ReferenceDaycare Staff-to-Child Ratios by State
Every state sets its own staff-to-child ratios for licensed childcare centers. These ratios directly determine how many children you can enroll, how many staff you need to hire, and where your waitlist bottlenecks form. Select your state below for a full breakdown of ratio requirements, group size limits, and mixed-age room rules.
AlabamaAL
Infant ratio: 1:5
AlaskaAK
Infant ratio: 1:5
ArizonaAZ
Infant ratio: 1:5
ArkansasAR
Infant ratio: 1:5
CaliforniaCA
Infant ratio: 1:3
ColoradoCO
Infant ratio: 1:5
ConnecticutCT
Infant ratio: 1:4
DelawareDE
Infant ratio: 1:4
District of ColumbiaDC
Infant ratio: 1:4
FloridaFL
Infant ratio: 1:4
GeorgiaGA
Infant ratio: 1:6
HawaiiHI
Infant ratio: 1:4
IllinoisIL
Infant ratio: 1:4
IndianaIN
Infant ratio: 1:4
KansasKS
Infant ratio: 1:3
KentuckyKY
Infant ratio: 1:5
LouisianaLA
Infant ratio: 1:6
MarylandMD
Infant ratio: 1:3
MassachusettsMA
Infant ratio: 1:3
MichiganMI
Infant ratio: 1:4
MinnesotaMN
Infant ratio: 1:4
MississippiMS
Infant ratio: 1:5
MissouriMO
Infant ratio: 1:4
MontanaMT
Infant ratio: 1:4
NebraskaNE
Infant ratio: 1:4
NevadaNV
Infant ratio: 1:4
New HampshireNH
Infant ratio: 1:4
New JerseyNJ
Infant ratio: 1:4
New MexicoNM
Infant ratio: 1:6
New YorkNY
Infant ratio: 1:4
North CarolinaNC
Infant ratio: 1:5
North DakotaND
Infant ratio: 1:4
OklahomaOK
Infant ratio: 1:4
OregonOR
Infant ratio: 1:4
PennsylvaniaPA
Infant ratio: 1:4
Rhode IslandRI
Infant ratio: 1:4
South CarolinaSC
Infant ratio: 1:5
South DakotaSD
Infant ratio: 1:5
TennesseeTN
Infant ratio: 1:4
VermontVT
Infant ratio: 1:4
VirginiaVA
Infant ratio: 1:4
WashingtonWA
Infant ratio: 1:4
West VirginiaWV
Infant ratio: 1:4
WisconsinWI
Infant ratio: 1:4
WyomingWY
Infant ratio: 1:4
Seedlist Tracks Ratios for All 50 States
Select your state in Seedlist and every enrollment decision is automatically checked against your ratio limits. The system prevents over-enrollment, flags classrooms approaching capacity, and forecasts when transitions will open new spots.
Disclaimer: This information is compiled from publicly available state licensing regulations and was last verified in March 2026. Ratios and group sizes can change when states update their administrative codes. Always confirm current requirements with your state's licensing authority before making staffing or enrollment decisions. Seedlist does not provide legal or regulatory advice.