Arlington County, VA Home Business: Home Daycare (2026)
Key Facts
- License required
- for 1-12 children, County Manager issues (§59-4)
- Application lead time
- at least 2 months before opening (§59-5.B)
- Conditional license term
- 6 months for new operators (§59-8.A.1)
- Regular license term
- 1 year (§59-8.B.1)
- Operating without license
- misdemeanor, up to $300 fine/30 days jail (§59-20)
- Change notice required
- 10 days written notice (§59-10.A)
Summary
Arlington County requires a license from the Department of Human Services to operate a family day care home caring for 1 to 12 children for compensation. Operating without a valid license after notice of violation is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $300 fine and 30 days in jail under County Code Chapter 59.
§ 59-4. License Required, Posting of License. It shall be unlawful to operate a family day care home as defined herein in which more one (1) through 12 children are received, without a valid license issued pursuant to this chapter. Such license shall be posted in a visible location within the licensed premises where it can be easily seen by parents and other visitors of the home.
Full Breakdown
Chapter 59 of the Arlington County Code governs every home-based daycare in the county under authority of Va. 2-741. Section 59-4 makes it unlawful to operate a family day care home receiving between one and 12 children without a license, and the license must be posted where parents and visitors can see it. B), and the Department conducts a pre-licensing inspection and character review before the County Manager issues the license (§59-6, §59-7). C). Every license sets the maximum number and age range of children the home may serve (§59-9). B). A). A). C).
Violations & Fines
Operating a family day care home for one to 12 children without a valid license, after the County Manager has given notice of the violation and the operator has not corrected it, is a Class misdemeanor under §59-20. Conviction carries a fine of up to $300, up to 30 days in jail, or both, and each day the violation continues is a separate offense. The Department may also deny, suspend, or revoke a license for noncompliance under §§59-12 through 59-14, with a right to a hearing and appeal under §59-17.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Sources & Official References
Other rules in Arlington County
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