Wyoming Childcare Licensing Requirements
Wyoming childcare centers must include 13 mandatory sections in parent handbooks per 049-11 Wyo. Code R. (DFS Child Care Licensing Rules, Ch. 11, eff. April 2026) Section 5(b)(i) — Policies and Procedures (administrative policies including fees, payment schedules, and hours of operation); ratios maintained 'during all hours of operation' per Ch. 11 Section 2(b)(i).
Last updated: April 2026
Researched by the TotReady Research TeamRequired Handbook Sections
The following sections must appear in every Wyoming 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. | 049-11 Wyo. Code R. (DFS Child Care Licensing Rules, Ch. 11, eff. April 2026) Section 5(b)(i) — Policies and Procedures (administrative policies including fees, payment schedules, and hours of operation); ratios maintained 'during all hours of operation' per Ch. 11 Section 2(b)(i) | Required |
| Behavior Guidance and Discipline PolicyGuide → | Positive guidance techniques used; prohibited discipline methods; progressive steps. | 049-11 Wyo. Code R. (Ch. 11) Section 20 — Discipline, Guidance and Interactions with Children (written guidance/discipline policy Section 20(a); 'time out' Section 20(b); prohibited behaviors Section 20(c); expulsion/suspension limits Section 20(a)(i)(D)); see also Section 21 Emergency Safety Interventions (physical restraint) | Required |
| Illness and Exclusion PolicyGuide → | Symptoms requiring exclusion; readmission criteria; communicable disease procedures. | 049-11 Wyo. Code R. (Ch. 11) Section 16(b) — Health: Disease Control (exclusion of ill children/staff Section 16(b)(iii)-(vi); communicable-disease criteria per WDH Reportable Disease and Condition List) | Required |
| Medication Administration PolicyGuide → | Procedures for administering prescription and non-prescription medications; authorization requirements. | 049-11 Wyo. Code R. (Ch. 11) Section 17 — Medication Administration | Required |
| Emergency ProceduresGuide → | Fire, severe weather, lockdown, and medical emergency procedures; evacuation routes. | 049-11 Wyo. Code R. (Ch. 11) Section 18 — Emergency Preparedness (guidelines/procedures incl. evacuation, relocation, shelter-in-place, lockdown Section 18(b); drills Section 18(c)); fire standards in Ch. 9 (Family Child Care Home – Residential) and Ch. 10 (Centers – Group E) | Required |
| Arrival and Departure Procedures | Sign-in/sign-out requirements; authorized pick-up persons; late pick-up fees. | 049-11 Wyo. Code R. (Ch. 11) Section 9(a) (access to children / release only to authorized persons, Section 9(a)(iii)) & Section 9(b)(i)(A) (immediate notification when a school-age child does not arrive as scheduled); attendance with arrival/departure times recorded under Section 6(b)(i) | Required |
| Nutrition and Meals Policy | Meals and snacks provided; food allergy procedures; outside food policy. | 049-11 Wyo. Code R. (Ch. 11) Section 19 — Food Service and Nutrition; food safety/sanitation in Ch. 8 (Food Safety) Sections 1-9 | Required |
| Parent Communication Policy | Daily report procedures; how to reach staff; parent conference schedule. | 049-11 Wyo. Code R. (Ch. 11) Section 9 — Parental Communication (access to children, parent notifications, access to other information); confidentiality of records/notifications in Section 8 | Required |
| Grievance and Complaint Procedure | Steps for resolving concerns; contact for unresolved complaints. | 049-11 Wyo. Code R. (Ch. 11) Section 5(b)(xvi) (written complaint procedures for reporting concerns) & Section 5(b)(xvii) (information on obtaining a facility's complaint/compliance history and inspection reports); agency complaint and non-compliance process in Ch. 2 Section 11 (Complaints) and Ch. 2 Section 12 (Non-compliance with Rules) | Required |
| Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting | Mandatory reporter obligations; reporting procedures; state hotline. | 049-11 Wyo. Code R. (Ch. 11) Section 7(b) — owner, director and all staff shall report immediately to the local DFS office and/or local law enforcement any suspected abuse/neglect; statutory basis W.S. § 14-3-205 (persons required to report) | Required |
| Enrollment, Fees, and Payment Policy | Enrollment process; tuition rates; payment schedule; refund policy. | 049-11 Wyo. Code R. (Ch. 11) Section 6(d) — individual child enrollment records completed by the parent before the child is left in care; fees/payment schedule policy required under Ch. 11 Section 5(b)(i); licensure fees in Ch. 2 Section 9 ($25 application fee, $25 renewal fee; statutory authority W.S. § 14-4-104(d)-(e)) | Required |
| Health and Safety Policies | Handwashing procedures; diapering; sunscreen; rest time policies. | 049-11 Wyo. Code R. (Ch. 11) — Health and Safety Requirements for All Facility Types (entire chapter); core health provisions in Section 16 (Health) | Required |
| Nondiscrimination Policy | Statement of equal access; protected classes covered. | No standalone Wyoming child-care administrative rule on nondiscrimination; umbrella authority is the certification statute W.S. §§ 14-4-101 through 14-4-111 and the required-written-policies provision Ch. 11 Section 5. Facilities participating in USDA CACFP are separately bound by federal nondiscrimination requirements (7 CFR parts 15/15b; USDA FNS nondiscrimination statement) | Required |
| Transportation Policy | Vehicle safety requirements; car seat policy; authorization procedures. | 049-11 Wyo. Code R. (Ch. 11) Section 22 — Transportation and Field Trips (Section 22(b) Vehicles; Section 22(c) Passenger Restraints per W.S. § 31-5-1303; Section 22(d) Drivers) | Recommended |
| Field Trip Policy | Authorization requirements; supervision ratios during off-site activities. | 049-11 Wyo. Code R. (Ch. 11) Section 22(a) — Transportation/Field Trip Procedures (written parental permission, itinerary, maintained ratios/direct supervision, first aid kit, emergency procedures) | Recommended |
Staff-to-Child Ratios
Wyoming mandates the following maximum staff-to-child ratios by age group.
