Mohave County, AZ Home Business: Home Daycare (2026)
Key Facts
- Home occupation cap
- Four children for pay
- State license
- Five or more children
- Regulator
- Arizona Dept. of Health Services
- Statute
- A.R.S. § 36-881
Summary
Caring for five or more unrelated children for pay in Arizona requires an ADHS child care license. Mohave County's home occupation rules cap in-home child care at four individuals for compensation, matching the state licensing threshold.
Child care and adult care are limited to no more than four (4) individuals for compensation.
Full Breakdown
Arizona licenses child care through the Department of Health Services, and under A.R.S. § 36-881 a "child care facility" is one serving five or more unrelated children for compensation, so caring for four or fewer falls outside state licensing. Mohave County's Zoning Ordinance (Section 37.L) mirrors this, limiting child care and adult care as a home occupation to no more than four individuals for compensation. A licensed day care facility is expressly prohibited as a home occupation, so a larger state-licensed operation must locate on commercially zoned land. Licensed homes face background checks, ratios, safety standards, and inspections.
Violations & Fines
Operating an unlicensed home over the five-child state threshold violates Arizona child care licensing law and can be closed by ADHS, while exceeding the four-child home occupation cap is a county zoning violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many kids can I watch without a license?
Can I run a licensed daycare from my house?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Mohave County
Compare Mohave County to another location·View the Arizona home business overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.