How to start a home daycare in Massachusetts.
Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) oversees home daycares in Massachusetts. 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.
5,841
Home daycares
47,286 spots
3,013
Licensed center programs
205,378 spots
59
Licensed spots per 100 children under 5
Centers and home daycares
347,527
Children under 5
The Census Bureau's estimate
The kinds of home daycare Massachusetts allows
Family child care home
Up to 6 children
Children living in your home who take part count toward the 6.
Source: General Law - Part I, Title II, Chapter 15D, Section 1A (Definitions)Large family child care home
More than 6 children, with at least 1 approved assistant
It suits a provider who works with at least 1 approved assistant.
Source: General Law - Part I, Title II, Chapter 15D, Section 1A (Definitions)
Starting a home daycare in Massachusetts, step by step
Check that you meet the requirements
Before you start your application, check that you meet the basic requirements.
Source: Become a Family Child Care ProviderComplete your trainings
Finish about 16 hours of online and in-person training before you apply.
Source: Become a Family Child Care ProviderSubmit your license application
You complete most application steps in LEAD, EEC's Licensing Education Analytic Database.
Source: Become a Family Child Care ProviderComplete the background record check
You and the household members or visitors you list must pass a background record check.
Source: Become a Family Child Care ProviderPrepare your home
Before the licensing visit, set up your home exactly as it will be on your first day.
Source: Become a Family Child Care ProviderComplete your pre-licensing home visit
A licensor visits your home to check that it meets family child care safety rules.
Source: Become a Family Child Care Provider
At a glance
- Who oversees home daycares
- Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC). Licenses family child care providers, who care for a small group of children in a private home.Source: Become a Family Child Care Provider
- Who can apply
- 18 or older, with experience such as 1 year as a parentSource: 1. Check if you meet FCC licensing requirements
- Most children allowed
- Up to 10 children under 14, with an approved assistantSource: Learn about Family Child Care
- Space per child
- At least 35 square feet inside and 75 square feet outsideSource: 1. Check if you meet FCC licensing requirements
- Background checks
- Everyone 15 or older who lives in or often visits your homeSource: 1. Check if you meet FCC licensing requirements
Good to know
- Cities and towns may not ban or regulate family child care homes in their zoning rules.Source: General Law - Part I, Title VII, Chapter 40A, Section 3
- If you rent, you need your landlord's permission. A homeowner or condo association may need to approve too.Source: 1. Check if you meet FCC licensing requirements
- One exception allows up to 8 children with no assistant. At least 2 of them must be school age.Source: Learn about Family Child Care
- A licensed provider who wants more children, up to 10, applies for a capacity increase.Source: Family Child Care license capacity increase upgrade
Where Massachusetts has the fewest licensed spots per child
Licensed spots per 100 children under 5, lowest first, among counties with 20 or more center programs.
- Worcester County 276 licensed center programs 46 spots per 100 children under 5
- Franklin County 24 licensed center programs 47 spots per 100 children under 5
- Plymouth County 205 licensed center programs 50 spots per 100 children under 5
- Bristol County 227 licensed center programs 51 spots per 100 children under 5
- Barnstable County 83 licensed center programs 56 spots per 100 children under 5
- Hampden County 192 licensed center programs 58 spots per 100 children under 5
Run a program in Massachusetts? Bloomily handles enrollment, billing, check-in and family messages. See how it works
Plan your program
- How to start a daycare in Massachusetts
Opening a child care center: the steps and the agency.
- Massachusetts licensing guide
Ratios, trainings and the checklist the state asks for.
- Childcare in Massachusetts, 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 Massachusetts?
The first step: Check that you meet the requirements. All 6 steps are on this page, each with the state's own link.
Who oversees home daycares in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC). Licenses family child care providers, who care for a small group of children in a private home.
How many children can a home daycare in Massachusetts care for?
Family child care home: Up to 6 children. Large family child care home: More than 6 children, with at least 1 approved assistant.
How many licensed daycares are in Massachusetts?
3,013 licensed center programs and 5,841 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 monthly program files, read November 3, 2026. The latest snapshot in them is dated October 2, 2026. Children under 5 are the Census Bureau's estimates.
Home daycares are family child care homes the state lists as active, for up to 10 children.
This page is a summary of the state's own pages. It is not legal advice, and rules change.
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