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How the guarantee works →Delaware camp licensing requirements.
Who licenses day camps and overnight camps in Delaware, under which rules, and who is exempt. Last checked November 2, 2026.
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Day camps and overnight camps in Delaware
| Camp type | What the state asks | In short |
|---|---|---|
| Day camps | State permit | Day camps need a recreational camp permit from the Division of Public Health.Source: 4467 Sanitation of Recreational Camps (authenticated PDF), Delaware Division of Public Health; Office of the Registrar of Regulations. Checked November 2, 2026. |
| Overnight camps | State permit | Residential camps are youth camps under the public health camp rules and need the same Division of Public Health recreational camp permit.Source: 4467 Sanitation of Recreational Camps (authenticated PDF), Delaware Division of Public Health; Office of the Registrar of Regulations. Checked November 2, 2026. |
Who oversees camps in Delaware
| Agency | What it does |
|---|---|
| Delaware Division of Public Health, Health Systems Protection Section, Recreational Camp Program | Issues recreational camp permits and inspects day, residential and other youth camps.Source: Recreational Camps, Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, Division of Public Health. Checked November 2, 2026. |
| Delaware Department of Education, Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) | Issues license exemptions to permitted youth camps and licenses youth camps that accept Purchase of Care.Source: Regulations and Exemptions, Delaware Department of Education, Office of Child Care Licensing. Checked November 2, 2026. |
Staff-to-camper ratios in Delaware
One staff member to the number of campers shown, as the rule sets it.
| Applies to | Group | Ratio |
|---|---|---|
| Overnight camps | Residential camps | 1:10Source: 4467 Sanitation of Recreational Camps (authenticated PDF), Delaware Division of Public Health; Office of the Registrar of Regulations. Checked November 2, 2026. |
| Overnight camps | Primitive and travel camps | 1:10Source: 4467 Sanitation of Recreational Camps (authenticated PDF), Delaware Division of Public Health; Office of the Registrar of Regulations. Checked November 2, 2026. |
| Day camps | Day camps, campers under age 6 | 1:6Source: 4467 Sanitation of Recreational Camps (authenticated PDF), Delaware Division of Public Health; Office of the Registrar of Regulations. Checked November 2, 2026. |
| Day camps | Day camps, campers under age 8 | 1:9Source: 4467 Sanitation of Recreational Camps (authenticated PDF), Delaware Division of Public Health; Office of the Registrar of Regulations. Checked November 2, 2026. |
| Day camps | Day camps, campers 8 years and older | 1:10Source: 4467 Sanitation of Recreational Camps (authenticated PDF), Delaware Division of Public Health; Office of the Registrar of Regulations. Checked November 2, 2026. |
| Day and overnight camps | Swimming activities, lifesaving-certified staff to campers in the water | 1:30Source: 4467 Sanitation of Recreational Camps (authenticated PDF), Delaware Division of Public Health; Office of the Registrar of Regulations. Checked November 2, 2026. |
| Day and overnight camps | Watercraft activities, counselors on the water | 1:12Source: 4467 Sanitation of Recreational Camps (authenticated PDF), Delaware Division of Public Health; Office of the Registrar of Regulations. Checked November 2, 2026. |
Exemptions
- Youth camps serving only school-age children that hold a public health permit and take no Purchase of Care funds are exempt from OCCL licensing.Source: 933 DELACARE: Regulations for Early Care and Education and School-Age Centers (authenticated PDF), Delaware Department of Education; Office of the Registrar of Regulations. Checked November 2, 2026.
- Programs under State of Delaware ownership and control are exempt from OCCL center licensing.Source: 933 DELACARE: Regulations for Early Care and Education and School-Age Centers (authenticated PDF), Delaware Department of Education; Office of the Registrar of Regulations. Checked November 2, 2026.
- Summer religion classes run by religious institutions that last no more than four weeks are exempt from OCCL center licensing.Source: 933 DELACARE: Regulations for Early Care and Education and School-Age Centers (authenticated PDF), Delaware Department of Education; Office of the Registrar of Regulations. Checked November 2, 2026.
- Programs that only provide lessons or classes, such as tutoring, music, dance, sport or art, are exempt from OCCL center licensing.Source: 933 DELACARE: Regulations for Early Care and Education and School-Age Centers (authenticated PDF), Delaware Department of Education; Office of the Registrar of Regulations. Checked November 2, 2026.
- Free, drop-in activities for school-age children with no agreement to care for the child are exempt from OCCL center licensing.Source: 933 DELACARE: Regulations for Early Care and Education and School-Age Centers (authenticated PDF), Delaware Department of Education; Office of the Registrar of Regulations. Checked November 2, 2026.
- Day care centers licensed as child care are excluded from the public health rules' day camp definition.Source: 4467 Sanitation of Recreational Camps (authenticated PDF), Delaware Division of Public Health; Office of the Registrar of Regulations. Checked November 2, 2026.
