Daycare License Requirements for Iowa
Worker requirements
Must be at least 16 years of age.
Provider / Child Ratio
| Age Range | Ratio For Daycare Centers |
| Infants | (1:4) |
| 2 years | (1:6) |
| 3 years | (1:8) |
| 4 years | (1:12) |
| 5 – 10 years | (1:15) |
| Mixed age group | ratio for youngest child in group |
| Age Range | Ratio For Family Child Care |
| All ages | (1:6)[includes provider's preschool children and providing there are no more than 4 children under 2 years of age at any time] |
for center-based child care
Iowa Department of Human Services
Division of Behavioral Development & Protective Services
Child Care Unit
Hoover State Office Building, 5th Floor
Des Moines, IA 50319-0114
Phone: 515-281-5657
for Family Child Care
Department of Human Services
Division of Behavioral Development & Protective Services
Child Care Unit
Hoover State Office Building, 5th Floor
Des Moines, IA 50319
Phone: 515-281-3186
Fax: 515-242-6036
Web site: http://www.dhs.state.ia.us/Consumers/Child_Care/ChildCareMenu.html
Licensing child care homes
http://www.dhs.state.ia.us/PolicyAnalysis/PolicyManualPages/Manual_Documents/Rules/441-110.pdf
Licensing child care centers
http://www.dhs.iowa.gov/policyanalysis/PolicyManualPages/Manual_Documents/Rules/441-109.pdf
Learn more about How To Start A Daycare
