Florida Daycare Ratios and Group Sizes
By Jayesh Parayali, Founder, CareCam · 15+ years building daycare camera systems
The staff-to-child ratios Florida requires in licensed child care centers, by the state's own age bands, from Fla. Stat. §402.305(4). 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 Florida Department of Children and Families.
Florida center ratios by age
| Age group | Ages | Staff : children | Max group size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infants | birth to under 1 year | 1:4 | none set |
| One-year-olds | 1 year to under 2 years | 1:6 | none set |
| Two-year-olds | 2 years to under 3 years | 1:11 | none set |
| Three-year-olds | 3 years to under 4 years | 1:15 | none set |
| Four-year-olds | 4 years to under 5 years | 1:20 | none set |
| Five-year-olds and older | 5 years and older | 1:25 | none set |
- •In mixed-age groups of children 2 and older, the ratio is set by the age group with the largest number of children, while any group that includes a child under 1 is held to 1:4 and any group that includes a 1-year-old is held to 1:6.
- •Florida sets no maximum group size for child care facilities in statute or in the Child Care Facility Handbook.
- •During nap time, staff must be within sight and hearing of all children and other ratio staff must be in the building on the same floor, but children up to 24 months must have direct supervision at all times.
- •Broward, Palm Beach, Pinellas and Sarasota counties license child care through their own local licensing agencies, which may set standards above the state minimums.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infantsbirth to under 1 year | 1:4 | ||
| One-year-olds1 year to under 2 years | 1:6 | ||
| Two-year-olds2 years to under 3 years | 1:11 | ||
| Three-year-olds3 years to under 4 years | 1:15 | ||
| Four-year-olds4 years to under 5 years | 1:20 | ||
| Five-year-olds and older5 years and older | 1:25 | ||
| Total | |||
Counts each age group as its own room. For a mixed-age room, Florida 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 Florida
Licensed child care facilities are inspected at least three times per year, according to the Department of Children and Families. Source. The licensing agency is the Florida Department of Children and Families. Inspection reports are public: look up a center's reports.
The Florida 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 Florida's all-party (two-party) consent rule never comes into it.
Related for Florida: daycare camera laws. Other states: daycare ratios by state.
Florida daycare ratio FAQ
What is the daycare ratio in Florida?
What is the infant ratio for daycare centers in Florida?
What is the toddler ratio in Florida?
How many 3-year-olds can one teacher have in Florida?
Does Florida set maximum group sizes?
How often are daycare centers inspected in Florida?
Can cameras count toward the ratio in Florida?
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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.