Wyoming Childcare License Exemption Threshold (2026)

A Wyoming child care license is required when caring for more than two children who are not related to the caregiver

Wyoming Dept. of Family Services, 'Who Needs to be Licensed'

care for no more than two unrelated children is exempt, as are care by legal parents/relatives, occasional (non-regular) neighbor or friend care, parent cooperatives, in-home care by a hired employee, state/local government and school-district programs, certain ranch/farm care, nonprofit summer camps, facilities serving only one immediate family unit, and qualifying after-school programs (Wyoming Dept. of Family Services, 'Who Needs to be Licensed'

non-regular

A Wyoming Family Child Care Home is located in the owner's primary residence and may be licensed for up to 10 children (WY Child Care Licensing Rules, Chapter 11, Section 2(a)(i), effective April 2026).

WY Child Care Licensing Rules, Chapter 11, Section 2(a)(i), effective April 2026

Children of the home owner/director under five (5) years old are counted in capacity and ratios

5

the owner's own children 5+ are generally not counted (Sec.2(a)(vi)).

Sec.2(a)(vi)

Infant staff:child ratios are 1:4 (one staff), 2:8 (two staff), and 3:10 (three staff), giving a maximum infant group size of 10 (Sec.2(b) ratio table).

Sec.2(b) ratio table

NOTE: the draft's infant 'maximum group size of 8' reflects the superseded 2014 Table 6-1

Sec.2(a)(vi)

the current table permits up to 10 infants with three staff.

Sec.2(a)(vi)

The 10-child FCCH cap itself is confirmed unchanged.

Sec.2(a)(vi)

How many children can I care for in Wyoming without a license?

A Wyoming child care license is required when caring for more than two children who are not related to the caregiver; care for no more than two unrelated children is exempt, as are care by legal parents/relatives, occasional (non-regular) neighbor or friend care, parent cooperatives, in-home care by a hired employee, state/local government and school-district programs, certain ranch/farm care, nonprofit summer camps, facilities serving only one immediate family unit, and qualifying after-school programs (Wyoming Dept. of Family Services, 'Who Needs to be Licensed'; W.S. 14-4-101 et seq.).

What is the penalty for operating unlicensed in Wyoming?

Operating above the Wyoming exemption threshold without the required license, registration, or certificate is generally unlawful and can carry fines and cease-and-desist orders. Contact the Wyoming Department of Family Services (DFS), Child Care Licensing about the correct credential before you begin.

Does Wyoming offer a voluntary registration for small providers?

Some states let providers below the exemption threshold register voluntarily. Confirm whether Wyoming offers a voluntary registry with the Wyoming Department of Family Services (DFS), Child Care Licensing.