Pennsylvania Home Daycare (2026)

Key Facts

Family home limit: Four to six children
Regulator: PA Department of Human Services
Background checks: PSP, CY113, FBI fingerprints
Ratio: 1:6 with infant cap

Full Breakdown

Under the Public Welfare Code 62 P.S. Section 1001 et seq. and 55 Pa. Code Chapter 3290, family child day care homes must obtain a DHS certificate of compliance, complete annual unannounced inspections, and maintain a 1:6 caregiver-to-child ratio with no more than two children under 24 months. Operators and household members 14 and older must clear PA State Police, Child Abuse, and FBI fingerprint clearances. Group day care homes serving 7 to 12 children require a separate certification under Chapter 3280.

Violations & Penalties

Operating an uncertified home day care can result in cease-and-desist orders, civil penalties up to $500 per day, and referral for criminal prosecution under the Child Protective Services Law.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Pennsylvania count related children toward the daycare home limit?

No. Children related to the caregiver are excluded from the four-to-six limit, but the home must still meet safety and ratio standards for unrelated children.

Can a Pennsylvania municipality ban a certified family day care home?

Local zoning may regulate location reasonably, but Pennsylvania case law treats certified family day care as a residential use that municipalities cannot categorically exclude.

Pennsylvania Home-Based Child Care Certification Requirements

Key Facts

Full Breakdown

Violations & Penalties

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources

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