Maryland Launch Guide

How to Start a Daycare in Maryland (2026)

Last updated: June 2026

Researched by the TotReady Research Team

Opening a licensed daycare in Maryland means applying to the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), Division of Early Childhood, Office of Child Care (OCC), Licensing Branch, clearing fingerprint-based background checks, meeting facility and staff-to-child ratio rules, and passing a licensing inspection. This guide walks the process end to end, grounded in Maryland's licensing statutes.

Maryland Daycare Licensing: Fees & Key Numbers

The statute-cited figures that shape your Maryland launch budget and timeline.

Application fee
Maryland charges no application fee for either a child care center license or a family child care home registration; the COMAR application sections (COMAR 13A.16.02.02 and 13A.15.02.01) prescribe no fee, and the State's official OneStop child care licensing portal lists the application cost as $0.00.
Annual renewal fee
Maryland charges no renewal fee; a license or registration is maintained by submitting required documentation every two years (a continuing application) at no cost, per the Maryland OneStop child care licensing and registration portal.
Pre-service training
A Maryland family child care provider must complete either the 90-clock-hour pre-service course or its approved equivalent OR at least 24 clock hours of approved training that includes 4 clock hours in each of the six core-of-knowledge competencies (within the 2 years before application), plus first aid, CPR, and emergency/health-and-safety training before providing care, per COMAR 13A.15.06.02; a child care teacher or director in a preschool center must complete 6 semester hours or 90 clock hours of approved pre-service training or hold the Child Development Associate (CDA) credential, per COMAR 13A.16.06.09.
Annual training
A Maryland family child care provider must complete 18 clock hours of approved continued training in the first registration year and then a total of 12 clock hours each subsequent year (at least 6 core-of-knowledge clock hours and no more than 6 elective clock hours), per COMAR 13A.15.06.02; child care center directors and teachers must complete at least 12 clock hours per full year of employment (minimum 6 core-of-knowledge, maximum 6 elective), per COMAR 13A.16.06.05.
License-exempt threshold
In Maryland, any program that cares for one or more unrelated children younger than 13 for less than 24 hours a day on a regular basis, in a residence other than the child's residence and for pay, must obtain a child care center license or a family child care home registration, so there is no multi-child "free" threshold; the only license-exempt arrangements are informal babysitting by a relative, friend, or neighbor for less than 20 hours per month and relative/informal care, per Family Law Article §§5-501 and 5-550 et seq., Annotated Code of Maryland (implemented at COMAR 13A.15 and 13A.16).
Family child care capacity
A Maryland family child care home may serve a maximum total of 8 children, of whom no more than 4 may be younger than 2 years old, and care may not be provided at any one time to more than 2 children younger than 2 years old unless approved by the office, per COMAR 13A.15.04.03.
Indoor square footage
A Maryland child care center must provide a minimum of 35 square feet of indoor floor space for each child in care (30 square feet for a center licensed before December 1, 1971), and a center with a notice of intent received on or after January 1, 2009 must provide an outdoor activity area of at least 75 square feet of usable play space for one-half of the center's approved capacity, or per child if the center's approved capacity is 20 or fewer children, per COMAR 13A.16.05.03 and 13A.16.05.12.
Inspection schedule
Routine unannounced inspections required at least once within each 12-month period after an initial or continuing license is issued; an agency representative may make inspections without prior notice during the center's hours of operation (COMAR 13A.16.17.02). An announced inspection precedes issuance of an initial or continuing license. Complaint-based inspections occur as needed (COMAR 13A.16.17.01).

The 8 Steps to Open a Daycare in Maryland

Follow these in order. Each step is grounded in Maryland's childcare licensing rules.

  1. Research your state's rules

    Confirm whether your program needs a license in Maryland. In Maryland, any program that cares for one or more unrelated children younger than 13 for less than 24 hours a day on a regular basis, in a residence other than the child's residence and for pay, must obtain a child care center license or a family child care home registration, so there is no multi-child "free" threshold; the only license-exempt arrangements are informal babysitting by a relative, friend, or neighbor for less than 20 hours per month and relative/informal care, per Family Law Article §§5-501 and 5-550 et seq., Annotated Code of Maryland (implemented at COMAR 13A.15 and 13A.16).

