State library · checked October 2026
Alabama child care, camp and ratio rules
What camps, after-school programs and child care centers in Alabama need to know about licensing, ratios, background checks, medication and reporting abuse, with links to the official rules.
Child care licensing
A day care center (any facility caring for more than 12 children for all or part of a day) and day care/nighttime homes must be licensed by DHR, with licenses renewed every two years. Centers follow DHR's Child Care Licensing and Performance Standards for Day Care Centers and Nighttime Centers (Ala. Admin. Code ch. 660-5-26).
After-school and recreation programs: Ala. Code §38-7-2(4) excludes programs run by public school systems, and organized, periodic special-activity programs for school-age children (athletics, crafts instruction and similar) run by civic, charitable or governmental groups, as long as they meet local and state fire and health rules. Preschool programs that are part of a church ministry or religious nonprofit school can be license-exempt under §38-7-3 if they file with DHR and meet its inspection, background check and insurance conditions; exempt out-of-school-time programs that take child care subsidy must follow DHR health and safety guidelines.
Licensing agency: Alabama Department of Human Resources (DHR), Child Care Services Division, Office of Child Care Licensing
Sources: Alabama DHR child care licensing overview; Ala. Admin. Code r. 660-5-26-.04 (Child Care Program); DHR Licensing and Performance Standards for Day Care Centers (eff. Sept. 13, 2021); DHR license-exempt day care facilities; DHR health and safety guidelines for out-of-school-time facilities in the subsidy program
Staff-to-child ratios in licensed centers
| Ages | Children per staff member | Largest group |
|---|---|---|
| 3 years (2½ up to 4 years) | 1:11 | Not set |
| 4 years (4 up to school age) | 1:18 | Not set |
| 5 years, not yet enrolled in school | 1:18 | Not set |
| School-age, enrolled in school, up to 8 years | 1:21 | Not set |
| 8 years and older | 1:22 | Not set |
Rule: Ala. Admin. Code r. 660-5-26-.04(1)(a). 'School age' means a child who is 5 on or before September 1 and is enrolled in public or private school. Alabama sets no fixed maximum group size; group size depends on room capacity, children's ages, staff and equipment. In mixed-age groups, use the youngest child's ratio if more than 20% of the group is in the youngest age band. Separate ratios apply for swimming, nap time, transport and nighttime care.
Summer camps
Day camps and resident (overnight) camps need an annual camp permit from the county health officer under Alabama's camp sanitation rules (Ala. Admin. Code ch. 420-3-21); seasonal camps apply within 60 days before opening, and the camp is inspected before the permit is issued and at least once during operation. These rules cover sanitation (water, sewage, food service, buildings, swimming areas), not staffing or supervision. A camp that cares for children in a way that meets the day care center definition may also fall under DHR child care licensing.
Sources: Ala. Admin. Code ch. 420-3-21, Camp Sanitation (official code); ADPH Food and Lodging (camp rules listed)
Background checks
All licensed child care staff, and volunteers with unsupervised access to children, need an FBI fingerprint check, a National Sex Offender Registry (NCIC) check, a state fingerprint criminal history check, the state sex offender registry, and the Alabama child abuse/neglect central registry, plus the same registry checks in any state lived in during the past 5 years. Checks are done before hire and at least every 5 years (and again if the person has been out of child care for more than 180 days); staff can't count toward ratio until checks are complete. Alabama's camp sanitation permit rules do not set a separate background check requirement for camps.
Sources: DHR instructions for child care comprehensive background checks; Ala. Admin. Code r. 660-5-26-.07 (Character and Suitability)
Giving medication
No prescription or over-the-counter medication may be given without a health professional's order and a signed parent authorization on DHR's form (the form also covers items applied to skin, such as sunscreen and bug spray); blanket authorizations are not allowed and each form is valid for no more than 7 days unless backed by a physician's statement. Medicine must be in its original labeled container, kept locked, given by designated staff, and each dose logged with a full signature; staff need medication administration training before service and yearly.
Free medication administration log
Sources: Ala. Admin. Code r. 660-5-26-.04 (health; medication); Ala. Admin. Code r. 660-5-26-.06 (Staff; training)
Reporting child abuse
Listed professionals must report, including day care workers and employees, K-12 school employees, teachers and school officials, social workers, health care workers, clergy, and anyone called on to give aid or medical help to a child; coaches and camp staff are not named separately. Under Act 2026-375 (effective October 1, 2026), the oral report to DHR or law enforcement is due immediately and a written report within 72 hours (Ala. Code §26-14-3).
How to report in Alabama: No single statewide hotline is published; call your county DHR office or local law enforcement (how to report). In an emergency, call 911.
Sources: DHR: Report child abuse and neglect; DHR county office contacts; Child Welfare Information Gateway: Alabama mandatory reporting (May 2023); SB203 (Act 2026-375) enrolled text amending Ala. Code §26-14-3
Checked October 2026 against Alabama's official rules and federal sources. Rules change and have exceptions, so confirm with the agency before you rely on them. This is general information, not legal advice. Alabama has 1,981 youth and community program nonprofits, according to our analysis of IRS data.
FAQ
Alabama questions
What is the staff-to-child ratio for school-age children in Alabama?
In licensed child care centers, 1 staff member for every 18 school-age children (Ala. Admin. Code r. 660-5-26-.04(1)(a)). Camps and license-exempt programs can follow different rules.
Do summer camps need a license in Alabama?
Day camps and resident (overnight) camps need an annual camp permit from the county health officer under Alabama's camp sanitation rules (Ala. Admin. Code ch. 420-3-21); seasonal camps apply within 60 days before opening, and the camp is inspected before the permit is issued and at least once during operation. These rules cover sanitation (water, sewage, food service, buildings, swimming areas), not staffing or supervision. A camp that cares for children in a way that meets the day care center definition may also fall under DHR child care licensing.
Do after-school programs need a child care license in Alabama?
Ala. Code §38-7-2(4) excludes programs run by public school systems, and organized, periodic special-activity programs for school-age children (athletics, crafts instruction and similar) run by civic, charitable or governmental groups, as long as they meet local and state fire and health rules. Preschool programs that are part of a church ministry or religious nonprofit school can be license-exempt under §38-7-3 if they file with DHR and meet its inspection, background check and insurance conditions; exempt out-of-school-time programs that take child care subsidy must follow DHR health and safety guidelines.
Who has to report suspected child abuse in Alabama?
Listed professionals must report, including day care workers and employees, K-12 school employees, teachers and school officials, social workers, health care workers, clergy, and anyone called on to give aid or medical help to a child; coaches and camp staff are not named separately. Under Act 2026-375 (effective October 1, 2026), the oral report to DHR or law enforcement is due immediately and a written report within 72 hours (Ala. Code §26-14-3). No single statewide hotline is published; call your county DHR office or local law enforcement.
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