Alabama Childcare Licensing Requirements
Alabama childcare centers must include 13 mandatory sections in parent handbooks per Ala. Admin. Code r. 660-5-26-.01(9) & (19) (Definitions: 'Day Care Center' - day care begins no earlier than 5:00 a.m.; 'Nighttime Center' - nighttime care after 7:00 p.m.); additional after-hours/past-midnight requirements at 660-5-26-.09 (Nighttime Centers); a major change or extension of the basic operating schedule (hours) must be reported under 660-5-26-.08(2)(a)6..
Last updated: April 2026
Researched by the TotReady Research TeamRequired Handbook Sections
The following sections must appear in every Alabama childcare parent handbook per state licensing rules.
| Section | Description | Citation | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hours of Operation | Days and hours the facility is open; holiday closures; late pick-up policy. | Ala. Admin. Code r. 660-5-26-.01(9) & (19) (Definitions: 'Day Care Center' - day care begins no earlier than 5:00 a.m.; 'Nighttime Center' - nighttime care after 7:00 p.m.); additional after-hours/past-midnight requirements at 660-5-26-.09 (Nighttime Centers); a major change or extension of the basic operating schedule (hours) must be reported under 660-5-26-.08(2)(a)6. | Required |
| Behavior Guidance and Discipline PolicyGuide → | Positive guidance techniques used; prohibited discipline methods; progressive steps. | Ala. Admin. Code r. 660-5-26-.04(4) (Disciplinary Practices) | Required |
| Illness and Exclusion PolicyGuide → | Symptoms requiring exclusion; readmission criteria; communicable disease procedures. | Ala. Admin. Code r. 660-5-26-.04(6)(a) (Health Information - Illness and injury; no ill child admitted (660-5-26-.04(6)(a)1); isolation and removal at 660-5-26-.04(6)(a)2) | Required |
| Medication Administration PolicyGuide → | Procedures for administering prescription and non-prescription medications; authorization requirements. | Ala. Admin. Code r. 660-5-26-.04(6)(a)6 (Authority and procedure for administering medication or medical procedures; signed non-blanket authorization on required form, valid max 7 days without a physician's statement) | Required |
| Emergency ProceduresGuide → | Fire, severe weather, lockdown, and medical emergency procedures; evacuation routes. | Ala. Admin. Code r. 660-5-26-.04(7) (Emergency Preparedness and Response Plans) | Required |
| Arrival and Departure Procedures | Sign-in/sign-out requirements; authorized pick-up persons; late pick-up fees. | Ala. Admin. Code r. 660-5-26-.05(2)(b)-(c) (parent/designee must sign each child in at each arrival and out at each departure); release authorization to persons other than parent/preadmission designees at 660-5-26-.05(2)(e); capacity/admission at 660-5-26-.08(3) | Required |
| Nutrition and Meals Policy | Meals and snacks provided; food allergy procedures; outside food policy. | Ala. Admin. Code r. 660-5-26-.04(3)(d) (Preschool/School-age Feeding - breakfast/snack, midday meal, afternoon snack; components/serving sizes per U.S.D.A. guidelines) and 660-5-26-.04(2)(e) (Infant/Toddler Feeding) | Required |
| Parent Communication Policy | Daily report procedures; how to reach staff; parent conference schedule. | Ala. Admin. Code r. 660-5-26-.04(5) (Staff-Parent Communication) | Required |
| Grievance and Complaint Procedure | Steps for resolving concerns; contact for unresolved complaints. | Ala. Admin. Code r. 660-5-26-.04(5)(e) (center must notify parents of procedures for making a complaint, including name(s) of person(s) to contact); licensee/applicant pre-revocation hearing and fair-hearing/appeal rights at 660-5-26-.11 (Hearings and Appeals) | Required |
| Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting | Mandatory reporter obligations; reporting procedures; state hotline. | Ala. Admin. Code r. 660-5-26-.08(2)(c) (Child Abuse/Neglect reports - each staff person required by law to report known/suspected abuse or neglect to County DHR, local chief of police, or county sheriff); statutory basis Code of Ala. 1975 sec. 26-14-3 (definition cross-referenced at sec. 26-14-1) | Required |
| Enrollment, Fees, and Payment Policy | Enrollment process; tuition rates; payment schedule; refund policy. | Ala. Admin. Code r. 660-5-26-.08(3) (Admission Procedures) and 660-5-26-.08(4) (Children's Records - Pre-Admission Record); written operating policies (which include fee/operating policies) provided to parents at enrollment under 660-5-26-.08(1)(e)1. No separate fee-schedule rule exists; this is the closest verified umbrella citation. | Required |