    Read the rule that defines license-exempt care before you do anything else — it determines whether you operate as a family child care home, a center, or an exempt arrangement.

  2. Complete pre-service training & CPR

    Finish the required pre-service training and certifications. A Maryland family child care provider must complete either the 90-clock-hour pre-service course or its approved equivalent OR at least 24 clock hours of approved training that includes 4 clock hours in each of the six core-of-knowledge competencies (within the 2 years before application), plus first aid, CPR, and emergency/health-and-safety training before providing care, per COMAR 13A.15.06.02; a child care teacher or director in a preschool center must complete 6 semester hours or 90 clock hours of approved pre-service training or hold the Child Development Associate (CDA) credential, per COMAR 13A.16.06.09.

    Plan for ongoing training too: A Maryland family child care provider must complete 18 clock hours of approved continued training in the first registration year and then a total of 12 clock hours each subsequent year (at least 6 core-of-knowledge clock hours and no more than 6 elective clock hours), per COMAR 13A.15.06.02; child care center directors and teachers must complete at least 12 clock hours per full year of employment (minimum 6 core-of-knowledge, maximum 6 elective), per COMAR 13A.16.06.05.

  3. Pass background checks

    Submit fingerprint-based background checks for yourself and every staff member, volunteer, and (where applicable) household member before anyone has unsupervised access to children.

    Background-check clearance often takes the longest of any single step — start it early so it doesn't gate your opening date.

  4. Prepare your facility

    Set up a space that meets Maryland's facility standards. A Maryland child care center must provide a minimum of 35 square feet of indoor floor space for each child in care (30 square feet for a center licensed before December 1, 1971), and a center with a notice of intent received on or after January 1, 2009 must provide an outdoor activity area of at least 75 square feet of usable play space for one-half of the center's approved capacity, or per child if the center's approved capacity is 20 or fewer children, per COMAR 13A.16.05.03 and 13A.16.05.12.

    Match your enrollment plan to capacity limits: A Maryland family child care home may serve a maximum total of 8 children, of whom no more than 4 may be younger than 2 years old, and care may not be provided at any one time to more than 2 children younger than 2 years old unless approved by the office, per COMAR 13A.15.04.03.

  5. Submit your license application & fee

    File your application with the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), Division of Early Childhood, Office of Child Care (OCC), Licensing Branch and pay the licensing fee. Maryland charges no application fee for either a child care center license or a family child care home registration; the COMAR application sections (COMAR 13A.16.02.02 and 13A.15.02.01) prescribe no fee, and the State's official OneStop child care licensing portal lists the application cost as $0.00.

    Include your parent handbook, staff policies, enrollment forms, and operations manual — inspectors ask for these at the initial visit.

  6. Pass the licensing inspection

    Schedule and pass your pre-licensing inspection. Routine unannounced inspections required at least once within each 12-month period after an initial or continuing license is issued; an agency representative may make inspections without prior notice during the center's hours of operation (COMAR 13A.16.17.02). An announced inspection precedes issuance of an initial or continuing license. Complaint-based inspections occur as needed (COMAR 13A.16.17.01).

    The inspector checks ratios, square footage, sanitation, emergency preparedness, and your written policies against the regulations.

  7. Open your doors

    Once your license is issued, you can legally begin caring for children under Maryland rules. Maintain the staff-to-child ratios at all times: Infants (under 18 months) 1:3 (max group size 6), Toddlers (18 months to under 2 years) 1:3 (max group size 9), Two-year-olds 1:6 (max group size 12), Preschool (3 to 4 years) 1:10 (max group size 20); 1:12 (max group size 24) in Department-approved educational programs during a school day approved by the Department (COMAR 13A.16.08.03 E(1)), School-age (5 years and older) 1:15 (max group size 30)

    Keep certifications current and your handbook updated — these are the items most often cited at renewal.

  8. Enroll families

    Use your compliant enrollment paperwork to bring in families. A complete, Maryland-specific parent handbook signals professionalism and keeps you inspection-ready from day one.

    Required enrollment and admission forms must be signed before a child's first day — have them ready before you advertise open spots.

What You Need to Apply in Maryland

Maryland licensing requires these documents and forms at the initial application and inspection.

