Virginia daycare ratios by age
Virginia's child care center rule (8 Va. Admin. Code 20-780-350, Tables 1 and 2) sets the staff-to-child ratios below: one adult for every 10 three-year-olds, in groups of no more than 30. Read on 2026-10-31; your licensing consultant has the last word.
Virginia child care center ratios and group sizes
| Age | Children per adult | Largest group |
|---|---|---|
| Infants (under 12 months) | 1 to 4 | 12 |
| Toddlers (12 to 24 months) | 1 to 5 | 15 |
| Two-year-olds | 1 to 8 | 24 |
| Three-year-olds | 1 to 10 | 30 |
| Four-year-olds | 1 to 10 | 30 |
| Five-year-olds (not yet in school) | 1 to 10 | 30 |
How many adults does my room need in Virginia?
Type how many children of each age are in the room.
What the rule says
Birth-16 mo 1:4 group 12; 16-24 mo 1:5 group 15; 2 yrs 1:8 group 24; 3 yrs up to school age eligible 1:10 group 30; school age eligible-9 yrs 1:18 no group; 9-12 yrs 1:20 no group (mapped: toddler=16-24 mo row covers most of 12-24 mo; fives=3 yrs-up-to-school-age row for not-yet-school-age fives)
Rule: 8 Va. Admin. Code 20-780-350, Tables 1 and 2. Read on 2026-10-31 at law.lis.virginia.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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