How to Start a Daycare in West Virginia (2026)

Last updated: February 26, 2026

Starting a daycare in West Virginia requires a license from the WV Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR), Bureau for Children and Families. West Virginia offers one notable advantage over most states: there is no licensing application fee for most child care providers (with the exception of a $25 State Fire Marshal inspection fee for family child care facilities). Licensing is divided into four categories based on the number of children you serve and whether care occurs in your home. This guide covers every requirement to legally open a daycare in West Virginia in 2026.

Daycare Requirements in West Virginia at a Glance

Requirement	Agency	Cost	Timeline
Child Care License (center, facility, or home)	WV DHHR, Bureau for Children and Families	Free (no application fee)	60-120 days
WV State Fire Marshal Preliminary Inspection	WV State Fire Marshal	$25 (family child care facilities only)	Scheduled during application
State and Federal Background Checks (all staff)	WV State Police / FBI via IdentoGO	Varies (applicant pays)	2-6 weeks
WV STARS Registration (required staff enrollment)	WV STARS Professional Development Registry	Free	Before supervising children
Pediatric CPR and First Aid Certification	American Heart Association / Red Cross	$50-$100 per person	Before license issuance
Business Registration Certificate	WV State Tax Department	$30 (one-time)	Same day online
LLC Formation (recommended)	WV Secretary of State	$25 + $1 portal fee	2-5 business days

How to Start a Daycare in West Virginia (Step by Step)

Step 1: Understand West Virginia Child Care License Types

West Virginia DHHR issues four distinct license categories based on care setting and capacity:

License Type	Setting	Capacity
Family Child Care Home	Provider’s home	Up to 6 children
Family Child Care Facility	Provider’s home	7-12 children
Child Care Center	Non-residential building	13 or more children
Informal/Relative Family Child Care Home	Provider’s home	Up to 3 children under age 13

Licensing authority: WV DHHR, Bureau for Children and Families, Division of Early Care and Education
Address: 350 Capitol Street, Room B-18, Charleston, WV 25301
Website: dhhr.wv.gov/bcf/Childcare

Step 2: Staff-to-Child Ratios (Child Care Centers)

West Virginia mandates the following minimum staff-to-child ratios for licensed child care centers:

Age Group	Minimum Ratio	Maximum Group Size
6 weeks – 12 months	1 adult : 4 infants	8
13-24 months	1 adult : 4 toddlers	12
25-35 months	1 adult : 8 children	16
36-47 months	1 adult : 10 children	20
48-59 months	1 adult : 12 children	24
60+ months / school age	1 adult : 12 children	24

Step 3: Background Check Requirements

West Virginia requires comprehensive background checks for all adults associated with the child care operation:

Who must be checked:

All staff members (paid or volunteer)
All household members age 18+ (for home-based care)
Anyone age 18+ who has access to children in care

Types of checks required:

WV State Police criminal records check
FBI federal fingerprint-based criminal background check (via IdentoGO by IDEMIA)
WV child abuse and neglect registry check
National Sex Offender Public Registry check

Disqualifying factors: Convictions for crimes against children, child abuse or neglect substantiation, certain felony convictions, and other specified offenses will disqualify an applicant from operating or working in a licensed child care setting.

Step 4: Training and Certification Requirements

West Virginia child care staff must meet ongoing training requirements through the WV State Training and Registry System (WV STARS):

Before opening (all license types):

Pediatric CPR certification (American Heart Association or equivalent) — must remain current
Standard First Aid certification — must remain current
Child abuse and neglect recognition and reporting training
Health assessment and tuberculin (TB) risk assessment (updated every 2 years)
WV STARS registration — all staff must enroll before supervising children

Annual training requirements:

Family child care facility providers: 15 clock hours of training per year
Family child care home providers: 8 clock hours of training per year
Child care center directors and staff: specific hour requirements by role
Training must cover at least 4 of the Core Knowledge/Core Competency areas each certification period

Step 5: Prepare Your Facility

Your child care facility must meet physical environment standards before you can pass the DHHR pre-licensing inspection:

Indoor space:

Minimum indoor space per child varies by license type (typically 35 sq ft per child for centers)
Safe, age-appropriate furniture and equipment
Separate sleeping and activity areas for infants
Adequate lighting, ventilation, and temperature control
Sanitary food preparation and handwashing facilities

Outdoor space:

Accessible outdoor play space (licensed centers typically require outdoor space)
Age-appropriate playground equipment
Fenced and secure perimeter

Fire safety:

Fire extinguishers and smoke detectors required
State Fire Marshal inspects centers and family child care facilities before licensing (fee: $25 for facilities)
Fire evacuation plans and practice drills required

Step 6: Submit Your DHHR License Application

Application fee: None (free for most license types)

Exception: Family child care facility applicants pay $25 to the WV State Fire Marshal for a preliminary fire inspection.

