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How the guarantee works →Georgia camp licensing requirements.
Who licenses day camps and overnight camps in Georgia, under which rules, and who is exempt. Last checked November 2, 2026.
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Day camps and overnight camps in Georgia
| Camp type | What the state asks | In short |
|---|---|---|
| Day camps | Depends on the program | Recreational, religious or instructional programs for children 5 and older during school breaks are exempt from Georgia child care licensing.Source: Rule 591-1-1-.46. Exemptions, Georgia Secretary of State, Georgia Administrative Code (Department of Early Care and Learning rules). Checked November 2, 2026. |
| Overnight camps | Depends on the program | Overnight summer camps that limit residency to three months or less are exempt from Department of Human Services child-caring institution licensing.Source: Rule 290-2-5-.05. Criminal History Background Checks, Licenses and Exemptions, Georgia Secretary of State, Georgia Administrative Code (Department of Human Services rules). Checked November 2, 2026. |
Who oversees camps in Georgia
| Agency | What it does |
|---|---|
| Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) | Licenses child care programs and runs the online self-assessment and exemption application that day camps complete.Source: Exemptions, Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning. Checked November 2, 2026. |
| Georgia Department of Human Services, Office of Inspector General, Residential Child Care Licensing (RCCL) | Licenses child-caring institutions and outdoor child-caring programs, the residential licenses that short-residency summer camps are exempt from.Source: Residential Child Care Licensing, Georgia Department of Human Services. Checked November 2, 2026. |
Exemptions
- Day camps for children 5 and older, run during summer and other school breaks for up to 12 hours a day, are exempt from licensure.Source: Rule 591-1-1-.46. Exemptions, Georgia Secretary of State, Georgia Administrative Code (Department of Early Care and Learning rules). Checked November 2, 2026.
- Recreation programs run by city or county parks and recreation departments and staffed by their employees are exempt as government programs.Source: Rule 591-1-1-.46. Exemptions, Georgia Secretary of State, Georgia Administrative Code (Department of Early Care and Learning rules). Checked November 2, 2026.
- School-age programs run by or with a national membership nonprofit youth organization, certified by its national association, are exempt.Source: Rule 591-1-1-.46. Exemptions, Georgia Secretary of State, Georgia Administrative Code (Department of Early Care and Learning rules). Checked November 2, 2026.
- Programs serving children four hours a day or less, such as short recreational classes or single-skill activities, are exempt as short-term care.Source: Rule 591-1-1-.46. Exemptions, Georgia Secretary of State, Georgia Administrative Code (Department of Early Care and Learning rules). Checked November 2, 2026.
- Summer camps that limit residency to three months or less are exempt from child-caring institution licensing.Source: Rule 290-2-5-.05. Criminal History Background Checks, Licenses and Exemptions, Georgia Secretary of State, Georgia Administrative Code (Department of Human Services rules). Checked November 2, 2026.
- The same short-residency summer camps are exempt from outdoor child-caring program licensing.Source: Subject 290-2-7. Rules and Regulations for Outdoor Child-Caring Programs, Georgia Secretary of State, Georgia Administrative Code (Department of Human Services rules). Checked November 2, 2026.
- The child-caring institution rules say anyone who believes they are exempt shall apply to the department for the exemption.Source: Rule 290-2-5-.05. Criminal History Background Checks, Licenses and Exemptions, Georgia Secretary of State, Georgia Administrative Code (Department of Human Services rules). Checked November 2, 2026.
Official rules
- Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. r. 591-1-1-.46
Exemptions (Rules for Child Care Learning Centers)Georgia Secretary of State, Georgia Administrative Code (Department of Early Care and Learning rules). Checked November 2, 2026. - Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. r. 290-2-5-.05
Criminal History Background Checks, Licenses and Exemptions (Child-Caring Institutions)Georgia Secretary of State, Georgia Administrative Code (Department of Human Services rules). Checked November 2, 2026. - Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. r. 290-2-7-.05
Criminal History Background Checks, Licenses and Exemptions (Outdoor Child-Caring Programs)Georgia Secretary of State, Georgia Administrative Code (Department of Human Services rules). Checked November 2, 2026.
Sources
Every source is an official government page.
- Rule 591-1-1-.46. ExemptionsGeorgia Secretary of State, Georgia Administrative Code (Department of Early Care and Learning rules). Checked November 2, 2026.
- Rule 290-2-5-.05. Criminal History Background Checks, Licenses and ExemptionsGeorgia Secretary of State, Georgia Administrative Code (Department of Human Services rules). Checked November 2, 2026.
- ExemptionsBright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning. Checked November 2, 2026.
- Residential Child Care LicensingGeorgia Department of Human Services. Checked November 2, 2026.
- Subject 290-2-7. Rules and Regulations for Outdoor Child-Caring ProgramsGeorgia Secretary of State, Georgia Administrative Code (Department of Human Services rules). 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.
- Delaware
Day camps: state permit. Overnight camps: state permit.
- Florida
Day camps: no state license. Overnight camps: state permit.
- 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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