Vermont rulebook · checked October 2026
In Vermont, the line is families, not children: your own children plus the children of one other family — any number of them — sit below the line. The moment a second unrelated family joins, you are in family day care home territory and the state's rules apply.
Licensing agency: Vermont Department for Children and Families — Child Development Division (CDD)
The line: In Vermont, the line is families, not children: your own children plus the children of one other family — any number of them — sit below the line. The moment a second unrelated family joins, you are in family day care home territory and the state's rules apply.
| Category | Capacity | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Family Child Care Home | up to 10 | In a private home: no more than 6 children under age 6 plus 4 school-aged children (10 total), and only 2 of the children may be under age 2. |
| Licensed Family Child Care Home | up to 10 | For care of more children than a Registered Home may take — the licensed tier in a private home. Anything outside a private home is a licensed child care facility. |
Rules checked October 2026 · Sources: 33 V.S.A. § 3502(a)–(b) (registration/licensure required; two-families exemption); Vermont DCF Child Development Division — 'Apply to Be a Child Care Provider'; Registered Family Child Care Home pages. This page reads the published rules; it is not legal advice, and the Vermont Department for Children and Families — Child Development Division (CDD) is the final word.