State-by-State Childcare Licensing Requirements: Unlicensed Babysitting Limits and Regulations in the U.S.

This table should help guide you to the specific regulations and requirements for each state. Always check the official sources to ensure you have the most accurate and current information. Last Update 9/13/2024

StateChildren Limit Without a LicenseMax Hours/WeekCommentsOfficial Link
Alabama3 childrenPart-timeLicensing required if caring for more than 3 unrelated children.Alabama DHR
Alaska4 childrenPart-timeYou can care for up to 4 children, including your own, without a license.Alaska DHSS
Arizona4 childrenNo limit statedLicense required if providing care for compensation on a regular basis.Arizona DES
Arkansas5 childrenPart-timeLicense needed if caring for 6 or more unrelated children.Arkansas DHS
California1 family or 2 childrenNo limit statedAny care beyond a single family’s children typically requires a license.California DSS
Colorado4 childrenNo limit statedLicense required if caring for 5 or more unrelated children.Colorado Office of Early Childhood
Connecticut3 childrenNo limit statedAny care provided for more than 3 unrelated children requires a license.Connecticut Office of Early Childhood
Delaware1 family or 3 childrenPart-timeLicense needed if providing care for more than 1 family’s children.Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing
Florida1 family or 5 childrenNo limit statedLicense required if providing care for more than one family’s children.Florida DCF
Georgia2 childrenPart-timeYou can care for up to 2 children without a license; more than 2 requires a license.Georgia DECAL
Hawaii6 childrenPart-timeLicense needed if caring for 7 or more children.Hawaii DHS
Idaho6 childrenNo limit statedYou can care for up to 6 children without a license.Idaho Department of Health and Welfare
Illinois3 childrenNo limit statedLicense required if caring for more than 3 unrelated children.Illinois DCFS
Indiana5 childrenPart-timeLicense required if caring for 6 or more unrelated children.Indiana FSSA
Iowa5 childrenPart-timeLicense needed if caring for 6 or more unrelated children.Iowa DHS
Kansas2 childrenPart-timeLicense required if caring for more than 2 children.Kansas DCF
Kentucky4 childrenNo limit statedLicense needed if caring for more than 4 unrelated children.Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services
Louisiana6 childrenNo limit statedLicense required if caring for 7 or more unrelated children.Louisiana DCFS
Maine2 childrenNo limit statedLicense needed if caring for more than 2 unrelated children.Maine DHHS
Maryland8 childrenNo limit statedLicense required if caring for 9 or more unrelated children.Maryland Office of Child Care
Massachusetts3 childrenNo limit statedLicense needed if caring for more than 3 unrelated children.Massachusetts EEC
Michigan6 childrenNo limit statedLicense required if caring for 7 or more unrelated children.Michigan LARA
Minnesota1 family or 4 childrenNo limit statedLicense needed if providing care for more than 1 family or 4 children.Minnesota DHS
Mississippi5 childrenNo limit statedLicense required if caring for more than 5 unrelated children.Mississippi DHS
Missouri4 childrenNo limit statedLicense needed if caring for more than 4 unrelated children.Missouri DHSS
Montana2 families or 6 childrenNo limit statedLicense required if caring for more than 2 families’ children.Montana DPHHS
Nebraska3 childrenNo limit statedLicense needed if caring for more than 3 unrelated children.Nebraska DHHS
Nevada4 childrenNo limit statedLicense required if caring for more than 4 unrelated children.Nevada Child Care Licensing
New Hampshire3 childrenNo limit statedLicense needed if caring for more than 3 unrelated children.New Hampshire DHHS
New Jersey5 childrenNo limit statedLicense required if caring for 6 or more unrelated children.New Jersey DCF
New Mexico4 childrenNo limit statedLicense needed if caring for more than 4 unrelated children.New Mexico CYFD
New York2 childrenNo limit statedLicense required if caring for more than 2 unrelated children.New York OCFS
North Carolina2 childrenNo limit statedLicense needed if caring for more than 2 unrelated children.North Carolina DCDEE
North Dakota5 childrenNo limit statedLicense required if caring for 6 or more unrelated children.North Dakota DHS
Ohio6 childrenNo limit statedLicense needed if caring for more than 6 unrelated children.Ohio ODJFS
Oklahoma7 childrenNo limit statedLicense required if caring for more than 7 unrelated children.Oklahoma DHS
Oregon3 childrenNo limit statedLicense needed if caring for more than 3 unrelated children.Oregon Early Learning Division
Pennsylvania3 childrenNo limit statedLicense required if caring for more than 3 unrelated children.Pennsylvania DHS
Rhode Island8 childrenNo limit statedLicense needed if caring for more than 8 unrelated children.Rhode Island DHS
South Carolina6 childrenNo limit statedLicense required if caring for more than 6 unrelated children.South Carolina DSS
South Dakota12 childrenNo limit statedLicense needed if caring for more than 12 unrelated children.South Dakota DSS
Tennessee4 childrenNo limit statedLicense required if caring for more than 4 unrelated children.Tennessee DHS
Texas3 childrenNo limit statedLicense needed if caring for more than 3 unrelated children.Texas HHS
Utah4 childrenNo limit statedLicense required if caring for more than 4 unrelated children.Utah Child Care Licensing
Vermont2 childrenNo limit statedLicense needed if caring for more than 2 unrelated children.Vermont CDD
Virginia5 childrenNo limit statedLicense required if caring for more than 5 unrelated children.Virginia DSS
Washington4 childrenNo limit statedLicense needed if caring for more than 4 unrelated children.Washington DCYF
West Virginia3 childrenNo limit statedLicense required if caring for more than 3 unrelated children.West Virginia DHHR
Wisconsin3 childrenNo limit statedLicense needed if caring for more than 3 unrelated children.Wisconsin DCF
Wyoming2 childrenNo limit statedLicense required if caring for more than 2 unrelated children.Wyoming DFS
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