Florida child care, camp and ratio rules

Child care licensing

A license is required for any child care center or arrangement caring for more than five unrelated children for pay (s. 402.302(2), F.S.), and for family and large family child care homes. School-age child care programs need their own school-age license under Rule 65C-22.008, F.A.C., unless exempt.

After-school and recreation programs: Public and nonpublic schools' own programs for kindergarten and up are not child care (s. 402.3025, F.S.). Summer day camps, residential summer camps and vacation Bible schools are also excluded (s. 402.302(2)). A school-age program needs no license if it is (a) on a school site, run by the school or under a formal contract with it, and serving only that school's students; (b) a single-purpose class such as tutoring, karate or a sport, limited to 2 hours a day (3 for multi-subject tutoring); (c) an open-access drop-in program under 4 hours a day where children come and go freely; (d) run by a certified national youth membership organization that notifies DCF each year; or (e) only for grades 6 and up. Exempt programs must still meet background screening rules and file an attestation with DCF (Rule 65C-22.008(3)-(4), F.A.C.).

Licensing agency: Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF), Child Care Regulation. Broward, Palm Beach, Pinellas and Sarasota counties license through their own local licensing agencies.

Sources: s. 402.305, F.S. (2026), licensing standards and ratios; s. 402.302, F.S. (2026), definitions and exclusions; Chapter 65C-22, F.A.C. (Rules 65C-22.001 and 65C-22.008); Child Care Facility Handbook (Dec. 2025), Ref-19085; School-Age Child Care Facility Handbook (Dec. 2025), Ref-19084; DCF: About Child Care Licensure

Staff-to-child ratios in licensed centers

Rule: s. 402.305(4), F.S.; Rule 65C-22.001(6), F.A.C. (Child Care Facility Handbook, Dec. 2025); Rule 65C-22.008(5), F.A.C. (School-Age Child Care Facility Handbook, Dec. 2025). Florida sets no maximum group size for these ages. When children 2 and older are grouped together, the ratio follows the age group with the most children in the group (s. 402.305(4)(a)7). A group that includes a child under 1 is capped at 1:4, and one that includes a child aged 1 is capped at 1:6. Stricter ratios apply during swimming (1:4 for ages 3-4, 1:10 for ages 5 and up), and one extra adult must go on field trips.

Work out your staffing with the ratio calculator

Summer camps

Florida does not license summer camps; state law forbids DCF from licensing summer day camps and summer 24-hour camps (s. 409.175(6)(l), F.S.), and they are excluded from child care licensing (s. 402.302(2)). Camps for children 5 and older must still put all personnel through Level 2 background screening, and DCF can shut down a camp that refuses. DCF acts on complaints only and does not inspect camps or require staff training. A summer program for children under 5 is not a 'summer camp' under the statute and may need a child care license.

Camp agency: Florida Department of Children and Families (background screening only)

Sources: s. 409.175, F.S. (2026), summer camp definitions and screening; DCF: Summer Camp Requirements

Background checks

All child care personnel need Level 2 screening under chapter 435, F.S. This means FDLE and FBI fingerprint checks, plus employment history checks, sex offender registries, and child abuse and neglect registries for every state lived in during the past 5 years. If DCF cannot finish within 3 business days, a new hire gets 45-day provisional status and must be directly supervised by screened staff (s. 402.305(2)(a)). Re-screening is every 5 years (Child Care Facility Handbook). Summer camp owners, staff and most volunteers (including those under 18) also need Level 2 screening through the Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse. Per DCF, that screening must be done within 60 days before starting and repeated each year unless certain conditions are met. Starting July 1, 2026, private youth sports organizations must run Level 2 screening on every coach (s. 943.0438, F.S.).

Sources: s. 402.305(2), F.S. (2026); Child Care Facility Handbook (Dec. 2025), definitions of initial and re-screening; DCF: Summer Camp Requirements; s. 943.0438, F.S. (2026), youth athletic coaches

Giving medication

Programs do not have to give medicine. If they do, they need a dated, signed parent authorization listing the child, the medicine, and the dose and times. Medicine stays in its original container (prescriptions with the pharmacy label), is stored locked or out of reach, and staff giving it must be trained in proper administration, with that training documented. Each dose is logged with the date, time, amount and the giver's signature, and the log is kept 12 months (Child Care Facility Handbook, Medication section). Sunscreen, diaper cream and insect repellent need not be logged.

Free medication administration log

Sources: Child Care Facility Handbook (Dec. 2025), incorporated by Rule 65C-22.001(6), F.A.C.

Reporting child abuse

Every person who knows or has reasonable cause to suspect child abuse, abandonment or neglect must report immediately to the Florida Abuse Hotline by phone, in writing or online (s. 39.201(1), F.S.). Professionals such as teachers and day care or child care workers must give their names when reporting.

Florida child abuse hotline: 1-800-962-2873 (1-800-96-ABUSE), 24/7 (how to report). In an emergency, call 911.

Sources: s. 39.201, F.S. (2026); DCF: Florida Abuse Hotline