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Kanawha County, WV Home Business: Home Daycare (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Governing law
W. Va. Code §49-2-113
Registrant
WV Dept. of Human Services
Family home
Four to six children
Screening
Background checks, home inspection
County permit
None; state-run

Summary

A family child care home in Kanawha County, four to six children, must hold a certificate of registration from the state, now the WV Department of Human Services, under W. Va. Code §49-2-113. Registration brings background checks, a home inspection, and training, not a county permit.

City-specific rules exist: Charleston has its own home daycare rules that differ from Kanawha County's county-level regulations. If you live in Charleston, check the city-specific page instead.

Every family day-care home which operates in this state, including family day-care homes approved by the department for receipt of funding, shall obtain a certificate of registration from the department.

Source: West Virginia CodeView official code

Full Breakdown

Home child care is governed by state law, not a Kanawha County ordinance. W. Va. Code §49-2-113(d) requires every family day-care home operating in the state to obtain a certificate of registration from the department, now the Division of Early Care and Education under the Department of Human Services (formerly DHHR's Bureau for Children and Families). A family child care home serves four to six children; a home caring for three or fewer may use a lighter informal track, and larger facilities need full licensure. Registration requires criminal background checks, a home safety inspection, CPR and first aid, and immunization records. In Charleston and other zoning cities the home must also meet residential-use zoning.

Violations & Fines

Operating a family child care home without the required certificate of registration violates W. Va. Code §49-2-113 and risks loss of state child-care subsidy funding, an order to close, and referral to the Department of Human Services.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to register a home daycare in Kanawha County?
Yes. W. Va. Code §49-2-113 requires every family day-care home to obtain a state certificate of registration, with background checks, a home inspection, and training. The county issues no separate permit.
How many children can a family child care home take?
A registered family child care home serves four to six children. Caring for three or fewer can use a lighter informal registration track; larger operations require full state licensure.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Kanawha County

Noise Ordinances: Quiet HoursSome RestrictionsCottage Food OperationsFew RestrictionsZoning & Home Occupation PermitsFew RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Outdoor SoundSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Abandoned VehiclesSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Neighbor Fence RulesFew RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: BeekeepingFew RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Breed RestrictionsSome Restrictions

All Kanawha County rules

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Home Daycare in Cities Across Kanawha County

Charleston, WV