Berks County, PA Home Business: Home Daycare (2026)
Key Facts
- Licensing agency
- PA Dept. of Human Services (OCDEL)
- Certificate needed
- 4-6 unrelated children
- Maximum children
- Six at any one time
- Governing code
- 55 Pa. Code Ch. 3290
- Also check
- Municipal zoning
Summary
A home caring for four, five, or six unrelated children is a Family Child Care Home and must hold a Certificate of Compliance from the PA Department of Human Services under 55 Pa. Code Chapter 3290. Local zoning also applies.
A home other than the child's own home, operated for profit or not-for-profit, in which child care is provided at any one time to four, five or six children unrelated to the operator.
Full Breakdown
Home daycare in Berks County is licensed by the state, not the county. Under 55 Pa. Code Chapter 3290, a home providing care for four, five, or six children unrelated to the operator is a Family Child Care Home and must obtain a Certificate of Compliance from the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (OCDEL) before operating. The certificate caps care at six unrelated children at any one time and requires annual unannounced inspections, staff clearances, and safety standards. Care for three or fewer unrelated children generally does not require certification. Your municipality's zoning ordinance may also regulate a daycare as a home occupation, so check locally.
Violations & Fines
Operating an uncertified family child care home violates 55 Pa. Code Chapter 3290 and can bring DHS enforcement, closure, and penalties; local zoning violations carry separate municipal fines.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many kids can I watch without a license in Pennsylvania?
Does Berks County license home daycares?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Berks County
Compare Berks County to another location·View the Pennsylvania home business overview
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