District of Columbia daycare ratios by age
District of Columbia's child care center rule (5-A DCMR §121.3) sets the staff-to-child ratios below: one adult for every 8 three-year-olds, in groups of no more than 16. Read on 2026-10-31; your licensing consultant has the last word.
District of Columbia child care center ratios and group sizes
| Age | Children per adult | Largest group |
|---|---|---|
| Infants (under 12 months) | 1 to 4 | 8 |
| Toddlers (12 to 24 months) | 1 to 4 | 8 |
| Two-year-olds | 1 to 4 | 12 |
| Three-year-olds | 1 to 8 | 16 |
| Four-year-olds | 1 to 10 | 20 |
| Five-year-olds (not yet in school) | not set | not set by age |
How many adults does my room need in District of Columbia?
Type how many children of each age are in the room.
What the rule says
0-24 mo 1:4 group 8; 24-30 mo 1:4 group 12; 30-48 mo 1:8 group 16; 48-60 mo 1:10 group 20; at least two staff supervising each group at all times. Out-of-school-time only: under 6 yr 1:12 group 24, 6+ 1:15 group 30. (mapped: twos split evenly between 24-30 mo 1:4/12 and 30-36 mo 1:8/16, stricter used; fives null because no center row past 60 mo, only the out-of-school-time row)
Rule: 5-A DCMR §121.3. Read on 2026-10-31 at dcregs.dc.gov. Where the rule's ages split one of ours, the younger, stricter figure is shown. This is the rule for licensed centers; family child care homes, school-age care and mixed-age groups have their own rules. A reading of public regulations, not licensing advice.
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