In-home daycare requirements in Tennessee: the complete guide

Last updated 2026-07-09

Who actually needs a license to run an in-home daycare in Tennessee?

Tennessee splits home-based care into two tiers. Which one applies to you depends almost entirely on how many unrelated children you watch at one time.

If you care for one to four children who are not related to you, you need to register as a Family Child Care Home, not obtain a full license. Registration is lighter paperwork, but it still involves a background check, a home inspection, and compliance with health and safety rules set by the Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS). ^[1]

Add a fifth unrelated child and you cross into licensed territory. A licensed Family Child Care Home can serve five to seven children at one time, including any of your own children who are under age six and present in the home. ^[1] TDHS issues the license and it renews annually.

Children related to you by blood, marriage, or adoption do not count toward either threshold. So if you care for a niece, a nephew, and three unrelated kids, you have three unrelated children for licensing purposes and registration is probably all you need. Get the exact definition of "related" from TDHS Rule 1240-04-01 before you assume, because the agency reads it strictly.

One more edge case. If you operate in a home that is not your primary residence, different rules may apply, so call TDHS at (615) 313-4700 to clarify before you spend a dollar on renovations.

What are the child-to-staff ratios for in-home daycare in Tennessee?

A licensed Family Child Care Home in Tennessee caps total group size at seven children, and that count includes your own kids under age six. Within that cap, TDHS sets age-weighted ratios because infants and toddlers need closer supervision than school-age kids. ^[1]

The table below shows the ratios as written in the state rules. These are maximums, not targets.

Age group	Max children per provider
Infants (under 18 months)	No more than 2 infants in the home at one time
Toddlers (18 months to 3 years)	Included in overall 7-child cap
Mixed ages (under 6 yrs)	Never more than 2 infants regardless of total group
School-age only (6+)	Up to 7, but check if a second adult is on-site

The two-infant limit surprises most providers. You can have a full group of seven, but only two of them can be under 18 months. If your plan is to specialize in babies, look at licensed group care centers, where staffing ratios allow more infants at the cost of much higher overhead.

A second adult caregiver is required when you have more than two children under age two at any time, or any time you hit the seven-child maximum with children under six present. That second adult passes a background check too. ^[1]

Alabama sets its in-home ratio at one provider to six children for a basic family home, with a hard cap of six. ^[2] Tennessee's cap of seven is a touch more generous for older kids. The infant rule is stricter.

What background checks does Tennessee require for home daycare providers?

Every adult who lives in the home and every person with unsupervised access to children must pass a background check before care begins. This is not optional. TDHS will not issue a registration or license until results clear. ^[1]

Tennessee requires two separate checks. First, a Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) fingerprint-based criminal history check. ^[8] Second, a check of the Tennessee child abuse and neglect registry, administered through the Department of Children's Services (DCS). ^[3]

Federal FBI fingerprinting is also required for new applicants. The Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2014 required states to run FBI checks on all licensed providers receiving CCDF funds, and Tennessee phased these in for family homes. ^[4]

Disqualifying offenses under Tennessee law include any felony involving violence, any crime against a child, any sexual offense, and certain drug offenses within the past five years. The full list is in T.C.A. 71-3-507. ^[3] Some misdemeanors disqualify too, so do not assume a minor record is automatically fine.

Fingerprinting runs roughly $40 to $60 per person, though the fee shifts with whichever processing vendor TDHS uses when you apply. Check the current fee schedule directly with Tennessee Applicant Processing Services (TAPS) before you budget.

How do home inspections work, and what do inspectors check for?

