median family income" nationally, which puts it among the largest single expenses a working family carries. ^[6]

For part-time or drop-in models some home providers use to fill spots, part time daycare breaks down how that pricing works.

What health and safety rules apply inside a California family child care home?

California Code of Regulations Title 22, Division 12, Chapters 1 and 2 hold the detailed health and safety rules for family child care homes. ^[5] The operational ones that matter most:

Safe sleep: Infants under 12 months sleep on their back on a firm, flat surface in an approved crib, bassinet, or play yard. No soft bedding, no bumpers, no adult furniture. This tracks the American Academy of Pediatrics safe sleep guidance. ^[8]

Medication: You give prescription or over-the-counter medication only with written parental authorization. Store it locked and out of reach.

Illness exclusion: Title 22 lists conditions that require sending a child home (fever above 101 degrees Fahrenheit, contagious illness like strep or pink eye, active vomiting or diarrhea). A written illness policy handed to parents at enrollment protects you when a parent pushes back.

Food and nutrition: If you serve meals, the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) reimburses qualifying meals that meet USDA standards. ^[9] You apply through a sponsoring organization. Most new providers skip this in year one, and that's a mistake, because CACFP often adds $500 to $800 a month for a full home.

Water safety: Any pool, hot tub, or pond on the property needs a four-sided fence with a self-latching gate. Missing that is a Type A deficiency.

Pets: Dogs and other animals stay separated from children during care or meet specific documentation rules. If you keep a dog, expect your CCLD inspector to ask about vaccination records and supervision.

Do you need insurance to run a family child care home in California?

California doesn't legally require liability insurance for CCLD licensure. Running without it is still reckless. Your homeowner's or renter's policy almost certainly excludes business activity, so a child injured in your care could reach your personal assets with nothing standing in the way. ^[10]

Most seasoned providers carry two things:

1. Commercial general liability insurance for the business, typically $500,000 to $1,000,000 per occurrence. 2. A rider or endorsement on the homeowner's policy, or a separate property policy for business property.

Here's the practical catch. Some subsidy programs and Alternative Payment agencies in California require proof of liability insurance in their provider contracts even though CCLD doesn't. So if you want subsidized funding, you'll carry insurance regardless of what the license technically demands.

Annual premiums for a family child care home policy in California generally run $400 to $1,200, driven by capacity and carrier. The range is wide partly because some carriers have left the California market; shop through specialty brokers who focus on child care. home daycare insurance covers how to compare policies and which exclusions to watch.

For the specific policy structures that work for licensed home providers, daycare liability insurance goes deeper on coverage gaps.

What federal programs affect California in-home daycare providers?

Two federal programs shape the money side of running a family child care home in California.

The first is the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF), run federally by the Office of Child Care and delivered in California through CalWORKs and the Alternative Payment Program. ^[11] CCDF money reaches families as subsidy vouchers. To take those vouchers, you must be CCLD licensed and hold a contract with a local Alternative Payment agency. Because it's a federal-state partnership, California's subsidy rates track how the state sets its Regional Market Rates against CCDF rules.

The second is the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), a USDA program that reimburses licensed family child care providers for nutritious meals and snacks. ^[9] California administers CACFP through the California Department of Education. Providers in low-income areas or serving low-income children may qualify for Tier I rates, which pay more. USDA reports that CACFP served roughly 4.4 million children on an average day in fiscal year 2022.

If you're trying to hold licensing, subsidy contracts, CACFP claims, and annual renewals in one system, the ChildCareComp compliance toolkit runs that workflow, from CCLD requirements through CACFP claims, in one place.

On taxes, licensed family child care providers use IRS Form 2441 for the Child and Dependent Care Credit and may claim the business use of home deduction under IRS Publication 587. ^[12] Tom Copeland's family child care tax guides (published through Redleaf Press) are the standard reference here, though they aren't government sources.

What happens if you operate an in-home daycare in California without a license?

Running a family child care home without a valid CCLD license is a misdemeanor under California Health and Safety Code Section 1596.85. ^[2] That means fines and possible prosecution. CCLD can issue a cease and desist order and, if you ignore it, hand the matter to the county district attorney.

CCLD investigates complaints from neighbors, parents, and mandated reporters. Anonymous tips are common and enough to trigger a visit. Watching a neighbor's child regularly for money, even informally, while other unrelated children are in your care? You're operating without a license.

The informal "neighbor's kid" arrangement is where the line actually sits. California law exempts care for children from only one family (beyond your own), so a genuine single-family arrangement needs no license. Add children from a second family and you cross into licensing territory.

Denial or revocation also blocks you from working in any licensed child care setting in California. The CCLD database is public. Revocations are searchable, and they follow you.

