Shelby County, TN Home Business: Home Daycare (2026)
Key Facts
- Licensing agency
- TN Dept. of Human Services
- Family home
- 5 to 7 unrelated children
- Group home
- 8 to 12 children
- License trigger
- 5+ children, 3+ hours/day
- Rules
- Tenn. Comp. R. 1240-04-01
Summary
In-home child care in Shelby County is licensed by the Tennessee Department of Human Services (DHS). A family child care home caring for five to seven unrelated children for three or more hours a day must be DHS-licensed.
The Department of Human Services licenses child care agencies with five (5) or more unrelated children operating for three (3) or more hours per day unless exempt.
Full Breakdown
The Tennessee Department of Human Services licenses child care agencies with five or more unrelated children operating three or more hours per day, unless exempt. A 'family child care home' serves at least five but not more than seven unrelated children; a 'group child care home' serves at least eight but not more than twelve (up to fifteen with three additional school-agers). DHS rules (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-04-01) set adult-to-child ratios, five-year background checks, health and safety standards, and require pools be made inaccessible by fences and locked gates. In unincorporated Shelby County, a child care center is a prohibited home occupation under UDC 2.7.4, but a group day care home is a permitted residential use.
Violations & Fines
Providing care to five or more unrelated children three or more hours a day without a DHS license, when not exempt, is illegal and can be reported to the DHS complaint hotline. Zoning limits are separately enforced by the county.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do I need a license for home daycare in Shelby County?
How many children can a family child care home have?
Does county zoning allow home daycare?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Shelby County
Compare Shelby County to another location·View the Tennessee home business overview
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