| Age Group | Staff-to-Child Ratio |
|---|---|
| Infants (birth to 12 months) | 1:4 (1 staff); 2:8 (2 staff); 3:10 max group size |
| One-year-olds | 1:5 (1 staff); 2:10 (2 staff); 3:12 max group size |
| Two-year-olds | 1:8 (1 staff); 2:16 (2 staff); 3:18 max group size |
| Three- and four-year-olds | 1:12 (1 staff); 2:24 (2 staff); 3:30 max group size |
| School age (5+ years) | 1:18 (1 staff); 2:32 (2 staff); 3:40 max group size |
| Mixed Age Option 1 | 1 staff: 1:8, no more than 2 infants and 2 one-year-olds. 2 staff: 2:15, no more than 4 infants / 4 one-year-olds / 4 two-year-olds / 3 three-year-olds or older |
| Mixed Age Option 2 | 1 staff: 1:10, no more than 2 children under age 2 |
| Water/swimming — infants & toddlers (birth to 36 months) | 1:1 while in the water (adult in direct physical contact with infants; not more than an arm's length from one-year-olds) |
| Water/swimming — three to four years old | 1:4 while in the water |
| Water/swimming — five years or older | 1:6 while in the water |
Immunization Requirements
- Diphtheria, Tetanus & Pertussis (DTaP)
- Hepatitis B (HepB)
- Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
- Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR)
- Pneumococcal conjugate (PCV)
- Polio (IPV)
- Rotavirus
- Varicella (chickenpox)
- Required and administered per the ACIP Recommended Immunization Schedule, which the Wyoming Department of Health adopts as its mandatory child-care immunization schedule; the specific vaccine roster is set by the WDH/ACIP schedule rather than enumerated in the administrative rule (Ch. 11 Section 16(f) defers to the 'Wyoming Department of Health's mandatory immunization schedule')
- Statutory basis: W.S. § 14-4-116 requires children attending child caring facilities to be completely immunized in a manner similar to the school requirement W.S. § 21-4-309; overseen by the Wyoming Department of Health Immunization Unit
- Exemptions: only MEDICAL and RELIGIOUS waivers (approved by the State Health Officer or a County Health Officer) are allowed; philosophical/personal-belief exemptions are NOT allowed per Wyoming statute and WDH
- Grace period: an additional 60-day grace period may be approved by DFS for a child experiencing homelessness, in foster care, or due to a recent change in family circumstances (Ch. 11 Section 16(f)(i)(A))
Background Check Requirements
- Central Registry / child abuse & neglect check in Wyoming and in all states lived in for the past 5 years — completed annually for Wyoming (Ch. 11 Section 3(g)(i)(A), (A)(I))
- State Sex Offender Registry check for Wyoming and each state lived in for the past 5 years — completed annually (Ch. 11 Section 3(g)(i)(A)(I), (B))
- National Crime Information Center (NCIC) National Sex Offender Registry check (Ch. 11 Section 3(g)(i)(B))
- Full FBI fingerprint-based national criminal history background check (Ch. 11 Section 3(g)(i)(C))
- State criminal history check for Wyoming and each state lived in for the past 5 years (Ch. 11 Section 3(g)(i)(D))
- Recheck cycle: FBI criminal history, state criminal history, and National Sex Offender Registry checks every 5 years (Section 3(g)(ii)); Central Registry abuse/neglect and state Sex Offender Registry checks annually (Section 3(g)(i)(A)(I)); the Department may require new checks at any time (Section 3(g)(iii))
- Applies to: owners, directors, adult staff, employees, substitutes, and volunteers in the facility during operating hours, plus household members 18+ residing in or moving into the facility — completed PRIOR to working/providing direct care (Ch. 11 Section 3(g)(i))
- Disqualifiers: conviction or pending deferred prosecution of specified felonies/misdemeanors (child abuse/neglect/abandonment/exploitation/endangerment, sexual offenses, violence, crimes against children or vulnerable adults, certain drug/alcohol offenses, etc.) — Ch. 11 Section 3(g)(iv) and Section 3(h); review/rehabilitation process in Section 3(h)
Inspection Frequency
A minimum of 2 licensing inspections per facility per year — one annual unannounced and one annual announced (Ch. 2 Section 5(a); confirmed by the DFS Child Care Licensing FAQ: 'a minimum of 2 visits to each facility per year. One visit is unannounced and one visit is scheduled'). Additional scheduled or unscheduled visits may occur for compliance monitoring, technical assistance, complaint investigation, or follow-up (Ch. 2 Section 5(b),(d)). Annual fire, food-safety, and health/sanitation inspections are also required (Ch. 2 Section 5(c)). Statutory right of entry/inspection: W.S. § 14-4-107. Licenses are renewed periodically with a renewal fee due upon expiration of the current license (Ch. 2 Section 9(b); statute frames continuation fees as due on the anniversary date per W.S. § 14-4-104(e)).