  • OCC 1214 — Emergency Form (child emergency/medical information; updated at least annually)
  • OCC 1215 — Health Inventory (child health assessment; Box A by parent, Box C by health care provider)
  • OCC 1216 — Medication Administration Authorization Form
  • OCC 1216a — Asthma Action Plan and Medication Administration Authorization Form (supplemental medication form; related variants OCC 1216b allergy/anaphylaxis, OCC 1216c seizure, OCC 1216d special health condition individualized care plan)
  • MDH Form 896 — Maryland Department of Health Immunization Certificate
  • Child Care Center / Letter of Compliance License Application (submitted via Maryland OneStop, onestop.md.gov)
  • CPS Background Clearance / Adam Walsh Background Clearance Form (Maryland Dept. of Human Services, Child Protective Services)
  • Criminal History Records Check / fingerprint application via CJIS (Maryland Dept. of Public Safety & Correctional Services)

Staff-to-child ratios you must maintain

Maryland requires these maximum staff-to-child ratios, enforced by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), Division of Early Childhood, Office of Child Care (OCC), Licensing Branch: Infants (under 18 months) 1:3 (max group size 6), Toddlers (18 months to under 2 years) 1:3 (max group size 9), Two-year-olds 1:6 (max group size 12), Preschool (3 to 4 years) 1:10 (max group size 20); 1:12 (max group size 24) in Department-approved educational programs during a school day approved by the Department (COMAR 13A.16.08.03 E(1)), School-age (5 years and older) 1:15 (max group size 30).

Skip the 80-hour paperwork grind

Get your Maryland licensing kit

The inspector asks for a parent handbook, staff policies, enrollment forms, and an operations manual — all Maryland-specific. The TotReady Startup Bundle gives you every document you need to apply, ready to customize in about 30 minutes.

See the Startup Bundle →

One-time purchase · Maryland-specific documents

Starting a Daycare in Maryland: FAQs

Do I need a license to start a daycare in Maryland?
In Maryland, any program that cares for one or more unrelated children younger than 13 for less than 24 hours a day on a regular basis, in a residence other than the child's residence and for pay, must obtain a child care center license or a family child care home registration, so there is no multi-child "free" threshold; the only license-exempt arrangements are informal babysitting by a relative, friend, or neighbor for less than 20 hours per month and relative/informal care, per Family Law Article §§5-501 and 5-550 et seq., Annotated Code of Maryland (implemented at COMAR 13A.15 and 13A.16).
How much does it cost to get a daycare license in Maryland?
Maryland charges no application fee for either a child care center license or a family child care home registration; the COMAR application sections (COMAR 13A.16.02.02 and 13A.15.02.01) prescribe no fee, and the State's official OneStop child care licensing portal lists the application cost as $0.00. Renewal: Maryland charges no renewal fee; a license or registration is maintained by submitting required documentation every two years (a continuing application) at no cost, per the Maryland OneStop child care licensing and registration portal.
Who issues daycare licenses in Maryland?
Childcare licensing in Maryland is handled by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), Division of Early Childhood, Office of Child Care (OCC), Licensing Branch. You apply to this agency, pay the licensing fee, and schedule your inspection through them.
What training do I need before opening a daycare in Maryland?
A Maryland family child care provider must complete either the 90-clock-hour pre-service course or its approved equivalent OR at least 24 clock hours of approved training that includes 4 clock hours in each of the six core-of-knowledge competencies (within the 2 years before application), plus first aid, CPR, and emergency/health-and-safety training before providing care, per COMAR 13A.15.06.02; a child care teacher or director in a preschool center must complete 6 semester hours or 90 clock hours of approved pre-service training or hold the Child Development Associate (CDA) credential, per COMAR 13A.16.06.09.

Keep researching Maryland

Maryland Licensing Requirements

Full handbook sections, ratios, immunization rules, and penalties for Maryland.

Read more →

How to Start a Daycare: Complete Guide

The cross-state playbook, from choosing a program type to opening day.

Read more →

License-Exemption Thresholds by State

Compare when a license is required across all 50 states.

Read more →

Licensing Fees by State

Application and renewal fee data for every state we track.

Read more →

Licensing rules change. The figures above are compiled from Maryland statutes and agency materials and are provided for informational purposes only — always verify current requirements with the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), Division of Early Childhood, Office of Child Care (OCC), Licensing Branch before applying. TotReady provides information and document templates, not legal advice.