Before TDHS issues a license or registration, an inspector visits your home. They look at physical safety, not whether your curriculum is great. Walk in knowing what they measure and nothing catches you off guard. ^[1]

Outdoor space must be enclosed with a fence at least four feet tall, with no gaps a child could squeeze through. Any pool, pond, or water feature on the property requires its own locked barrier. ^[1]

Indoors, inspectors check sleeping arrangements (separate cribs for infants, no soft bedding), toilet and handwashing access, kitchen safety (locked cabinet for cleaning chemicals), smoke detectors on every level, working carbon monoxide detectors, a fire extinguisher, and a posted emergency exit plan. ^[1]

Pets must be confined away from children during care hours. That includes friendly dogs. Inspectors have cited providers for unsecured dogs even when nothing happened. If you run a home daycare alongside pets, review Tennessee's animal safety rules in TDHS guidance and keep records showing the animals were secured. (On the topic of pets and care settings, doggy daycare is a separate business category with its own licensing path in most states.)

After you open, TDHS runs unannounced annual inspections and responds to complaints. Inspection reports are public record in Tennessee. Parents can and do look them up. A clean operation is both a legal requirement and a real marketing asset.

Sanitation is an ongoing compliance item, not a one-time pass. A steady cleaning schedule protects children and helps you look good on surprise visits. Our piece on daycare cleaning walks through what that routine should actually look like.

What training and education does Tennessee require for home daycare providers?

Tennessee requires 18 clock hours of pre-service training before a new licensed Family Child Care Home can open. ^[1] No degree is needed, but the topics are specific: child development, health and safety, nutrition, child abuse recognition and reporting, and CPR/first aid.

CPR and first aid certification has to be current (usually a two-year renewal cycle) and cover infant and pediatric techniques. An adult-only CPR card does not count.

After your first year, the ongoing requirement is at least three clock hours of continuing education per year. That number is low enough that most providers clear it just by attending local TDHS training events, which are often free.

Child Care Aware of America's 2023 report noted that pre-service training requirements for family home providers vary widely by state, with a national median near 16 hours. Tennessee's 18-hour requirement sits slightly above that. ^[5]

Plan to accept children through the Tennessee Child Care Certificate Program (the state's subsidy voucher program) and you face extra requirements: enrollment in the TDHS system called TNPAL (Tennessee Professional Archive for Learning) and documentation of any completed coursework. Subsidy-funded slots are a major revenue source for home providers, so do this paperwork early.

Some providers ask whether a full Child Development Associate (CDA) credential satisfies pre-service requirements. It does, and then some. The CDA's 120 clock hours far exceed the 18-hour minimum, and TDHS recognizes it. If you are serious about this as a long-term business, the CDA is worth the money.

How much does it cost to get a Tennessee home daycare license?

The state application fee for a Family Child Care Home license in Tennessee is currently $25 per year. ^[1] That is genuinely low compared to most states. The fee is nowhere near your real cost, though.

Here is a realistic startup breakdown for a Tennessee family home daycare:

Item	Typical cost range
TBI/FBI fingerprinting (per adult household member)	$40 to $60 each
CPR/first aid certification	$50 to $100 per person
Pre-service training (if not free through TDHS)	$0 to $200
Smoke and CO detector upgrades	$50 to $200
Fencing (if not already installed)	$1,000 to $5,000+
Liability insurance (annual)	$300 to $800/year
State license fee	$25/year

Tennessee does not legally require liability insurance to get a license, but operating without it is a serious financial gamble. Home daycare insurance and daycare liability insurance are separate but related products, and you likely need both.

Total startup for a provider who already has fencing and a safe home usually runs $500 to $1,200. Need to install a fence and that number jumps.

Child Care Aware of America's 2023 cost report put the average weekly price for family home care in Tennessee at $139 per child. ^[5] Seven children enrolled full time is roughly $51,000 a year in gross revenue before any subsidies, which puts a $25 fee in perspective.

What health and nutrition rules apply to Tennessee in-home daycare?

Tennessee requires that meals and snacks served to children in licensed care meet USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) nutrition standards. ^[10] You do not have to participate in CACFP, but if you do (and you should, because it reimburses food costs), your menus must match CACFP meal patterns.

