Mississippi rulebook · checked October 2026

Watching Kids at Home in Mississippi: How Many Before You Need a License?

In Mississippi, you may watch up to 5 counted children before a license is required.

The Mississippi line, in facts

Licensing agency: Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) — Child Care Licensure

The line: In Mississippi, you may watch up to 5 counted children before a license is required.

Even below the line: Registration is voluntary for private pay — but if you want Child Care Payment Program (CCPP) money, a home at 5 or fewer children MUST complete registration with MSDH and accept at least one unannounced inspection a year.

The categories above the line

Category	Capacity	What it means
Family Child Care Home (registered)	up to 5	5 or fewer unrelated children under 13 in your home. Registration is voluntary for private-pay care and required for CCPP payment.
Licensed Child Care Facility (family)	up to 12	6 to 12 children with 2 adult staff, licensed by MSDH. At 6 or more unrelated children the home is a licensed facility for all purposes, not just subsidy.

What comes with the license

Ratios: Family home: no more than 5 children per staff member. Licensed facility: under 1 year 1:5, age 1 — 1:9, age 2 — 1:12, age 3 — 1:14, age 4 — 1:16, ages 5–9 — 1:20, ages 10–12 — 1:25 (15 Miss. Code R. 11-55).
Training before you open:
Training to stay open: For licensed facilities (6 or more children): at least 15 hours of approved training a year for staff.
State fees:
Realistic timeline:

What catches people in Mississippi

Mississippi's line is age-banded: it reaches children less than 13 years old, 'for any amount of time of the day or night.'
Two different state doors: MSDH licenses and registers; the Department of Human Services runs the payment program that makes registration compulsory for subsidy homes.

Rules checked October 2026 · Sources: Miss. Code §§ 43-20-51 to 43-20-65 (family child care home registration); § 43-20-53 (definitions); Miss. Code § 43-20-8 (MSDH licensing authority — 6 or more unrelated children under 13); 15 Miss. Code R. Part 11, Subch. 55 (family homes and facilities); 18 Miss. Admin. Code Pt. 17, Rule 18-17-7.1 (CCPP). This page reads the published rules; it is not legal advice, and the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) — Child Care Licensure is the final word.

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