South Carolina daycare ratios by age
South Carolina's child care center rule (S.C. Code Ann. Regs. 114-504(B)) sets the staff-to-child ratios below: one adult for every 12 three-year-olds. Read on 2026-10-31; your licensing consultant has the last word.
South Carolina child care center ratios and group sizes
| Age | Children per adult | Largest group |
|---|---|---|
| Infants (under 12 months) | 1 to 5 | not set by age |
| Toddlers (12 to 24 months) | 1 to 6 | not set by age |
| Two-year-olds | 1 to 8 | not set by age |
| Three-year-olds | 1 to 12 | not set by age |
| Four-year-olds | 1 to 17 | not set by age |
| Five-year-olds (not yet in school) | 1 to 20 | not set by age |
How many adults does my room need in South Carolina?
Type how many children of each age are in the room.
What the rule says
Birth-1 yr 1:5; 1-2 yr 1:6; 2-3 yr 1:8; 3-4 yr 1:12; 4-5 yr 1:17; 5-6 yr 1:20; 6-12 yr 1:23; no maximum group size stated (separate nap-time and water ratios)
Rule: S.C. Code Ann. Regs. 114-504(B). Read on 2026-10-31 at scstatehouse.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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