- The public health day camp definition covers camps operating at least six days a year for six or more campers.Source: 4467 Sanitation of Recreational Camps (authenticated PDF), Delaware Division of Public Health; Office of the Registrar of Regulations. Checked November 2, 2026.
Official rules
- 16 DE Admin. Code 4467
Sanitation of Recreational CampsDelaware Division of Public Health; Office of the Registrar of Regulations. Checked November 2, 2026. - 14 Del. C. §§ 3002A, 3003A
The Delaware Child Care Act (youth camp definition, license exemption and youth camp license)Delaware General Assembly, Delaware Code Online. Checked November 2, 2026. - 14 DE Admin. Code 938
Regulations for Youth CampsDelaware Department of Education; Office of the Registrar of Regulations. Checked November 2, 2026. - 14 DE Admin. Code 933, section 4.3
DELACARE: Regulations for Early Care and Education and School-Age Centers (exemptions)Delaware Department of Education; Office of the Registrar of Regulations. Checked November 2, 2026.
Sources
Every source is an official government page.
- 4467 Sanitation of Recreational Camps (authenticated PDF)Delaware Division of Public Health; Office of the Registrar of Regulations. Checked November 2, 2026.
- Recreational CampsDelaware Department of Health and Social Services, Division of Public Health. Checked November 2, 2026.
- Title 14, Chapter 30A. The Delaware Child Care ActDelaware General Assembly, Delaware Code Online. Checked November 2, 2026.
- Regulations and ExemptionsDelaware Department of Education, Office of Child Care Licensing. Checked November 2, 2026.
- 938 Regulations for Youth Camps (authenticated PDF)Delaware Department of Education; Office of the Registrar of Regulations. Checked November 2, 2026.
- 933 DELACARE: Regulations for Early Care and Education and School-Age Centers (authenticated PDF)Delaware Department of Education; Office of the Registrar of Regulations. Checked November 2, 2026.
About this page
We read each source above on an official government site on November 2, 2026. Each fact links to the page it came from.
Rules change, and local rules can add to them. Confirm with the agency before you open or change a program.
This page is a summary of public rules. It is not legal advice, and Bloomily does not file license applications.
Camp licensing in other states
- Alabama
Day camps: state permit. Overnight camps: state permit.
- Arizona
Day camps: depends on the program. Overnight camps: state license.
- Arkansas
Day camps: depends on the program. Overnight camps: depends on the program.
- California
Day camps: depends on the program. Overnight camps: state camp rules.
- Colorado
Day camps: state license. Overnight camps: state license.
- Connecticut
Day camps: state license. Overnight camps: state license.
- Florida
Day camps: no state license. Overnight camps: state permit.
- Georgia
Day camps: depends on the program. Overnight camps: depends on the program.
- Idaho
Day camps: depends on the program. Overnight camps: depends on the program.
- Illinois
Day camps: state license. Overnight camps: state license.
- Indiana
Day camps: depends on the program. Overnight camps: state camp rules.
- Kentucky
Day camps: state permit. Overnight camps: state permit.
- Louisiana
Day camps: state permit. Overnight camps: state permit.
- Maine
Day camps: state license. Overnight camps: state license.
- Maryland
Day camps: state certificate. Overnight camps: state certificate.
- Massachusetts
Day camps: state license. Overnight camps: state license.
- Michigan
Day camps: state license. Overnight camps: state license.
- Mississippi
Day camps: depends on the program. Overnight camps: state license.
- Missouri
Day camps: depends on the program. Overnight camps: depends on the program.
- Montana
Day camps: depends on the program. Overnight camps: state license.
- Nebraska
Day camps: depends on the program. Overnight camps: no state license.
- Nevada
Day camps: depends on the program. Overnight camps: state license.
- New Hampshire
Day camps: state license. Overnight camps: state license.
- New Jersey
Day camps: state certificate. Overnight camps: state certificate.
- New York
Day camps: state permit. Overnight camps: state permit.
- North Dakota
Day camps: depends on the program. Overnight camps: depends on the program.
- Ohio
Day camps: state registration. Overnight camps: state permit.
- Oregon
Day camps: state license. Overnight camps: state license.
- South Carolina
Day camps: depends on the program. Overnight camps: depends on the program.
- South Dakota
Day camps: depends on the program. Overnight camps: depends on the program.
- Tennessee
Day camps: state permit. Overnight camps: state permit.
- Texas
Day camps: state license. Overnight camps: state license.
- Vermont
Day camps: depends on the program. Overnight camps: state license.
- Virginia
Day camps: depends on the program. Overnight camps: state permit.
- Washington
Day camps: depends on the program. Overnight camps: state registration.
- West Virginia
Day camps: depends on the program. Overnight camps: state permit.
- Wisconsin
Day camps: depends on the program. Overnight camps: state license.
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