CACFP for family daycare homes runs through a sponsoring organization in Tennessee. The sponsor handles paperwork and audits for a small administrative fee. The 2024 reimbursement rates for Tier I providers (lower-income area or lower-income provider household) are $1.48 for breakfast, $2.79 for lunch, and $0.83 for a snack per child per meal. ^[6] Across a full group of seven children over a year, that adds up to several thousand dollars in food funding.

Medication administration requires a signed parental authorization form for every medication, including over-the-counter products like Tylenol. Store medications in a locked container away from food and cleaning supplies.

If a child has a diagnosed allergy or a medical dietary need, get a written care plan signed by the child's health care provider. Keep it on file and review it at enrollment and whenever the plan changes.

Hand hygiene rules are specific. Providers and children wash with soap and water (not hand sanitizer alone) after diapering, before food prep, and after outdoor play. Inspectors have cited providers for hand sanitizer stations standing in for real handwashing.

How do you actually apply for a Tennessee home daycare license or registration?

Start at the TDHS website (tn.gov/humanservices) and go to the Child Care Licensing section. The application packet includes the written application form, a household member listing for background checks, references, and a self-assessment checklist you complete before the inspection. ^[7]

Here is the sequence most providers follow:

1. Download and complete the application packet from TDHS. 2. Submit the application and the $25 fee by mail or in person to your regional TDHS office. 3. Schedule fingerprinting through TAPS for yourself and all adult household members. 4. Complete your 18 hours of pre-service training and get CPR/first aid certified. 5. Pass the pre-licensing home inspection (TDHS schedules this after your application is accepted). 6. Receive your license or registration in the mail. Post it where parents can see it.

TDHS does not publish a hard processing guarantee. Providers in public forums report waits of four to ten weeks from submission to license, depending on how fast background check results return and how busy the regional office is. Plan around that. Do not set an opening date until the physical license is in your hand.

TDHS has regional offices across the state. In Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville, or Chattanooga, call your regional office directly, because processing volume differs a lot by region.

Want to track your compliance tasks in one place while you go through this? The ChildCareComp compliance toolkit organizes Tennessee-specific requirements by step so nothing slips.

What records do licensed Tennessee home daycare providers have to keep?

Recordkeeping is one of the most overlooked compliance areas for home providers. TDHS inspectors ask for records during annual visits, and missing files draw citations even when the physical environment is perfect. ^[1]

Required records include:

• A completed enrollment form for each child with emergency contacts, authorized pickup persons, and physician contact.
• Immunization records for each child, checked against Tennessee's immunization schedule.
• Daily attendance records showing arrival and departure times (this one matters for subsidy billing).
• Medication authorization forms for any child receiving medication in care.
• Incident and injury reports, filed within 24 hours of any injury requiring medical attention.
• Your own training records, CPR card, and any staff training certificates.
• Fire drill logs. Tennessee requires documented monthly fire drills.

Keep records for at least two years after a child leaves your care. Injury reports should stay longer if there is any chance of a future claim.

Digital recordkeeping is fine, but back up your files. A hard drive failure that wipes attendance records is your problem, not TDHS's.

What happens if you operate without a license in Tennessee?

Running an unlicensed family home that meets the licensing threshold is a Class A misdemeanor under T.C.A. 71-3-512, punishable by up to 11 months 29 days in jail and fines up to $2,500. ^[3] That is not a fine a few parents chip in to cover. It is a criminal charge.

Beyond the criminal risk, unlicensed providers cannot accept children through Tennessee's subsidy certificate program, so you forfeit a big share of potential revenue. Many working families in Tennessee depend on subsidized care, and being ineligible for those payments narrows your market hard.

TDHS investigates complaints about unlicensed care. Neighbors, parents, and competitors have all reported suspected operations. An investigation includes an unannounced home visit.

If your application is still in process and the license has not arrived, you cannot legally care for five or more unrelated children. Plenty of providers start with four children on registration and expand once the full license shows up. That is the sensible path.

How does Tennessee's star rating system affect home daycare providers?

Tennessee's quality rating system is the Star-Quality Child Care Program, run through TDHS. ^[9] Participation affects both your subsidy payment rates and your visibility to parents.

