How to Start a Home Daycare in Connecticut

Connecticut's licensed child care capacity covers roughly 35% of the estimated demand for infant and toddler spots. That gap is the opportunity — and getting licensed through the Office of Early Childhood is how you step into it.

Who Needs a License and Who Doesn't

Connecticut law requires a license if you care for more than three unrelated children in your home. The exemption covers relatives by blood, adoption, or marriage — grandchildren, nieces, nephews, siblings, or your own children — and care established by court order.

If you plan to care for more than three unrelated children, you need a Small Family Child Care Home license from the OEC Division of Licensing and Regulatory Services.

The primary provider must be at least 20 years old. That age floor surprises people who see "18" on informal checklists, but RCSA Section 19a-87b-1 is explicit. Assistants and approved substitutes can be 18 or older.

The Licensing Timeline, Start to Finish

Plan for at least 60–90 days, and allow longer because fingerprint clearances can take over 90 days. The sequence matters because several steps run in parallel.

Start with local clearances. Contact your municipal building, zoning, fire, and health departments. Connecticut General Statutes Section 8-3j protects your right to operate a family child care home in any residential zone — your town cannot require a special permit. But you still need standard residential code compliance: fire safety sign-off, water testing, and a building inspection if your municipality requires one.

If you rent, notify your landlord in writing. Public Act 23-142 prohibits landlords from blocking a licensed family child care home, though they can require you to carry childcare liability insurance and name them as an additional insured.

Start immediately: Background checks. Every household member aged 18 or older must submit fingerprints for state and national criminal history checks. The OEC also searches the DCF child abuse and neglect registry and the national sex offender registry. Start this early — fingerprint clearances can take over 90 days.

Register through the OEC Background Check Information System (BCIS) and schedule Live Scan fingerprinting through the Connecticut State Police.

Before license issuance: Training. Complete the required pre-licensing training:

• Pediatric First Aid and CPR (in-person, through the American Red Cross, American Heart Association, or National Safety Council)
• OEC Health and Safety Orientation (free, self-paced, through the Connecticut Early Childhood Professional Registry)
• Medication Administration Training if you plan to administer any medications

After required clearances: Application and inspection. Submit the formal application to the OEC Division of Licensing in Hartford. The non-refundable fee is $40. Include three reference forms (no more than one from a relative), adult medical statements for every household member 18 and older, and child health records for every household member under 18.

Once the OEC clears your background checks and reviews your application, a licensing specialist schedules your home inspection. They check every room — including private spaces children won't use — for hazards, safe sleep compliance, fire egress, water temperature, and outdoor play area safety.

After license issuance: You can accept children immediately. Apply for Care 4 Kids provider enrollment to accept subsidized families, which involves completing the Provider Orientation Program and submitting a Parent-Provider Agreement for each subsidized child.

What Your Home Needs to Pass Inspection

The OEC's physical plant standards cover the full residence, not just the rooms you designate for care:

• Hot water between 60°F and 120°F at every accessible tap
• Two safe means of escape from every room used for care (basement windows need a 5.7 sq. ft. clear opening minimum)
• Smoke detectors on every level; CO alarms on each occupied level when the home uses combustible fuel
• Fire extinguisher mounted no higher than 5 feet
• Outdoor play yard with fencing at least 4 feet high
• CPSC-compliant cribs with firm, flat mattresses — no soft bedding, bumper pads, or pillows
• Pools and water features secured to prevent access; in-ground pools fully enclosed with an approved safety fence
• Lead-safe water test results (well water requires annual bacterial and chemical testing)

Capacity: How Many Children You Can Serve

A Small Family Child Care Home license allows up to six children, including your own children who aren't in school full-time. During the school year, you can add up to three school-age children (those enrolled in school full-time), bringing your total to nine.

The infant cap is strict: no more than two children under 18 months at any time with a single provider.

Your own preschool-age children count against the six-child base. If you have two toddlers of your own, your available enrollment slots drop to four.

What It Costs to Get Started

The OEC application fee is $40, but total startup costs vary widely depending on your home's current condition:

• Fingerprinting: $30–$75 per household adult
• First Aid/CPR certification: $50–$100
• Lead and water testing: $100–$300
• Safety equipment (outlet covers, cabinet locks, fire extinguisher, fencing): $150–$400
• CPSC-compliant cribs: $100–$300 each
• Liability insurance: $500–$2,000 per year

Care 4 Kids reimburses the $40 application fee and offers a $500 one-time licensing bonus for newly licensed providers.

The Connecticut Home Daycare License Process Guide walks through every step in this sequence with fill-in checklists, a startup cost calculator, and the background check tracker — so nothing falls through the cracks between your first phone call to town hall and your first enrolled family.

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