Penalties for Non-Compliance
Operating a child caring facility without certification is a misdemeanor under W.S. § 14-4-111: a fine of not less than $50.00 nor more than $200.00 for each offense, with each day of operation without certification a separate offense. For certified/licensed facilities that violate the rules, DFS may suspend, refuse to renew, or revoke under W.S. § 14-4-108(a)-(b) (30 days' prior written notice with opportunity to request a hearing); if a child's life, health, or safety is in imminent danger, DFS may immediately temporarily suspend (W.S. § 14-4-108(c)). DFS may also impose interim restrictions (reduced ratios, capacity limits, additional monitoring, provisional license) for continued/willful/repeated non-compliance (Ch. 2 Section 12(e)). Denial of admission to an authorized inspector results in revocation/denial (W.S. § 14-4-107(b)). Denial/revocation/suspension procedures are detailed in Ch. 3 of the Child Care Licensing Rules.
Generate a Wyoming-Compliant Handbook
TotReady generates a fully compliant parent handbook for your Wyoming childcare center in minutes — with every required section, your branding, and regulatory citations included.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many sections must be in a Wyoming childcare parent handbook?
Wyoming childcare centers are required to include at least 13 mandatory sections in their parent handbooks per state licensing regulations enforced by the Wyoming Department of Family Services (DFS), Child Care Licensing.
Who oversees childcare licensing in Wyoming?
Childcare licensing in Wyoming is regulated by the Wyoming Department of Family Services (DFS), Child Care Licensing. You can find official licensing information at https://dfs.wyo.gov/providers/child-care-2/licensing-rules/.
What happens if a Wyoming childcare center doesn't have a compliant handbook?
Non-compliance with Wyoming parent handbook requirements can result in: Operating a child caring facility without certification is a misdemeanor under W.S. § 14-4-111: a fine of not less than $50.00 nor more than $200.00 for each offense, with each day of operation without certification a separate offense. For certified/licensed facilities that violate the rules, DFS may suspend, refuse to renew, or revoke under W.S. § 14-4-108(a)-(b) (30 days' prior written notice with opportunity to request a hearing); if a child's life, health, or safety is in imminent danger, DFS may immediately temporarily suspend (W.S. § 14-4-108(c)). DFS may also impose interim restrictions (reduced ratios, capacity limits, additional monitoring, provisional license) for continued/willful/repeated non-compliance (Ch. 2 Section 12(e)). Denial of admission to an authorized inspector results in revocation/denial (W.S. § 14-4-107(b)). Denial/revocation/suspension procedures are detailed in Ch. 3 of the Child Care Licensing Rules.
How often are Wyoming childcare centers inspected?
Wyoming childcare centers are subject to the following inspection schedule: A minimum of 2 licensing inspections per facility per year — one annual unannounced and one annual announced (Ch. 2 Section 5(a); confirmed by the DFS Child Care Licensing FAQ: 'a minimum of 2 visits to each facility per year. One visit is unannounced and one visit is scheduled'). Additional scheduled or unscheduled visits may occur for compliance monitoring, technical assistance, complaint investigation, or follow-up (Ch. 2 Section 5(b),(d)). Annual fire, food-safety, and health/sanitation inspections are also required (Ch. 2 Section 5(c)). Statutory right of entry/inspection: W.S. § 14-4-107. Licenses are renewed periodically with a renewal fee due upon expiration of the current license (Ch. 2 Section 9(b); statute frames continuation fees as due on the anniversary date per W.S. § 14-4-104(e)).
Detailed Wyoming Requirements
Go deeper on a single Wyoming licensing topic — each page covers the statute-cited specifics for that requirement.
Related Tools
Free tools to help your Wyoming 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
Answer a few questions about your current handbook and see where you stand.
Open tool →