Child care centersChecked against the rule 2026-10-19

California Daycare Ratios and Group Sizes

By Jayesh Parayali, Founder, CareCam · 15+ years building daycare camera systems

The staff-to-child ratios California requires in licensed child care centers, by the state's own age bands, from 22 CCR §101216.3, §101416.5, and §101516.5. Below the table, a calculator tells you how many staff the children in your building need right now.

Educational reference, not legal advice. Family and group child care homes follow different ratios. Confirm with the California Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing Division, Child Care Licensing Program.

California center ratios by age

Age group	Ages	Staff : children	Max group size
Infants	under two years of age	1:4	none set
Toddler component	18 months to 36 months	1:6	12
Preschool-age children	children in a child care center who are not enrolled in an infant care center or a school-age child care center	1:12	none set
School-age children	children who have entered first grade or above, or who are in a program serving only children in kindergarten and above	1:14	none set

•In a preschool program, one teacher and one aide may care for up to 15 children, or up to 18 children when the teacher is fully qualified and the aide meets added requirements (22 CCR §101216.3(b)), and in a school-age program one teacher and one aide may care for up to 28 children (22 CCR §101516.5).
•During naps, one teacher may supervise 24 napping preschool children or 12 sleeping infants, provided the rest of the staff needed for the regular ratio are immediately available at the center (22 CCR §101230(c) and §101416.5(d)).
•The statutory toddler component was repealed effective January 1, 2024 by AB 2131, and the 1:6 ratio and 12-toddler group size now come from CDSS Written Directives in PIN 24-02-CCP, which have the force of regulation until new regulations are adopted.
•Centers funded by the California Department of Education and operating under Title 5 follow Title 5 staffing ratios instead of these Title 22 ratios (22 CCR §101216.3(c)).

How many staff do I need right now?

Enter the children in the building right now, by age group. The numbers update as you type and nothing is sent anywhere.

Age group	Ratio	Children	Staff needed
Infantsunder two years of age	1:4
Toddler component18 months to 36 months	1:6max group 12
Preschool-age childrenchildren in a child care center who are not enrolled in an infant care center or a school-age child care center	1:12
School-age childrenchildren who have entered first grade or above, or who are in a program serving only children in kindergarten and above	1:14
Total

Counts each age group as its own room. For a mixed-age room, California like most states applies the ratio of the youngest child present to the whole group. Ratios apply the whole day, including naps, transitions and the first and last hour. Confirm against the rule linked above before you schedule.

Inspections in California

Licensed child care centers are subject to an unannounced inspection at least once every three years. Annual unannounced inspections are required for centers on probation or facing certain enforcement actions, and for a random sample of at least 30 percent of the remaining centers each year. Source. The licensing agency is the California Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing Division, Child Care Licensing Program. Inspection reports are public: look up a center's reports.

The California inspection checklist is the walk-through a licensor does, written as things to check before they arrive, with your ratios and agency filled in.

Proving the room was in ratio

When a parent or licensor asks what the toddler room looked like at 4:45 on Tuesday, your own cameras answer. CareCam runs on the cameras a center already has and adds a live, video-only view for parents of their own child's room, during the hours you set. No audio, so California's all-party (two-party) consent rule never comes into it.

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Related for California: daycare camera laws. Other states: daycare ratios by state.

California daycare ratio FAQ

What is the daycare ratio in California?

California sets its center ratios by age: 1:4 for infants (under two years of age), 1:6 for toddler component (18 months to 36 months), 1:12 for preschool-age children (children in a child care center who are not enrolled in an infant care center or a school-age child care center), 1:14 for school-age children (children who have entered first grade or above, or who are in a program serving only children in kindergarten and above). The rule is 22 CCR §101216.3, §101416.5, and §101516.5.

What is the infant ratio for daycare centers in California?

One caregiver for every 4 infants (under two years of age).

What is the toddler ratio in California?

1:6 for toddler component (18 months to 36 months), maximum group size 12.

How many 3-year-olds can one teacher have in California?

12 children per teacher for preschool-age children (children in a child care center who are not enrolled in an infant care center or a school-age child care center).

Does California set maximum group sizes?

Yes. Toddler component: 12. A group may not exceed these numbers no matter how many adults are in the room.

How often are daycare centers inspected in California?

Licensed child care centers are subject to an unannounced inspection at least once every three years. Annual unannounced inspections are required for centers on probation or facing certain enforcement actions, and for a random sample of at least 30 percent of the remaining centers each year. The licensing agency is the California Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing Division, Child Care Licensing Program. Inspection reports are public; the lookup is linked on this page.

Can cameras count toward the ratio in California?

No. The ratio counts adults physically in the room with the children. Cameras let a director confirm afterwards that ratios were kept, and with CareCam they give parents a live, video-only view of their own child's room during the hours the center sets.

Run a California center? See if your cameras can do double duty

Tell us your camera brand and we'll confirm whether the cameras you already have can give parents a secure, live, video-only view of their own child's room. We reply within one business day.