All licensed providers who accept CCDF subsidy funds must participate in the star rating system. Ratings run from one star (meets basic licensing standards) to three stars (exceeds standards with higher training and curriculum requirements). Higher star ratings earn higher reimbursement rates from the state's certificate program, which is a real financial incentive.

A three-star rating requires the primary caregiver to hold at least a Child Development Associate credential and to document use of an approved curriculum approach. It also requires more training hours each year. The gap between a one-star and three-star reimbursement rate matters for a provider serving children on subsidy.

Even if you never take subsidy children, parents searching Tennessee's child care locator on the TDHS website see your star rating. It is a proxy for quality that many parents filter by. Earning the CDA credential and hitting three-star requirements is one of the better returns on your professional development time.

How do Tennessee's rules compare to nearby states like Alabama?

Home daycare providers sometimes ask how neighboring states stack up, whether they are considering a move or just curious whether Tennessee's requirements are typical. Here is an honest comparison.

Alabama (under the Alabama Department of Human Resources) sets the licensing threshold at six unrelated children rather than Tennessee's five, and caps a licensed family home at six children versus Tennessee's seven. ^[2] Alabama also requires a minimum of 24 hours of pre-service training against Tennessee's 18, so Alabama's education bar is higher.

Both states require criminal background checks and home safety inspections. Both participate in CCDF and require licensed providers taking subsidies to engage with a quality rating system. ^[9]

On compliance affordability, Tennessee's $25 annual fee is one of the lowest in the Southeast. Alabama's base fee is similarly low. Neither state throws up a real financial wall through fees alone.

What trips up new providers in both states is not the fee. It is the time from application to license, the cost of physical modifications to the home, and the ongoing grind of recordkeeping and training. Budget for all three before you give parents a start date.

For a broader look at how home daycare costs compare across care types and regions, the daycare cost guide covers national and state-level pricing data.

Frequently asked questions

How many kids can I watch at home in Tennessee without a license?

You can care for up to four unrelated children without a full license, but you still register with the Tennessee Department of Human Services. Registration requires a background check and home inspection. Only children related to you by blood, marriage, or adoption are exempt from the count. Add a fifth unrelated child and you need a formal license.

How long does it take to get a home daycare license in Tennessee?

Most providers report four to ten weeks from application submission to receiving their license. The main variable is how fast background check results return through TBI and FBI fingerprinting. TDHS does not publish a guaranteed processing time. Do not announce an opening date until the physical license is in your hands.

Does Tennessee require a home daycare provider to have a college degree?

No degree is required to open a Family Child Care Home in Tennessee. The minimum is 18 clock hours of pre-service training covering specified topics, plus current CPR and first aid certification. A Child Development Associate (CDA) credential satisfies and exceeds the minimum, and it helps if you want to reach a three-star quality rating.

Can I care for infants in my Tennessee home daycare?

Yes, but the state limits you to no more than two infants under 18 months at any one time in a licensed family home, regardless of total group size. To specialize in infant care beyond two babies, you would need a licensed child care center rather than a family home. The infant limit is strictly enforced during TDHS inspections.

What insurance does a Tennessee home daycare provider need?

Tennessee does not legally require liability insurance to obtain a license, but operating without it puts your personal assets at serious risk. Most home providers carry a home daycare liability policy and a commercial general liability rider. Typical annual costs run $300 to $800. Homeowner's insurance usually excludes business-related claims, so a separate policy is not optional in any practical sense.

Do I have to feed children in my Tennessee home daycare?

You must provide or arrange for age-appropriate meals and snacks if children are in your care during meal times. Meals must meet USDA CACFP nutrition standards. You are not required to enroll in CACFP, but participation reimburses your food costs and is worth the paperwork. Sponsoring organizations in Tennessee handle CACFP enrollment for family home providers.

What disqualifies someone from running a home daycare in Tennessee?

