How to start a home daycare in California.
California Department of Social Services oversees home daycares in California. These are the kinds it allows and the steps, each with the state's own page.
Steps checked on the state's own pages, November 3, 2026.
14,921
Large home daycares
207,820 spots
11,332
Licensed center programs
753,590 spots
42
Licensed spots per 100 children under 5
Centers and home daycares
2,052,185
Children under 5
The Census Bureau's estimate
The kinds of home daycare California allows
Small family child care home
Up to 6 children, or up to 8 if certain rules are met
The smaller home license. Going from 6 to 8 children has extra rules.
Source: License Application and Instructions for Family Child Care Homes (LIC 279A)Large family child care home
Up to 12 children, or up to 14 if certain rules are met
The larger home license. Going from 12 to 14 children has extra rules.
Source: License Application and Instructions for Family Child Care Homes (LIC 279A)
Starting a home daycare in California, step by step
Take the orientation
Attend a Family Child Care Home Orientation. One you finished in the last 12 months counts.
Source: License Application and Instructions for Family Child Care Homes (LIC 279A)Get health and safety training
Take 16 hours of training in child CPR, child first aid and preventive health.
Source: License Application and Instructions for Family Child Care Homes (LIC 279A)Fill in the application
Complete and sign LIC 279, the application for a Family Child Care Home license.
Source: Family Child Care Home License Application ProcessSend in your application
Mail or drop off your application packet at your local Child Care Regional Office.
Source: Family Child Care Home License Application ProcessFinish background checks
You, every adult living in the home and every caregiver must finish a background check first.
Source: Family Child Care Home License Application ProcessGet a fire clearance for a large home
A large family child care home must pass a local fire safety inspection.
Source: Family Child Care Home License Application ProcessPass the home inspection
A Licensing Program Analyst will call you to set up an inspection of your home.
Source: Family Child Care Home Licensing InformationGet your license
When the state approves your application, it mails you a signed license.
Source: Family Child Care Home License Application Process
At a glance
- Who oversees home daycares
- California Department of Social Services, Child Care Licensing Program. Licenses child care centers and family child care homes in California.Source: How to Become Licensed
- Minimum age
- 18 or olderSource: License Application and Instructions for Family Child Care Homes (LIC 279A)
- Application form
- LIC 279Source: Family Child Care Home License Application Process
- Required training
- 16 hours of child CPR, first aid and preventive healthSource: License Application and Instructions for Family Child Care Homes (LIC 279A)
- Experience for a large home
- One year as a small home provider, or as center staffSource: License Application and Instructions for Family Child Care Homes (LIC 279A)
Good to know
- Under state law, a family child care home counts as a residential use for local rules.Source: Family Child Care Home Providers: Remedies for Housing Discrimination
- A city or county may not charge a business license, fee or tax to run one.Source: Family Child Care Home Providers: Remedies for Housing Discrimination
- Some counties license family child care homes under a contract with the state.Source: License Application and Instructions for Family Child Care Homes (LIC 279A)
- If you rent, you must tell your landlord you plan to run a family child care home.Source: License Application and Instructions for Family Child Care Homes (LIC 279A)
Where California has the fewest licensed spots per child
Licensed spots per 100 children under 5, lowest first, among counties with 20 or more center programs.
- San Bernardino County 419 licensed center programs 25 spots per 100 children under 5
- Fresno County 307 licensed center programs 27 spots per 100 children under 5
- Madera County 49 licensed center programs 27 spots per 100 children under 5
- Riverside County 429 licensed center programs 28 spots per 100 children under 5
- Stanislaus County 137 licensed center programs 28 spots per 100 children under 5
- Kern County 189 licensed center programs 29 spots per 100 children under 5
Run a program in California? Bloomily handles enrollment, billing, check-in and family messages. See how it works
Plan your program
- How to start a daycare in California
Opening a child care center: the steps and the agency.
- California licensing guide
Ratios, trainings and the checklist the state asks for.
- Childcare in California, by the numbers
Programs, spots and new centers in every county.
- Daycare business plan
How to write a plan for funding and licensing.
- Tuition calculator
Typical rates by state and age group.
- Ratio calculator
Staff needed for each age group, by state.
Questions, answered
How do I start a home daycare in California?
The first step: Take the orientation. All 8 steps are on this page, each with the state's own link.
Who oversees home daycares in California?
California Department of Social Services, Child Care Licensing Program. Licenses child care centers and family child care homes in California.
How many children can a home daycare in California care for?
Small family child care home: Up to 6 children, or up to 8 if certain rules are met. Large family child care home: Up to 12 children, or up to 14 if certain rules are met.
How many licensed daycares are in California?
11,332 licensed center programs and 14,921 large home daycares, as of November 3, 2026.
About this page
Steps checked on the state's own pages, November 3, 2026.
Every license count here comes from the state's license file, read November 3, 2026. Children under 5 are the Census Bureau's estimates.
Home daycares are large family child care homes, for up to 14 children. Small homes are not in the state's file.
This page is a summary of the state's own pages. It is not legal advice, and rules change.
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