Alabama requires statewide Department of Human Resources licensing for family day care homes serving seven to twelve children, with mandatory background checks, fire inspections, and minimum standards that municipalities cannot relax through local ordinances.
Alabama Code §38-7-1 et seq. requires the Department of Human Resources (DHR) to license all family day care homes caring for seven to twelve children, including the provider's own. Smaller homes (six or fewer) may register voluntarily but remain exempt unless religious or other exemptions apply. Standards include criminal background and child-abuse registry checks for all adults in the home, annual fire and health inspections, capped child-to-staff ratios, and continuing education. The DHR Minimum Standards bind every county uniformly. Cities can apply zoning and parking rules but cannot reduce supervision ratios or skip background checks.
Operating an unlicensed home above the threshold is a misdemeanor with fines up to $500 per day and immediate closure orders.
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