Kentucky Childcare Licensing Requirements (2026)

Kentucky childcare centers must include a written Hours of Operation section in the parent handbook (Days and hours the facility is open; holiday closures; late pick-up policy.) per 922 KAR 2:090, Section 1(13) (definition of nontraditional hours: 7 p.m.–5 a.m. weekdays / 7 p.m. Fri–5 a.m. Mon) & Section 6(7)(e) (nontraditional hours specified on the license).

922 KAR 2:090, Section 1(13) (definition of nontraditional hours: 7 p.m.–5 a.m. weekdays / 7 p.m. Fri–5 a.m. Mon) & Section 6(7)(e) (nontraditional hours specified on the license)

Kentucky childcare centers must include a written Behavior Guidance and Discipline Policy section in the parent handbook (Positive guidance techniques used; prohibited discipline methods; progressive steps.) per 922 KAR 2:120, Section 2 (Child Care Services; behavior management — prohibits corporal/physical discipline and loud, profane, threatening, frightening, humiliating, or abusive language; specific prohibition at Section 2(11)).

922 KAR 2:120, Section 2 (Child Care Services; behavior management — prohibits corporal/physical discipline and loud, profane, threatening, frightening, humiliating, or abusive language; specific prohibition at Section 2(11))

Kentucky childcare centers must include a written Illness and Exclusion Policy section in the parent handbook (Symptoms requiring exclusion; readmission criteria; communicable disease procedures.) per 922 KAR 2:120, Section 7 (First Aid and Medicine; a child showing signs of a communicable illness shall not be admitted to the regular child-care program) — communicable-disease reporting per 922 KAR 2:090, Section 13(1)(a) (which reports pursuant to 902 KAR 2:020 and to the local health department).

922 KAR 2:120, Section 7 (First Aid and Medicine; a child showing signs of a communicable illness shall not be admitted to the regular child-care program) — communicable-disease reporting per 922 KAR 2:090, Section 13(1)(a) (which reports pursuant to 902 KAR 2:020 and to the local health department)

Kentucky childcare centers must include a written Medication Administration Policy section in the parent handbook (Procedures for administering prescription and non-prescription medications; authorization requirements.) per 922 KAR 2:120, Section 7 (First Aid and Medicine; medication requires written parental/prescriber request and must be administered per label directions).

922 KAR 2:120, Section 7 (First Aid and Medicine; medication requires written parental/prescriber request and must be administered per label directions)

Kentucky childcare centers must include a written Emergency Procedures section in the parent handbook (Fire, severe weather, lockdown, and medical emergency procedures; evacuation routes.) per 922 KAR 2:090, Section 5 (written evacuation plan for fire, natural disaster, or other threatening situation) & 922 KAR 2:120, Section 3 (General Requirements; fire drills at least monthly, plus quarterly earthquake/tornado/lockdown/shelter-in-place drills).

922 KAR 2:090, Section 5 (written evacuation plan for fire, natural disaster, or other threatening situation) & 922 KAR 2:120, Section 3 (General Requirements; fire drills at least monthly, plus quarterly earthquake/tornado/lockdown/shelter-in-place drills)

Kentucky childcare centers must include a written Arrival and Departure Procedures section in the parent handbook (Sign-in/sign-out requirements; authorized pick-up persons; late pick-up fees.) per 922 KAR 2:120, Section 2 (Child Care Services; adequate supervision of each child at all times by qualified staff) & 922 KAR 2:090, Section 9 (records, including authorization for emergency care and release information).

922 KAR 2:120, Section 2 (Child Care Services; adequate supervision of each child at all times by qualified staff) & 922 KAR 2:090, Section 9 (records, including authorization for emergency care and release information)

Which agency regulates childcare licensing in Kentucky?

Childcare licensing in Kentucky is regulated by the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Office of Inspector General — Division of Regulated Child Care (DRCC), which licenses and investigates complaints against licensed child-care centers and certified family child-care homes; child-care standards developed in coordination with the Department for Community Based Services (DCBS) Division of Child Care. Official licensing information is published at https://www.chfs.ky.gov/agencies/os/oig/drcc/Pages/default.aspx.

How many handbook policy sections does Kentucky require?

Kentucky requires at least 13 mandatory policy sections in a licensed center's parent handbook, each backed by a specific state regulatory citation.

How often does Kentucky inspect licensed childcare centers?

A child-care center shall allow the cabinet or its designee, another agency with regulatory authority, and a parent of an enrolled child unannounced access during hours of operation; inspections of licensed centers are unannounced (922 KAR 2:090). Where a license is granted after the seven-year period referenced in 922 KAR 2:090 Section 5(a), the licensee serves a two-year probationary period during which the center shall be inspected no less than semi-annually. (Note: contrary to the draft, the 2-year probationary/semi-annual-inspection rule is not a blanket requirement for all newly licensed centers — it is tied to that re-issuance scenario.)

What happens if a Kentucky center is out of compliance?

Civil penalties under 922 KAR 2:190 (authorized by KRS 199.990): Type A violation (creates harm or imminent danger) — no more than $1,000 for each occurrence, correctable within five (5) working days; Type B violation (concern or risk, not imminent danger) — $250 for each occurrence, with a corrective action plan due within fifteen (15) days. Monetary credits: $50 if no violations were cited during the three years prior, $50 for a timely accepted corrective action plan, and a 25 percent credit of the civil penalty for waiving appeal rights. Continued or serious noncompliance can result in denial, suspension, probation, or revocation of the license (922 KAR 2:090, Sections 16–17). Appeal rights via 922 KAR 2:090 Sections 19–20 (form OIG-DRCC-02).