Tennessee Childcare Licensing Requirements (2026)

Tennessee 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 Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-04-01-.05 (Ownership, Organization, and Administration) — applicant must describe hours of operation at .05(1)(a)(3); children shall not be in care more than twelve (12) hours in a twenty-four (24) hour period except in special circumstances per .05(5)(c).

Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-04-01-.05 (Ownership, Organization, and Administration) — applicant must describe hours of operation at .05(1)(a)(3); children shall not be in care more than twelve (12) hours in a twenty-four (24) hour period except in special circumstances per .05(5)(c)

Tennessee 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 Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-04-01-.15 (Program, Language, and Literacy Development) — positive guidance/discipline; shaming, humiliating, frightening, verbally abusive, injurious, or isolating discipline methods prohibited at .15(5)(c).

Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-04-01-.15 (Program, Language, and Literacy Development) — positive guidance/discipline; shaming, humiliating, frightening, verbally abusive, injurious, or isolating discipline methods prohibited at .15(5)(c)

Tennessee childcare centers must include a written Illness and Exclusion Policy section in the parent handbook (Symptoms requiring exclusion; readmission criteria; communicable disease procedures.) per Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-04-01-.12 (Health and Safety) — a child showing signs of illness shall be cared for apart from other children at .12(6); communicable-disease/readmission provisions at .12(11).

Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-04-01-.12 (Health and Safety) — a child showing signs of illness shall be cared for apart from other children at .12(6); communicable-disease/readmission provisions at .12(11)

Tennessee 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 Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-04-01-.12 (Health and Safety) — receiving, administering, and storing medications at .12(12); medication received from parent/guardian by designated staff at .12(12)(a)(1); medication inaccessible to children at .12(12)(c)(1).

Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-04-01-.12 (Health and Safety) — receiving, administering, and storing medications at .12(12); medication received from parent/guardian by designated staff at .12(12)(a)(1); medication inaccessible to children at .12(12)(c)(1)

Tennessee childcare centers must include a written Emergency Procedures section in the parent handbook (Fire, severe weather, lockdown, and medical emergency procedures; evacuation routes.) per Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-04-01-.18 (Emergency Preparedness) — written multi-hazard plan for fires, tornados, earthquakes, chemical spills, floods; evacuation, relocation, shelter-in-place, lock-down, training/drills, communication and reunification with families.

Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-04-01-.18 (Emergency Preparedness) — written multi-hazard plan for fires, tornados, earthquakes, chemical spills, floods; evacuation, relocation, shelter-in-place, lock-down, training/drills, communication and reunification with families

Tennessee 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 Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-04-01-.11 (Supervision) — release of children only to authorized persons; and 1240-04-01-.12(3) (Health and Safety — the receiving educator shall observe each child upon arrival each day).

Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-04-01-.11 (Supervision) — release of children only to authorized persons; and 1240-04-01-.12(3) (Health and Safety — the receiving educator shall observe each child upon arrival each day)

Which agency regulates childcare licensing in Tennessee?

Childcare licensing in Tennessee is regulated by the Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS), Child Care Services. Official licensing information is published at https://www.tn.gov/humanservices/for-families/child-care-services.html.

How many handbook policy sections does Tennessee require?

Tennessee 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 Tennessee inspect licensed childcare centers?

Minimum of four (4) monitoring visits per year per licensed agency using a standardized observation tool (typically two announced and two unannounced); additional complaint-based investigations occur as needed.

What happens if a Tennessee center is out of compliance?

Under T.C.A. 71-3-509, TDHS may assess a civil penalty for each separate violation ranging from fifty dollars ($50) for minor violations up to a maximum of one thousand dollars ($1,000) for major violations or violations resulting in death or injury to a child; each day of continued violation constitutes a separate violation. The Department may also place a license on probation, or suspend, deny, restrict, or revoke a license. Appeals are filed in writing with the commissioner within ten (10) days and heard by the Child Care Agency Board of Review (T.C.A. 71-3-509 & 71-3-510). Procedures are detailed in Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. Chapter 1240-04-05.