Keeping the license current means renewing annually, holding valid training certificates, and telling CCLD about any change to household composition (new residents, new employees) within 10 days. A missed renewal doesn't lapse quietly. It generates a compliance action.

How does California compare to other states for in-home daycare requirements?

California's requirements sit among the more demanding in the country, especially the background check reach (every household adult) and the annual inspection. ^[13]

Comparing to in-home daycare requirements in NY: New York registers family day care homes (1 to 6 children) and licenses group family day care homes (7 to 12 children), both through the Office of Children and Family Services. New York checks providers and household members 18 and older, close to California, but its space and training-hour rules differ. Registered New York providers need 15 training hours in the first year and 30 hours every two years after.

A few broad comparisons:

Requirement	California	New York
Annual license/registration fee	$75-$100	Varies by county, often $0-$50
Background check scope	All adults in home	Provider + adults in home
Infant limit (small home)	3 infants	2 children under 2
Unannounced inspections	At least 1/year	At least 1/year
Ongoing training	16 hrs/2 years	30 hrs/2 years

Neither state runs a soft program. California enforces inspection frequency and square footage hard. In a tight urban home, the 35 sq ft per child indoor rule is the constraint that quietly caps a provider at 6 children even when the license says 8.

For a full way to track all of this, including renewals, inspection prep, and subsidy contract compliance, the ChildCareComp compliance toolkit pulls these requirements into a single checklist workflow.

Frequently asked questions

How many children can I watch in my home in California without a license?

You can care for children from one other family (plus your own) without a license. The moment you accept children from two or more unrelated families for pay, you need a California CCLD license. There's no size threshold that exempts multiple-family care. One child from each of two different families already triggers the requirement under California Health and Safety Code Section 1596.78.

How long does it take to get a California family child care home license?

Plan for 60 to 120 days from application to license, though some regional CCLD offices run longer. Background check clearances are usually the slowest step. If a household adult has a record that needs a formal exemption review, add several more months. Submit your Live Scan fingerprints early, before your application is even fully assembled, to avoid a stall at the end.

Do I need a separate business license to run a home daycare in California?

Many California cities and counties require a local business license or home occupation permit on top of your CCLD license. Requirements vary by municipality. Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Jose all have local business registration rules. Check with your city's business licensing office and your county's planning department before you open. Some residential zoning classifications restrict commercial activity, which can affect whether you can operate at all.

Does my spouse or partner need a background check for my California home daycare?

Yes. Every adult who lives in the home must pass a California DOJ and FBI fingerprint check before CCLD issues your license. That includes spouses, domestic partners, adult children, and any other resident 18 or older. It doesn't matter whether they ever interact with the children. Living in the home triggers the requirement. New adult residents who move in after licensure must clear a background check within 10 days.

Can I run a home daycare in a rental property in California?

Yes, with conditions. California law (Health and Safety Code Section 1597.40) bars landlords from unreasonably denying a tenant the right to run a licensed family child care home in a single-family rental. For apartments, a landlord may restrict or prohibit a large family child care home but cannot ban a small home of 6 or fewer children. Get your landlord's position in writing before you apply.

How much is daycare in California per month?

Family child care home rates in California average roughly $1,167 per month for infant care statewide, per Child Care Aware of America's 2023 data. In the Bay Area and Los Angeles, infant rates commonly run $1,800 to $2,800 per month. Toddler and preschool rates typically run 10 to 20 percent below infant rates. Part-time slots usually price at 60 to 75 percent of full-time, not 50 percent, because fixed costs don't shrink proportionally.

What is the CACFP and how does it help California home daycare providers?

The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) is a USDA program that reimburses licensed family child care providers for nutritious meals and snacks. In California, you access it through a sponsoring organization contracted with the California Department of Education. Providers in Tier I (lower-income areas or serving low-income children) get higher rates. Many providers earn $500 to $800 per month through CACFP, making it one of the most overlooked income sources for new home providers.

What first aid and CPR certification does California require for home daycare?

California requires current Pediatric First Aid and Pediatric CPR certification before CCLD issues a license. The course must cover both infants and children. CPR cards typically expire every two years. At least one adult with current certification must be present whenever children are in care. For large homes, the additional caregiver must also hold current certification. Online-only CPR courses don't meet the requirement; you need a hands-on skills component.

Can I accept subsidized children (CalWORKs vouchers) as a licensed home daycare?

Yes, once you hold an active CCLD license. To take subsidy vouchers, you also need a contract with a local Alternative Payment (AP) agency in your county. The AP agency pays on behalf of the state. Reimbursement follows California's Regional Market Rate (RMR) schedule and varies by county and child age. Check the current RMR schedule through the California Department of Education before setting rates, since RMR caps what the AP agency will pay.