Any adult household member with a felony conviction involving violence, a crime against a child, a sexual offense, or certain drug offenses within the past five years is disqualified. The full list is in T.C.A. 71-3-507. A substantiated child abuse or neglect finding on the DCS registry is also disqualifying. TDHS checks both criminal and abuse registry records.

Can I accept Tennessee childcare subsidy vouchers as a home daycare provider?

Yes, licensed Family Child Care Homes can accept children through Tennessee's Child Care Certificate Program, the state's CCDF-funded subsidy system. To do it, you must be licensed (more than registered), enrolled in the TDHS star-rating system, and in good standing with TDHS. Higher star ratings earn higher reimbursement rates per child.

What are the fire safety requirements for Tennessee home daycare?

Tennessee requires working smoke detectors on every level, at least one working fire extinguisher, a posted emergency evacuation plan, and a documented monthly fire drill. All fire drill records stay on file for inspectors. Carbon monoxide detectors are also required. Inspectors verify these items on every annual unannounced inspection.

How often does TDHS inspect a licensed home daycare in Tennessee?

TDHS conducts at least one unannounced annual inspection of every licensed Family Child Care Home. Complaint-based inspections can happen at any time and are also unannounced. Inspection reports become public record. Providers who receive citations must submit a corrective action plan within the time frame TDHS specifies, usually 30 days for non-immediate-risk items.

What happens to my license if I move to a new home in Tennessee?

Your license is tied to your current address. If you move, you must apply for a new license for the new location before caring for children there. That means a new home inspection and a new application. Your background checks stay valid as long as no new disqualifying information exists. Contact your regional TDHS office as soon as you know your moving date.

Is a part-time home daycare in Tennessee still subject to licensing?

Yes. The licensing threshold is based on the number of unrelated children in your care at one time, not the hours you operate. Watch five or more unrelated children even for a few hours a week and you need a license. Part-time operation creates no exemption under Tennessee's rules.

Do Tennessee home daycare rules apply if I babysit for neighbors?

Casual babysitting for one or two families occasionally is generally outside the regulatory scope. But if you care for four or more unrelated children regularly for compensation, TDHS treats that as a family home operation and registration or licensing requirements apply. 'Regularly' is not defined by a strict hour count, so when in doubt, call TDHS for a written determination.

Sources

1. Tennessee Department of Human Services, Child Care Licensing (Rule Chapter 1240-04-01): Tennessee licensing thresholds, ratios, seven-child cap, two-infant limit, pre-service training hours, inspection standards, and recordkeeping requirements for Family Child Care Homes
2. Alabama Department of Human Resources, Child Care Licensing Rules: Alabama licenses family homes with 6 unrelated children maximum and requires 24 hours pre-service training
3. Tennessee Code, T.C.A. Title 71 Chapter 3 (child care licensing offenses and disqualifying convictions, T.C.A. 71-3-507 and 71-3-512): Disqualifying offenses, child abuse registry check, and Class A misdemeanor penalty for unlicensed operation under Tennessee law
4. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2014 (CCDBG Act): Federal law requiring states to implement FBI fingerprint-based background checks for all licensed child care providers receiving CCDF funds
5. Child Care Aware of America, The US and the High Cost of Child Care: 2023 Report: Average weekly price for family home care in Tennessee was $139 per child; national median pre-service training requirement for family home providers is approximately 16 hours
6. USDA Food and Nutrition Service, Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) Family Day Care Homes: CACFP 2024 reimbursement rates for Tier I family day care homes
7. Tennessee Department of Human Services, Child Care Provider Application and Licensing Process: TDHS application packet contents and licensing application steps for Family Child Care Homes
8. Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Fingerprint Services: TBI fingerprint-based criminal history check required for all home daycare applicants and adult household members
9. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Child Care, CCDF State Plans: CCDF policy requirements for background checks and quality rating system participation by licensed family home providers, including Tennessee's Star-Quality program
10. USDA Food and Nutrition Service, CACFP Meal Pattern Requirements: CACFP meal pattern standards that Tennessee licensed family home providers must follow when serving meals reimbursed through the program