← Daycare Licensing Requirements

What Are the Utah Daycare Licensing Requirements? The Complete File Checklist

A daycare license in Utah is issued by Utah Office of Child Care (OCC), Department of Workforce Services, which administers childcare licensing statewide. Providers must keep 7 documents on file for staff and children and meet 5 staff-to-child ratios by age group. Renewal: Annual license renewal required. The checklist below covers what belongs in each file and what has to stay current.

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Verified August 2026Utah Office of Child Care (OCC), Department of Workforce Services

Informational only — not legal advice, and not a statement of what Utah Office of Child Care (OCC), Department of Workforce Services requires today. GetDocsSigned is not affiliated with or endorsed by Utah Office of Child Care (OCC), Department of Workforce Services. Requirements change; confirm with your licensing representative before relying on anything on this page.

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Overview

Utah childcare licensing is administered by the Office of Child Care within the Department of Workforce Services. Any program serving 4 or more children must be licensed. Utah operates a Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) called Child Care Counts. HB 505 (2026) created a new Rural Child Care Grant Program providing matching grants for facility expansion in rural Utah counties.

Staff-to-Child Ratios

Age GroupStaff : Children
Infants (under 12 months)1:4
Toddlers (12–24 months)1:4
2 years1:7
Preschool (3–4 years)1:10
School age1:15

Ratios shown are a summary and have not yet been checked against Utah Office of Child Care (OCC), Department of Workforce Services's rule text. Confirm with the agency before relying on them. Source: Utah Office of Child Care

Required Documents Per Child

  • Enrollment Form

    Complete enrollment with child information and emergency contacts.

  • Immunization Records

    Current immunization records per Utah immunization schedule required on file.

  • Health Assessment

    Physician-signed health assessment required within 60 days of enrollment.

  • Emergency Contact Information

    Names and phone numbers of emergency contacts and authorized pickup persons.

  • Emergency Medical Authorization

    Parental consent for emergency medical care.

  • Allergy and Dietary Information

    Documentation of any food allergies or special dietary needs.

  • Medication AuthorizationConditional

    Written parental authorization for any medication to be administered.

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Summary of the requirement as published — not the governing text. Verified August 2026 · Source: Utah Office of Child Care

Immunization Requirements

DTaPPolio (IPV)MMRHepatitis BVaricellaHibPCV

Exemption Policy

Medical and religious exemptions are permitted. Contact the Utah Department of Health for current exemption procedures.

Summary of the requirement as published — not the governing text. Verified August 2026 · Source: Utah Office of Child Care

Staff Requirements

Minimum Age

18 years

Background Check

Utah Bureau of Criminal Identification (BCI) check and child abuse registry check required for all staff and volunteers.

Lead Teacher Education

Child Development Associate (CDA) credential or relevant ECE coursework required for lead positions.

Assistant Education

High school diploma or GED required. Pre-service training required.

CPR / First Aid

Pediatric CPR and First Aid certification required. At least one certified staff member on-site at all times.

Continuing Education

Annual professional development training required. Contact OCC for current hour requirements.

Director Qualifications

Director qualification requirements set by Utah OCC. Child Care Counts higher levels require additional credentials.

Summary of the requirement as published — not the governing text. Verified August 2026 · Source: Utah Office of Child Care

Inspections & Licensing

Inspection Frequency

At least one unannounced inspection annually.

License Renewal

Annual license renewal required.

Application Process

Contact Utah Office of Child Care to begin the application process.

Licensing Fee

Varies by capacity. Contact OCC for current fee schedule.

Summary of the requirement as published — not the governing text. Verified August 2026 · Source: Utah Office of Child Care

Compliance Notes

  • 1HB 505 (2026): Rural Child Care Grant Program providing matching grants for facility expansion in rural counties.
  • 2Child Care Counts QRIS with progressive standards and higher reimbursement at higher quality levels.
  • 3BCI and child abuse registry checks both required for staff.

Summary of the requirement as published — not the governing text. Verified August 2026 · Source: Utah Office of Child Care

Official Sources

These are the pages this summary was checked against. The agency's published rules govern; where this page and the agency differ, the agency is right.

Compare Utah With Other States

Ratios, required documents, and inspection schedules vary from state to state. If you operate near a border, run a second location, or are deciding where to open, start with the states in the Mountain West.

Multi-state comparisons

Browse daycare licensing requirements for all 50 states and Washington D.C.

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