What are the outdoor space requirements for a California home daycare?

California Title 22 requires 75 square feet of outdoor play space per child based on licensed capacity. The space must be on or adjacent to the premises, fenced, and free of hazards. Any body of water (pool, hot tub, ornamental pond) must be enclosed by a four-sided fence with a self-latching, child-proof gate. This is one of the most common deficiencies cited at initial inspections, especially in urban homes with small yards.

Do I need to tell CCLD if someone moves into or out of my home while I'm licensed?

Yes. California regulations require you to notify CCLD within 10 days of any change in household composition, meaning any adult who moves in or out. New adult residents must complete Live Scan background checks before children are in care while that person is present. Failing to report a household change is a citable deficiency and can trigger a license action if an uninspected resident turns up during an inspection.

Is California homeowner's insurance enough to cover a home daycare?

No. Standard homeowner's and renter's policies exclude business activity. A child injured in your care wouldn't be covered under a typical homeowner's policy, and the insurer may deny any claim tied to your daycare. You need a separate commercial liability policy or a business activity endorsement on your homeowner's policy. Some California insurers add a limited endorsement; others require a standalone policy. Shop through brokers who specialize in child care coverage.

What records do I need to keep as a licensed California home daycare provider?

California Title 22 requires you to keep: a current enrollment record for each child with emergency contacts and physician info, daily attendance records, medication authorization forms, immunization records checked against the California immunization schedule, First Aid and CPR certification copies for all caregivers, and your current license posted where it's visible. CCLD can ask for any of these during an unannounced visit. Keep records at least three years after a child's enrollment ends.

Can I care for children with special needs or disabilities in my California home daycare?

Yes. A CCLD license doesn't stop you from enrolling children with disabilities or special needs. The Americans with Disabilities Act applies to child care providers, including family child care homes serving the public, so you generally must make reasonable modifications to accommodate a child with a disability. Contact the California Department of Developmental Services or your local Regional Center if a family asks about inclusion support; Regional Centers can sometimes fund extra resources for the child in your setting.

Sources

1. California Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing Division, Family Child Care Home licensing page: CCLD licenses Small Family Child Care Homes (up to 8 children) and Large Family Child Care Homes (up to 14 children); all household adults require background checks; annual fees are $75 (small) and $100 (large)
2. California Legislative Information, Health and Safety Code Sections 1596.70–1596.895: Operating a family child care home without a license is a misdemeanor (Section 1596.85); licensing requirement established in Section 1596.78; infant limits established in Section 1596.878
3. California Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General, fingerprinting and Live Scan fee schedule: DOJ processing fee for child care background checks and Live Scan rolling fees applicable to CCLD applicants
4. California Child Development Training Consortium, professional development requirements for family child care providers: Licensed family child care providers in California are required to complete 16 hours of professional development every two years
5. California Department of Social Services, Title 22 California Code of Regulations, Division 12, Family Child Care Home regulations: 35 sq ft per child indoors and 75 sq ft per child outdoors required; detailed health and safety operational requirements for family child care homes
6. Child Care Aware of America, 'Demanding Change: Repairing Our Child Care System' 2023 report: Average annual cost of family child care home infant care in California approximately $14,000; nationally, infant care in a family child care home cost an average of 9.5% of median family income in 2022
7. California Department of Education, Early Education Division, Regional Market Rate surveys: California sets Regional Market Rate (RMR) ceilings that determine maximum reimbursement paid by Alternative Payment agencies for subsidized child care slots
8. American Academy of Pediatrics, Safe Sleep policy statement: Infants should sleep on their back on a firm, flat surface; no soft bedding, bumpers, or sleeping on adult furniture; aligns with California Title 22 infant safe sleep requirements
9. USDA Food and Nutrition Service, Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP): CACFP served approximately 4.4 million children on an average day in fiscal year 2022; licensed family child care providers can receive reimbursement for qualifying meals through sponsoring organizations
10. California Legislative Information, Health and Safety Code Section 1597.40 (tenant rights for family child care): Landlords may not unreasonably deny tenants the right to operate a licensed family child care home in a single-family rental; restrictions on large family homes in multi-family housing permitted
11. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Child Care, Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) overview: CCDF funds flow to families through subsidy vouchers administered in California through CalWORKs and the Alternative Payment Program; providers must be licensed to accept CCDF-funded vouchers
12. IRS Publication 587, Business Use of Your Home: Licensed family child care providers may qualify for the business use of home deduction; Form 2441 used for Child and Dependent Care Credit