Maryland Childcare Licensing Requirements
Maryland childcare centers must include 13 mandatory sections in parent handbooks per COMAR 13A.16.04.02 (Enrollment and Attendance — subsection B limits enrollment to no more than 14 hours in a 24-hour period unless approved by the Office; chapter 13A.16.04 is titled 'Operational Requirements.' Days/hours of facility operation are part of the required plan of operation under COMAR 13A.16.02 License Application and Maintenance — umbrella reference).
Last updated: April 2026
Researched by the TotReady Research TeamRequired Handbook Sections
The following sections must appear in every Maryland 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. | COMAR 13A.16.04.02 (Enrollment and Attendance — subsection B limits enrollment to no more than 14 hours in a 24-hour period unless approved by the Office; chapter 13A.16.04 is titled 'Operational Requirements.' Days/hours of facility operation are part of the required plan of operation under COMAR 13A.16.02 License Application and Maintenance — umbrella reference) | Required |
| Behavior Guidance and Discipline PolicyGuide → | Positive guidance techniques used; prohibited discipline methods; progressive steps. | COMAR 13A.16.07.03 (Child Discipline) | Required |
| Illness and Exclusion PolicyGuide → | Symptoms requiring exclusion; readmission criteria; communicable disease procedures. | COMAR 13A.16.11.01 (Exclusion for Acute Illness) | Required |
| Medication Administration PolicyGuide → | Procedures for administering prescription and non-prescription medications; authorization requirements. | COMAR 13A.16.11.04 (Medication Administration and Storage) | Required |
| Emergency ProceduresGuide → | Fire, severe weather, lockdown, and medical emergency procedures; evacuation routes. | COMAR 13A.16.10.01 (Emergency Safety Requirements) | Required |
| Arrival and Departure Procedures | Sign-in/sign-out requirements; authorized pick-up persons; late pick-up fees. | COMAR 13A.16.07.05 (Authorized Release); see also COMAR 13A.16.07.06 (Child Security) | Required |
| Nutrition and Meals Policy | Meals and snacks provided; food allergy procedures; outside food policy. | COMAR 13A.16.12.01 (Food Service); see also COMAR 13A.16.12 (Nutrition, chapter) | Required |
| Parent Communication Policy | Daily report procedures; how to reach staff; parent conference schedule. | COMAR 13A.16.07.04 (Parental Access); see also COMAR 13A.16.03.06 (Notifications) | Required |
| Grievance and Complaint Procedure | Steps for resolving concerns; contact for unresolved complaints. | COMAR 13A.16.03.02 C (Admission to Care — operator must give the parent, or advise the parent how to obtain, information supplied by the Office on consumer education and on how to file a complaint against the child care center); complaint handling/enforcement under COMAR 13A.16.17.01 (Complaints) | Required |
| Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting | Mandatory reporter obligations; reporting procedures; state hotline. | COMAR 13A.16.07.02 (Abuse/Neglect Reporting) | Required |
| Enrollment, Fees, and Payment Policy | Enrollment process; tuition rates; payment schedule; refund policy. | COMAR 13A.16.04.02 (Enrollment and Attendance); see also COMAR 13A.16.03.02 (Admission to Care) | Required |
| Health and Safety Policies | Handwashing procedures; diapering; sunscreen; rest time policies. | COMAR 13A.16.10 (Safety) and COMAR 13A.16.11 (Health) | Required |
| Nondiscrimination Policy | Statement of equal access; protected classes covered. | COMAR 13A.16.01 (Scope and Definitions) — chapter contains only .01 Scope and .02 Definitions; no standalone nondiscrimination section exists in COMAR Title 13A Subtitle 16 (umbrella citation). Statewide MSDE nondiscrimination policy COMAR 13A.01.07 applies to MSDE education programs generally but is not part of the child care center subtitle. | Required |
| Transportation Policy | Vehicle safety requirements; car seat policy; authorization procedures. | COMAR 13A.16.10.06 (Transportation); see also COMAR 13A.16.08.06 (Supervision During Transportation) | Recommended |
| Field Trip Policy | Authorization requirements; supervision ratios during off-site activities. | COMAR 13A.16.03.04 (Child Records — requires prior written parental permission to take a child to off-site program activities); see also COMAR 13A.16.08.04 (Variations in Group Size — permits group-size variation during field trips/special activities if required staff/child ratios are maintained) and COMAR 13A.16.08.06 (Supervision During Transportation). No standalone field-trip section exists (umbrella citation). | Recommended |
Staff-to-Child Ratios
Maryland mandates the following maximum staff-to-child ratios by age group.
