Child care centersChecked against the rule 2026-10-19

North Carolina Daycare Ratios and Group Sizes

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

The staff-to-child ratios North Carolina requires in licensed child care centers, by the state's own age bands, from 10A NCAC 09 .0713 and G.S. 110-91(7). 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 North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education.

North Carolina center ratios by age

Age group	Ages	Staff : children	Max group size
0 to 12 months	birth to 12 months	1:5	15
12 to 24 months	12 to 24 months	1:6	18
2 to 3 years	2 to 3 years	1:10	20
3 to 4 years	3 to 4 years	1:15	25
4 to 5 years	4 to 5 years	1:20	25
5 years and older	5 years and older	1:25	25

•When age groups are combined, the ratio for the youngest child applies to the whole group, and children of all ages may be grouped together during the first and last operating hour of the day.
•A center may instead use the rule's multi-age group ratios (for example, 1:4 with a group of 8 for children 0 to 36 months) after notifying the Division in writing, and centers located in a residence follow separate ratios.
•Session Law 2025-36 (effective July 1, 2025) amended G.S. 110-91(7) to raise the maximum group size to 15 for infants and 18 for children 12 to 24 months, up from 10 and 12, though the rule text and the Division's July 2026 center guide still print the old numbers.

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
0 to 12 monthsbirth to 12 months	1:5max group 15
12 to 24 months12 to 24 months	1:6max group 18
2 to 3 years2 to 3 years	1:10max group 20
3 to 4 years3 to 4 years	1:15max group 25
4 to 5 years4 to 5 years	1:20max group 25
5 years and older5 years and older	1:25max group 25
Total

Counts each age group as its own room. For a mixed-age room, North Carolina 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 North Carolina

The Division of Child Development and Early Education makes at least one unannounced visit to each licensed program every year. It also makes unannounced visits to investigate complaints. Source. The licensing agency is the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education. Inspection reports are public: look up a center's reports.

The North Carolina 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 North Carolina's one-party consent rule never comes into it.

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

North Carolina daycare ratio FAQ

What is the daycare ratio in North Carolina?

North Carolina sets its center ratios by age: 1:5 for 0 to 12 months (birth to 12 months), 1:6 for 12 to 24 months (12 to 24 months), 1:10 for 2 to 3 years (2 to 3 years), 1:15 for 3 to 4 years (3 to 4 years), 1:20 for 4 to 5 years (4 to 5 years), 1:25 for 5 years and older (5 years and older). The rule is 10A NCAC 09 .0713 and G.S. 110-91(7).

What is the infant ratio for daycare centers in North Carolina?

One caregiver for every 5 infants (birth to 12 months), with no more than 15 infants in one group.

What is the toddler ratio in North Carolina?

1:6 for 12 to 24 months (12 to 24 months), maximum group size 18.

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

15 children per teacher for 3 to 4 years (3 to 4 years), in a group of no more than 25.

Does North Carolina set maximum group sizes?

Yes. 0 to 12 months: 15; 12 to 24 months: 18; 2 to 3 years: 20; 3 to 4 years: 25; 4 to 5 years: 25; 5 years and older: 25. A group may not exceed these numbers no matter how many adults are in the room.

How often are daycare centers inspected in North Carolina?

The Division of Child Development and Early Education makes at least one unannounced visit to each licensed program every year. It also makes unannounced visits to investigate complaints. The licensing agency is the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education. Inspection reports are public; the lookup is linked on this page.

Can cameras count toward the ratio in North Carolina?

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 North Carolina 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.