Colorado Childcare Licensing
Colorado Childcare License Exemption Threshold (2026)
Before you can legally care for children for pay in Colorado, you must know the license-exemption threshold — the point at which a child care license, registration, or certificate becomes mandatory. A child care license is required for any facility caring for five (5) or more children who are not related to the operator, with or without compensation (Colorado Dept. of Early Childhood, 8 CCR 1402-1, Section 2.202 SCOPE AND PURPOSE: rules apply to facilities "caring for five (5) or more children with or without compensation"; CRS 26.5-5-303 family child care home definition). [Could not verify against Colorado .gov source the specific corollary that a person may care for up to four (4) unrelated children with no more than two (2) under two (2) years of age without a license; the cdec.colorado.gov legal-exemption page was not retrievable.]
Licensing Agency
Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC), Division of Early Learning and Licensing and Administration (DELLA) →Last updated: April 2026
Researched by the TotReady Research TeamColorado License Exemption Threshold: The Specifics
A child care license is required for any facility caring for five (5) or more children who are not related to the operator, with or without compensation (Colorado Dept. of Early Childhood, 8 CCR 1402-1, Section 2.202 SCOPE AND PURPOSE: rules apply to facilities "caring for five (5) or more children with or without compensation"
8 CCR 1402-1
CRS 26.5-5-303 family child care home definition). [Could not verify against Colorado .gov source the specific corollary that a person may care for up to four (4) unrelated children with no more than two (2) under two (2) years of age without a license
2
the cdec.colorado.gov legal-exemption page was not retrievable.]
Colorado Dept. of Early Childhood, 8 CCR 1402-1, Section 2.202 SCOPE AND PURPOSE: rules apply to facilities "caring for five (5) or more children with or without compensation"
A standard family child care home may care for up to six (6) children from birth to eighteen (18) years of age, with no more than three (3) children under eighteen (18) months and no more than two (2) of those under twelve (12) months (8 CCR 1402-1, Section 2.307).
8 CCR 1402-1, Section 2.307
A large family child care home may serve up to twelve (12) children from birth to eighteen (18) years (capacity includes the provider's own children under ten), must add a second staff member when more than eight (8) children are present, and may care for no more than two (2) children under eighteen (18) months of age (8 CCR 1402-1, Section 2.309).
8 CCR 1402-1, Section 2.309
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Colorado License Exemption Threshold: Frequently Asked Questions
How many children can I care for in Colorado without a license?
A child care license is required for any facility caring for five (5) or more children who are not related to the operator, with or without compensation (Colorado Dept. of Early Childhood, 8 CCR 1402-1, Section 2.202 SCOPE AND PURPOSE: rules apply to facilities "caring for five (5) or more children with or without compensation"; CRS 26.5-5-303 family child care home definition). [Could not verify against Colorado .gov source the specific corollary that a person may care for up to four (4) unrelated children with no more than two (2) under two (2) years of age without a license; the cdec.colorado.gov legal-exemption page was not retrievable.]
What is the penalty for operating unlicensed in Colorado?
Operating above the Colorado exemption threshold without the required license, registration, or certificate is generally unlawful and can carry fines and cease-and-desist orders. Contact the Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC), Division of Early Learning and Licensing and Administration (DELLA) about the correct credential before you begin.
Does Colorado offer a voluntary registration for small providers?
Some states let providers below the exemption threshold register voluntarily. Confirm whether Colorado offers a voluntary registry with the Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC), Division of Early Learning and Licensing and Administration (DELLA).
Colorado childcare licensing rules are amended regularly. This page is compiled from published Colorado administrative codes and statutes for informational purposes only — always verify current requirements with the Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC), Division of Early Learning and Licensing and Administration (DELLA) before relying on them. TotReady provides information and document templates, not legal or regulatory advice.