Skip to content
DaycareRules

Washington DCYF Licensing

Washington home daycare ratios by age

Verified August 31, 2026

Washington scales one home license by experience instead of naming small and large homes. Under one year: 6 children, at most 3 under two, one of the three walking. One to two years: 8 children with at most 4 under three, or 9 with a qualified assistant and at most 4 under two. Two-plus years: 10 children ages 3 to 12, or 12 school-age children, and with a qualified assistant 12 of mixed ages with at most 6 under two. A separate endorsement runs 8 children all under 24 months at 1 to 4 staffing.

Every tier, every cap

Family home licensee with less than one year of experience

  • No more than 6 (birth through 12 years) WAC 110-300-0355(7)
  • No more than 3 under two years WAC 110-300-0355(7)(a)
  • At least 1 walking independently, among three children under two years WAC 110-300-0355(7)(b)

Your own children: count toward these caps (under 13 years).

Family home licensee with at least one year but less than two years of experience

  • No more than 8 (two through 12) WAC 110-300-0355(8)(a)
  • No more than 4 under three WAC 110-300-0355(8)(a)

With an assistant: an additional adult is required above 8 children. No more than 9 (birth through 12); No more than 4 under two

Your own children: count toward these caps (under 13 years).

Family home licensee with at least two years' experience

  • Option 1: up to 10 three through 12 WAC 110-300-0355(9)(a)-(b)
  • Option 2: up to 12 school age child WAC 110-300-0355(9)(a)-(b)

With an assistant: No more than 12 (birth through 12 years (with a qualified assistant)); No more than 6 under two years (with a qualified assistant); At least 2 walking independently, among six children under two years

Your own children: count toward these caps (under 13 years).

License for birth to 24 months of age (family home licensee with two years of experience)

  • No more than 8 (birth to 24 months (maximum group size)) WAC 110-300-0355(10)
  • No more than 4 (per staff member (staff to child ratio 1:4)) WAC 110-300-0355(10)(b)
  • No more than 2 children who do not walk independently, with a single staff member WAC 110-300-0355(10)(d)

With an assistant: an additional adult is required above 4 children.

Your own children: count toward these caps (under 13 years).

How Washington defines the age bands

  • Under two years of age: 0 to 24 months
  • Under three years of age: 0 to 36 months
  • Ages two through 12 years of age: 24 to 156 months
  • Ages three years through 12 years of age: 36 to 156 months
  • Birth through 12 years of age: 0 to 156 months
  • School age child (five through 12 years of age, attending public or private school or receiving home based instruction): 60 to 156 months
  • Nonschool age child (age six years or younger, not enrolled in a public or private school): 0 to 84 months

Mixed ages in one room

Counts include every child on the premises, the licensee's own under-13s among them. The under-two and non-walker caps are the rows that bind in practice.

Real questions, short answers

What is Washington's infant ratio for family homes?

In the birth-to-24-months program, 1 staff per 4 children with at most 2 non-walkers per staff member. In mixed homes the binding rule is the under-two cap for the experience level: 3, then 4, then 6 with an assistant.

Does an assistant raise capacity?

Yes, unlike some states: 8 becomes 9 in the second year, and the two-year level reaches 12 mixed-age children with a qualified assistant, per WAC 110-300-0355(8) and (9).

Which children count toward the cap?

All children on the premises during care hours, including the licensee's own children under 13 and children of staff.

Keep reading

Sources for Washington

  • RCW 43.216.010, definitions and exclusions from licensing 43.216.010(2)
  • WAC 110-300-0355, family home capacity, ratio and group size, as amended by WSR 22-03-016 110-300-0355

DaycareRules is an informational reference about home child care licensing rules in the United States. It reprints thresholds, capacity limits, ratios and citations from state statutes and regulations, together with the date each state was last verified. Nothing on this site is legal advice, and rules change. Confirm with your state licensing agency before acting on any number printed here.