Allen County, IN Home Business: Home Daycare (2026)
Key Facts
- Licensing agency
- Indiana FSSA (not the county)
- Statute
- Indiana Code 12-17.2
- Class I
- Up to 12 children (+3 school-age)
- Class II
- 13 to 16 children
- License trigger
- 8+ children, or 4+ under 12 months
Summary
In-home child care in Allen County is licensed by the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA), not the county. A licensed child care home is a Class I (up to 12 children, plus up to 3 school-age) or Class II (13–16 children).
A class I child care home serves any combination of full-time and part-time children, not to exceed at any one time twelve (12) children plus three (3) children who are enrolled in at least full-day grade one or higher during the school year.
Full Breakdown
Indiana licenses child care homes statewide through FSSA under IC 12-17.2; Allen County does not run its own daycare-home licensing. A 'child care home' is a residential structure where at least 8 children (or at least 4 under 12 months), excluding the provider's own relatives, receive care. A Class I child care home serves any combination of full- and part-time children not exceeding 12 at one time, plus up to 3 school-age children during the school year. A Class II child care home serves more than 12 but no more than 16 children at once. Zoning still applies: a home daycare is generally treated as a home occupation or special use, so check with the Fort Wayne–Allen County Planning Department.
Violations & Fines
Operating an unlicensed child care home above the exempt threshold is enforced by FSSA, which can issue cease-and-desist orders and penalties; zoning noncompliance is handled by county planning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who licenses home daycares in Allen County?
How many children can a licensed home daycare have?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Allen County
Compare Allen County to another location·View the Indiana home business overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.