| Health and Safety Policies | Handwashing procedures; diapering; sunscreen; rest time policies. | Ala. Admin. Code r. 660-5-26-.03 (Facilities - fire inspection (.03(1)), health inspection (.03(2)), indoor/outdoor area, hazard prevention) and 660-5-26-.04(6) (Health Information) | Required |
| Nondiscrimination Policy | Statement of equal access; protected classes covered. | Alabama's day care licensing chapter (660-5-26) contains no standalone nondiscrimination rule; the closest verified reference is Ala. Admin. Code r. 660-5-26-.04(6)(a)1 (illness-exclusion provision stating it is not intended to require exclusion of children in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)) | Required |
| Transportation Policy | Vehicle safety requirements; car seat policy; authorization procedures. | Ala. Admin. Code r. 660-5-26-.05 (Transportation; .05(1) Transportation Provided by the Center, .05(2) Transportation Provided by Parent(s)/Guardian(s) or Other Designated Person(s)) | Recommended |
| Field Trip Policy | Authorization requirements; supervision ratios during off-site activities. | Ala. Admin. Code r. 660-5-26-.05(1)(a) (away-from-center activities require a written statement signed by each child's parent/guardian on file before participation) and 660-5-26-.03(8) (Away from center activities; DHR does not inspect away-from-center activities); food-allergy written care plan/medications to be carried on field trips at 660-5-26-.04(6)(a)4(iii). No dedicated 'field trips' rule exists; these are the closest verified citations. | Recommended |
Staff-to-Child Ratios
Alabama mandates the following maximum staff-to-child ratios by age group.
| Age Group | Staff-to-Child Ratio |
|---|---|
| 0 up to 18 months | 1:5 |
| 18 months up to 2.5 years | 1:7 |
| 24 months up to 36 months | 1:8 |
| 2.5 years up to 4 years | 1:11 |
| 4 years up to school age | 1:18 |
| School age up to 8 years | 1:21 |
| 8 years and older | 1:22 |
Immunization Requirements
- On the child's first day of attendance, each child from 2 months of age to lawful school age (and each child of lawful school age not enrolled in public/private school kindergarten) must have a valid State of Alabama Certificate of Immunization on file in the center (660-5-26-.08(4)(b)3)
- Each child's Certificate of Immunization must be kept current and updated according to the expiration date indicated on the certificate
- Acceptable in lieu of immunization: a valid State of Alabama Certificate of Medical Exemption
- Acceptable in lieu of immunization: a valid Alabama Certificate of Religious Exemption
- Children meeting the definition of homelessness under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act are excepted (current codified version of 660-5-26-.08(4)(b)3)
- The underlying immunization schedule and certificate are issued by the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH); the day care licensing rule requires the ADPH-issued State of Alabama Certificate of Immunization but does not name a specific form number (e.g., IMM 50)
Background Check Requirements
- Criminal History Background Information Check required for applicants, licensees, board members, center directors, staff, employees, volunteers, and applicants for employment/volunteer work (660-5-26-.07(2)(c))
- National FBI criminal history check with fingerprints (660-5-26-.07(2)(c)7(i))
- National Crime Information Center (NCIC) / National Sex Offender Registry check (660-5-26-.07(2)(c)7(ii))
- In-state (Alabama) criminal history check with fingerprints (660-5-26-.07(2)(c)7(iii))
- In-state (Alabama) sex offender registry check (660-5-26-.07(2)(c)7(iv))
- Inter-state criminal history check and inter-state sex offender registry check if the individual has lived in another state within the past 5 years (660-5-26-.07(2)(c)7(v)-(vi))
- Request for Clearance of the State Central Registry on Child Abuse/Neglect via DHR-DFC Form 1598 for applicants, directors, and staff/employees/volunteers (660-5-26-.07(2)(b))
- Suitability determination by DHR is required; criminal-history background information must be updated/renewed periodically (every 5 years) per 660-5-26-.07(2)(c)
Inspection Frequency
Licenses are valid for two (2) years (Ala. Admin. Code r. 660-5-26-.02(8)(a)); renewal must be applied for at least 30 days before expiration (660-5-26-.02(6)). Annual compliance visits, and visits to investigate complaints, are made without prior notice (unannounced); pre-licensing visits may be made by appointment (660-5-26-.02(7)). Fire department inspections must be submitted prior to initial licensing and, per the current codified rule, updated at a minimum of every five (5) years (660-5-26-.03(1)); a health department inspection report is required prior to initial licensing, with subsequent inspections as requested (660-5-26-.03(2)).
