District of Columbia rulebook · checked October 2026

Watching Kids at Home in District of Columbia: How Many Before You Need a License?

In District of Columbia, there is no unlicensed tier for regular paid care of unrelated children: the first child on a regular schedule already needs the state's permit. The only question is which tier.

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The District of Columbia line, in facts

Licensing agency: Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) — Division of Early Learning

The line: In District of Columbia, there is no unlicensed tier for regular paid care of unrelated children: the first child on a regular schedule already needs the state's permit. The only question is which tier.

Your own children: counted — District of Columbia includes your own children (under 6) in the numbers that decide your category.

The categories above the line

Category	Capacity	What it means
Child Development Home (licensed)	up to 6	A private dwelling you occupy: no more than 6 children in care, no more than 2 of them under age 2. Your own children under 6 count inside the 6; your own children 6 and older sit outside it (with their own caps).
Expanded Child Development Home (licensed)	up to 12	Up to 12 children in a private residence, with higher caregiver qualifications (an associate degree in early childhood or a CDA on a degree pathway, plus at least a year running a licensed home or equivalent experience).

What comes with the license

Ratios: Child Development Home: 1 caregiver to at most 6 children, at most 2 of them under age 2 (5A DCMR ch. 1).
Training before you open: Home caregiver: age 18+, high school diploma or equivalent, a CDA credential within the regulatory timeframe, and the required health and safety training (5A DCMR §168).
Training to stay open: At least 4 child development-related courses a year totaling at least 12 hours of professional development (5A DCMR §168).
State fees: Child Development Home or Expanded Home license: $225 per OSSE's current application package under 5A DCMR ch. 1 (an older OSSE FAQ quoted $75 — budget for the regulation-package figure).
Realistic timeline:

What catches people in District of Columbia

DC's exemption list is categorical, not numeric — one-family occasional babysitting, nanny shares, related caregivers and parent-supervised play groups are out; regular care for children of more than one family is a Child Development Home from the first child.
A nanny share is expressly exempt — the same children, cared for in a child's own home, sit outside licensure entirely.

Rules checked October 2026 · Sources: 5A DCMR ch. 1, §§ 100–101 (definitions; §101.5 exemptions), § 103 (fees), § 168 (home caregiver qualifications); D.C. Code § 4-401 (expanded child development home — up to 12 children); OSSE Division of Early Learning, osse.dc.gov. This page reads the published rules; it is not legal advice, and the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) — Division of Early Learning is the final word.

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