Utah DHHS Office of Licensing, Child Care Licensing
Utah home daycare ratios by age
Verified September 5, 2026
Utah uses the same under-two rule in both home instruments and different ceilings. A Residential Certificate provider keeps one caregiver for up to eight children in care. Licensed Family Child Care keeps one caregiver for up to eight and two caregivers for nine to sixteen. In both, at least one caregiver is required for every three children under two, no caregiver has more than two children under eighteen months, and two caregivers are required if more than three children under two are present and more than six children are in care. Tables 1 and 2 of R430-90-10 lower the children in care as the provider’s own children four to twelve are present, capping the total present at twelve with one caregiver and twenty-four with two.
Every tier, every cap
Residential Certificate Child Care
No more than 8 children in care at once Utah Admin. Code R430-50-3(1)(c) (eff. 06/05/2026)
No more than 10 children in care at once Utah Code 26B-2-405(1)(b)(i) (eff. 5/1/2024); R430-50-3(1)(c) (eff. 06/05/2026)
No more than 8 children in care at once Utah Admin. Code R430-50-10(1) (eff. 06/05/2026)
No more than 3 infant+toddler Utah Admin. Code R430-50-10(2)(a) (eff. 06/05/2026)
No more than 2 under 18 months Utah Admin. Code R430-50-10(2)(b) (eff. 06/05/2026)
At least 2 caregivers if over 3 under two and over 6 in care Utah Admin. Code R430-50-10(2)(c) (eff. 06/05/2026)
With an assistant: No more than 8 (childrenInCare); No more than 6 under2; No more than 4 under18mo
Your own children: count toward these caps (under 4 years).
Licensed Family Child Care
No more than 8 children in care at once Utah Admin. Code R430-90-10(1) (eff. 06/05/2026)
No more than 12 children in care at once Utah Admin. Code R430-90-10(4) Table 1 (eff. 06/05/2026)
No more than 3 infant+younger toddler+older toddler Utah Admin. Code R430-90-10(3)(a) (eff. 06/05/2026)
No more than 2 infant+younger toddler Utah Admin. Code R430-90-10(3)(b) (eff. 06/05/2026)
With an assistant: an additional adult is required above 8 children. No more than 16 children in care at once; No more than 24 children in care at once; No more than 6 infant+younger toddler+older toddler; No more than 4 infant+younger toddler
Your own children: count toward these caps (under 4 years).
Exempt provider (residential child care for eight or fewer qualifying children)
No more than 8 (qualifyingChildren) Utah Code 26B-2-405(1)(a)(viii)
No more than 2 under3 Utah Code 26B-2-405(1)(b)(ii)
No more than 10 (allChildrenUnder13IncludingRelated) Utah Code 26B-2-405(1)(b)(i)
Your own children: count toward these caps (under 4 years).
How Utah defines the age bands
Infant: 0 to 12 months
Younger toddler: 12 to 18 months
Older toddler: 18 to 24 months
Preschooler: 24 to 60 months
School age child: 60 to 156 months
Toddler (12 through 23 months; R430 50 only): 12 to 24 months
Mixed ages in one room
Under eighteen months and under two are the binding bands, and they nest: two of the three under two per caregiver may be under eighteen months.
Real questions, short answers
How many children under two can one Utah caregiver have?
Three, of whom no more than two are under eighteen months, per R430-90-10(3) and R430-50-10(2).
When does a Utah home need two caregivers?
At nine children in care under a license, and in either instrument whenever more than three children under two are present and more than six children are in care.
Can a Utah home add school-age children after school?
Up to three additional school-age children under a license per R430-90-9(4), and up to two under a Residential Certificate per R430-50-9(4).
Utah Code 26B-2-405, Exclusions from part, effective May 1, 2024 26B-2-405
Utah Admin. Code R430-90, Licensed Family Child Care, and R430-50, Residential Certificate Child Care, effective June 5, 2026 R430-90-3, R430-90-9, R430-90-10, R430-50-3, R430-50-9, R430-50-10
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.