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How the guarantee works →West Virginia camp licensing requirements.
Who licenses day camps and overnight camps in West Virginia, under which rules, and who is exempt. Last checked November 2, 2026.
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Day camps and overnight camps in West Virginia
| Camp type | What the state asks | In short |
|---|---|---|
| Day camps | Depends on the program | Day camps are school-age programs under the state child care center licensing rules, so they need a license unless an exemption applies.Source: Title 78, Series 1, Child Care Centers Licensing, West Virginia Department of Human Services, Bureau for Family Assistance. Checked November 2, 2026. |
| Overnight camps | State permit | Organized camps, including those with living or sleeping quarters, need a permit to operate from the health officer under the General Sanitation rule.Source: 64CSR18, Title 64 Legislative Rule, Bureau for Public Health, Series 18, General Sanitation, Grafton-Taylor County Health Department (copy of the Bureau for Public Health rule). Checked November 2, 2026. |
Who oversees camps in West Virginia
| Agency | What it does |
|---|---|
| West Virginia Department of Human Services, Bureau for Family Assistance (child care licensing) | Licenses child care centers, including school-age programs such as day camps; the rules still name the former Department of Health and Human Resources.Source: 78 CSR 21, Out-of-School-Time Child Care Center Licensing Requirements, West Virginia Department of Human Services, Bureau for Family Assistance. Checked November 2, 2026. |
| West Virginia Bureau for Public Health | Enforces the General Sanitation rule, which covers organized camps and requires a permit to operate.Source: 64CSR18, Title 64 Legislative Rule, Bureau for Public Health, Series 18, General Sanitation, Grafton-Taylor County Health Department (copy of the Bureau for Public Health rule). Checked November 2, 2026. |
| Local health departments (example: Kanawha-Charleston Health Department) | Issue permits to operate and inspect facilities covered by the General Sanitation rule, including organized camps, in their area.Source: General Sanitation Rule, Kanawha-Charleston Health Department. Checked November 2, 2026. |
Staff-to-camper ratios in West Virginia
One staff member to the number of campers shown, as the rule sets it.
| Applies to | Group | Ratio |
|---|---|---|
| Day camps | Programs with school-age children only | 1:16Source: 78 CSR 21, Out-of-School-Time Child Care Center Licensing Requirements, West Virginia Department of Human Services, Bureau for Family Assistance. Checked November 2, 2026. |
| Day camps | Programs that operate with Pre-K children | 1:12Source: 78 CSR 21, Out-of-School-Time Child Care Center Licensing Requirements, West Virginia Department of Human Services, Bureau for Family Assistance. Checked November 2, 2026. |
| Day camps | Water activities such as swimming, canoeing and fishing, school-age groups | 1:8Source: 78 CSR 21, Out-of-School-Time Child Care Center Licensing Requirements, West Virginia Department of Human Services, Bureau for Family Assistance. Checked November 2, 2026. |
| Day camps | Water activities, any group with a Pre-K child | 1:4Source: 78 CSR 21, Out-of-School-Time Child Care Center Licensing Requirements, West Virginia Department of Human Services, Bureau for Family Assistance. Checked November 2, 2026. |
Exemptions
- Summer recreation camps with sessions of 30 days or less are exempt from W. Va. Code §49-2-113.Source: West Virginia Code | §49-2-113, West Virginia Legislature. Checked November 2, 2026.
- Summer recreation camp and day camp programs run by county parks and recreation commissions, boards or municipalities are exempt when they meet listed conditions.Source: West Virginia Code | §49-2-113, West Virginia Legislature. Checked November 2, 2026.
- Out-of-school-time programs affiliated and in good standing with a national congressionally chartered organization are listed as exempt.Source: West Virginia Code | §49-2-113, West Virginia Legislature. Checked November 2, 2026.
- Out-of-school-time programs funded by a West Virginia Department of Education grant and monitored by that department are exempt.Source: West Virginia Code | §49-2-113, West Virginia Legislature. Checked November 2, 2026.
- A child care center under the rules cares for 13 or more children and is open more than 30 days per year per child.Source: 78 CSR 21, Out-of-School-Time Child Care Center Licensing Requirements, West Virginia Department of Human Services, Bureau for Family Assistance. Checked November 2, 2026.
Official rules
- 78CSR1
Child Care Centers LicensingWest Virginia Department of Human Services, Bureau for Family Assistance. Checked November 2, 2026. - 78CSR21
Out-of-School-Time Child Care Center Licensing RequirementsWest Virginia Department of Human Services, Bureau for Family Assistance. Checked November 2, 2026. - 64CSR18
General SanitationGrafton-Taylor County Health Department (copy of the Bureau for Public Health rule). Checked November 2, 2026. - W. Va. Code §49-2-113
Residential child-care centers; licensure, certification, approval, and registration; requirements.West Virginia Legislature. Checked November 2, 2026.
Sources
Every source is an official government page.
- West Virginia Code | §49-2-113West Virginia Legislature. Checked November 2, 2026.
- 78 CSR 21, Out-of-School-Time Child Care Center Licensing RequirementsWest Virginia Department of Human Services, Bureau for Family Assistance. Checked November 2, 2026.
- Title 78, Series 1, Child Care Centers LicensingWest Virginia Department of Human Services, Bureau for Family Assistance. Checked November 2, 2026.
- 64CSR18, Title 64 Legislative Rule, Bureau for Public Health, Series 18, General SanitationGrafton-Taylor County Health Department (copy of the Bureau for Public Health rule). Checked November 2, 2026.
- General Sanitation RuleKanawha-Charleston Health Department. 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.
- 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.
- Wisconsin
Day camps: depends on the program. Overnight camps: state license.
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