Penalties for Non-Compliance
Per Ala. Admin. Code r. 660-5-26-.10 and Code of Ala. 1975, Title 38, Chapter 7: operating a child care facility without a license/six-month permit/approval, or violating any provision of the chapter, is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $1,000, or imprisonment in the county jail not longer than one year, or both (660-5-26-.10(2)(d)2; cases referred to the Attorney General and appropriate District Attorney for prosecution). Refusing to permit a lawful inspection is a Class C misdemeanor (fine not more than $500 or imprisonment in county jail not more than three months) (660-5-26-.10(2)(e)3). Administrative/adverse actions for noncompliance include deficiency reports, corrective action plans, restriction/modification of the license, probationary status (maximum 6 months), suspension (no longer than 120 days), and revocation of the license/permit/approval (660-5-26-.10(1) and 660-5-26-.10(2)(a)-(c)). Continuing to operate after license expiration is reported to the District Attorney and Attorney General (660-5-26-.02(6)(e)).
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many sections must be in a Alabama childcare parent handbook?
Alabama childcare centers are required to include at least 13 mandatory sections in their parent handbooks per state licensing regulations enforced by the Alabama Department of Human Resources (DHR), Child Care Services Division (Office of Child Care Licensing).
Who oversees childcare licensing in Alabama?
Childcare licensing in Alabama is regulated by the Alabama Department of Human Resources (DHR), Child Care Services Division (Office of Child Care Licensing). You can find official licensing information at https://dhr.alabama.gov/child-care/licensing-overview/.
What happens if a Alabama childcare center doesn't have a compliant handbook?
Non-compliance with Alabama parent handbook requirements can result in: Per Ala. Admin. Code r. 660-5-26-.10 and Code of Ala. 1975, Title 38, Chapter 7: operating a child care facility without a license/six-month permit/approval, or violating any provision of the chapter, is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $1,000, or imprisonment in the county jail not longer than one year, or both (660-5-26-.10(2)(d)2; cases referred to the Attorney General and appropriate District Attorney for prosecution). Refusing to permit a lawful inspection is a Class C misdemeanor (fine not more than $500 or imprisonment in county jail not more than three months) (660-5-26-.10(2)(e)3). Administrative/adverse actions for noncompliance include deficiency reports, corrective action plans, restriction/modification of the license, probationary status (maximum 6 months), suspension (no longer than 120 days), and revocation of the license/permit/approval (660-5-26-.10(1) and 660-5-26-.10(2)(a)-(c)). Continuing to operate after license expiration is reported to the District Attorney and Attorney General (660-5-26-.02(6)(e)).
How often are Alabama childcare centers inspected?
Alabama childcare centers are subject to the following inspection schedule: Licenses are valid for two (2) years (Ala. Admin. Code r. 660-5-26-.02(8)(a)); renewal must be applied for at least 30 days before expiration (660-5-26-.02(6)). Annual compliance visits, and visits to investigate complaints, are made without prior notice (unannounced); pre-licensing visits may be made by appointment (660-5-26-.02(7)). Fire department inspections must be submitted prior to initial licensing and, per the current codified rule, updated at a minimum of every five (5) years (660-5-26-.03(1)); a health department inspection report is required prior to initial licensing, with subsequent inspections as requested (660-5-26-.03(2)).
Detailed Alabama Requirements
Go deeper on a single Alabama licensing topic — each page covers the statute-cited specifics for that requirement.
Related Tools
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Staff-to-Child Ratio Calculator
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