Alabama
One of the 6, nothing band-specific between 12 months and school age. 660-5-27-.02(9)
One age, every verified state
Daycare ratio for 3 year olds in home care, state by state
Verified September 1, 2026Age three quietly ends the last of the tight caps: Pennsylvania’s under-3 combined limit and Washington’s under-three cap both expire on the third birthday, and every verified state now treats the child as a full group member. The remaining questions are group size and how the state’s preschool band is drawn.
State by state
California
A regular mix member; the seventh and eighth seats still require enrolled school-age children, which a 3 year old is not. 22 CCR 102416.5; HSC 1597.44
Iowa
Not-in-school until kindergarten: part of the 6, 8 or 14 not-in-school totals by category. 441 IAC 110.13 to 110.15
Maryland
Three and 4 year olds run 1 staff to 10 in same-age groups. COMAR 13A.18.08.03C
Missouri
Inside the preschool band, 24 to 72 months, as an ordinary member of the 10-child table. 5 CSR 25-400.105
Oklahoma
A from-two child with room for the full group of 7. OAC 340:110-3-84
Pennsylvania
Out of the under-3 cap at the third birthday: the family home can finally hold its full 6 with three of them young. 55 Pa. Code 3290.52
Texas
Pre-kindergarten band from 36 months; chart group sizes rise accordingly. 26 TAC 747.1801
Virginia
Costs 2 points until the fifth birthday. 8VAC20-800-570(A)
Washington
A member of the top-level 10-child group of three-through-twelves. WAC 110-300-0355(9)
Real questions, short answers
How many 3 year olds can one home provider watch?
The general ceilings now apply: 6 in Alabama and California small homes, 7 in Oklahoma, 8 by points in Virginia, 10 same-age in a Maryland large home or a Washington top-level home. No verified state keeps a 3-year-old sub-cap.
What changes exactly at the third birthday?
Pennsylvania’s 5-under-3 combined cap and Washington’s 4-under-3 mid-level cap stop applying, and Texas moves the child from the toddler column to pre-kindergarten. Everywhere else the change happened at two.
Other ages
DaycareRules is an informational reference about home child care licensing rules in the United States. It reprints thresholds, capacity limits, ratios and citations from state statutes and regulations, together with the date each state was last verified. Nothing on this site is legal advice, and rules change. Confirm with your state licensing agency before acting on any number printed here.