| Age Group | Staff-to-Child Ratio |
|---|---|
| Infants (under 18 months) | 1:3 (max group size 6) |
| Toddlers (18 months to under 2 years) | 1:3 (max group size 9) |
| Two-year-olds | 1:6 (max group size 12) |
| Preschool (3 to 4 years) | 1:10 (max group size 20); 1:12 (max group size 24) in Department-approved educational programs during a school day approved by the Department (COMAR 13A.16.08.03 E(1)) |
| School-age (5 years and older) | 1:15 (max group size 30) |
Immunization Requirements
- DTaP/DTP (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis)
- Polio (IPV)
- MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) — doses on or after first birthday
- Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b) — required through 59 months of age
- PCV (pneumococcal conjugate / Prevnar) — required through 59 months of age
- Hepatitis B
- Varicella (chickenpox) — doses on or after first birthday
- Documentation required on Maryland Department of Health Immunization Certificate (MDH Form 896). COMAR 13A.16.03.04 (Child Records) requires the operator to obtain and maintain an immunization record showing the child has age-appropriate immunizations meeting Maryland Department of Health guidelines; temporary/provisional admission pending immunization is addressed in COMAR 13A.16.03.02 F. Medical and religious exemptions are recognized.
- Blood lead screening / test verification required for children under 6 years old (COMAR 13A.16.03.02 E)
Background Check Requirements
- State and federal criminal history records check (fingerprint-based) via the Maryland Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS), Maryland Dept. of Public Safety & Correctional Services
- FBI national fingerprint-based criminal background check
- Sex offender registry check (in-state and national)
- Child abuse and neglect (CPS) registry check via Maryland Dept. of Human Services, Child Protective Services (CPS Background Clearance / Adam Walsh clearance)
- Out-of-state criminal, sex offender, and child abuse/neglect registry checks for any state of residence in the prior 5 years
- Comprehensive background check required for all staff and adult household members at least once every 5 years; Maryland operates a CJIS rap-back program for ongoing/continuous monitoring of arrests
Inspection Frequency
Routine unannounced inspections required at least once within each 12-month period after an initial or continuing license is issued; an agency representative may make inspections without prior notice during the center's hours of operation (COMAR 13A.16.17.02). An announced inspection precedes issuance of an initial or continuing license. Complaint-based inspections occur as needed (COMAR 13A.16.17.01).
Penalties for Non-Compliance
Civil penalty of not more than $1,000 for each violation; each day a violation occurs or the center operates illegally is a separate violation; the total amount of civil penalties imposed in a civil action may not exceed $5,000 (COMAR 13A.16.17.08). Criminal penalties for operating without a license (misdemeanor): up to $1,500 for a first violation and up to $2,500 for a second or subsequent violation. Additional enforcement under COMAR 13A.16.17: warnings (.03), intermediate sanctions (.04), suspension (.05), emergency suspension (.06), and license revocation (.07).
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many sections must be in a Maryland childcare parent handbook?
Maryland childcare centers are required to include at least 13 mandatory sections in their parent handbooks per state licensing regulations enforced by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), Division of Early Childhood, Office of Child Care (OCC), Licensing Branch.
Who oversees childcare licensing in Maryland?
Childcare licensing in Maryland is regulated by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), Division of Early Childhood, Office of Child Care (OCC), Licensing Branch. You can find official licensing information at https://earlychildhood.marylandpublicschools.org/child-care-providers/child-care-centers.
What happens if a Maryland childcare center doesn't have a compliant handbook?
Non-compliance with Maryland parent handbook requirements can result in: Civil penalty of not more than $1,000 for each violation; each day a violation occurs or the center operates illegally is a separate violation; the total amount of civil penalties imposed in a civil action may not exceed $5,000 (COMAR 13A.16.17.08). Criminal penalties for operating without a license (misdemeanor): up to $1,500 for a first violation and up to $2,500 for a second or subsequent violation. Additional enforcement under COMAR 13A.16.17: warnings (.03), intermediate sanctions (.04), suspension (.05), emergency suspension (.06), and license revocation (.07).
How often are Maryland childcare centers inspected?
Maryland childcare centers are subject to the following inspection schedule: Routine unannounced inspections required at least once within each 12-month period after an initial or continuing license is issued; an agency representative may make inspections without prior notice during the center's hours of operation (COMAR 13A.16.17.02). An announced inspection precedes issuance of an initial or continuing license. Complaint-based inspections occur as needed (COMAR 13A.16.17.01).
Detailed Maryland Requirements
Go deeper on a single Maryland licensing topic — each page covers the statute-cited specifics for that requirement.
Related Tools
Free tools to help your Maryland childcare center stay compliant.
Staff-to-Child Ratio Calculator
Enter your enrollment and staff count to verify you meet state ratio requirements.
Open tool →Inspection Checklist
Step-by-step checklist to prepare your center for a state licensing inspection.
Open tool →Free Compliance Check
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