After submitting your application, DHHR will:

Review your application for completeness
Schedule a pre-licensing inspection of your facility
Review background check results for all required individuals
Verify training certifications
Issue a provisional or full license once all requirements are met

License duration: All WV child care licenses are valid for 2 years. Renewal applications must be submitted 30-60 days before expiration.

Ongoing compliance: DHHR conducts unannounced monitoring visits throughout the license period. Keep records of attendance, staff certifications, fire drills, and food service (if applicable).

Step 7: Register Your Business

LLC formation: $26 through the WV One Stop Business Portal
Business Registration Certificate: $30 from the WV State Tax Department (handled through the same portal)
EIN: Free from the IRS (needed for payroll and banking)
Workers’ compensation: Required for all employees; obtain from a private carrier before hiring

Cost to Start a Daycare in West Virginia

Item	Cost	Notes
DHHR Child Care License application	Free	No application fee for most license types
Fire Marshal Preliminary Inspection (facility only)	$25	Required for family child care facilities (7-12 children)
Background checks (per person)	$30-$75 per person	State + federal; all staff and household members 18+
Pediatric CPR and First Aid training (per person)	$50-$100 per person	Must be maintained current; renewal every 2 years
LLC formation	$26	WV SOS + $1 portal fee
Business Registration Certificate	$30	WV State Tax Department; one-time
Facility lease or mortgage (monthly)	$1,000-$5,000+/month	Varies significantly by location and size
Facility renovation/build-out	$5,000-$50,000	Restrooms, safety gates, playground, sleeping areas
Furniture, equipment, and supplies	$5,000-$20,000	Cribs, high chairs, tables, toys, educational materials
General liability insurance	$1,000-$3,000/year	Child care-specific liability coverage
Workers’ compensation insurance	Varies by payroll	Required for all employees

Estimated total startup cost: $15,000 – $100,000+ (depending on license type and facility)

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get a daycare license in West Virginia?

Contact the WV DHHR Bureau for Children and Families (350 Capitol Street, Room B-18, Charleston, WV 25301) to request an application packet for your license type. Complete background checks for all staff and household members, obtain CPR and first aid certifications, enroll in WV STARS, and prepare your facility for a pre-licensing inspection. There is no application fee for most license types. Licenses are valid for 2 years.

How much does a West Virginia child care license cost?

West Virginia child care licensing has no application fee for most license types — one of the more accessible states for new child care providers. The only direct licensing fee is a $25 State Fire Marshal preliminary inspection fee for family child care facilities (7-12 children). Background checks ($30-$75 per person) and CPR/first aid training ($50-$100 per person) are the main upfront costs.

What are the staff-to-child ratios for West Virginia daycares?

Ratios for child care centers: 1:4 for infants (6 weeks-24 months), 1:8 for 25-35 months, 1:10 for 36-47 months, and 1:12 for children 48 months and older. Maximum group sizes range from 8 (infants) to 24 (school age). These ratios must be maintained at all times, not just on average.

What background checks are required for West Virginia daycare workers?

All staff, volunteers age 18+, and household members age 18+ (for home-based care) must undergo both a WV State Police criminal records check and an FBI federal fingerprint-based background check through IdentoGO by IDEMIA. A WV child abuse and neglect registry check and National Sex Offender Registry check are also required. Disqualifying convictions will prevent working with children.

What training is required to open a daycare in West Virginia?

Required training before opening includes: pediatric CPR certification, standard first aid, child abuse recognition, and a health/TB risk assessment. All staff must register in WV STARS before supervising children. Ongoing training requirements are 8 clock hours/year for family home providers and 15 clock hours/year for family facility providers. Training must cover Core Knowledge/Competency areas.

How many children can I care for without a daycare license in West Virginia?

Informal/Relative Family Child Care Homes caring for up to 3 children under age 13 (not counting the provider’s own children) qualify for a simplified registration process rather than a full license. If you care for 4 or more unrelated children in your home, you must be fully licensed as a Family Child Care Home (4-6 children) or Family Child Care Facility (7-12 children).

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About the Author

Robert Smith has run a licensed private investigation firm for 8 years from the Florida-Georgia state line - where he learned firsthand how wildly business licensing rules differ between states just miles apart. He personally researched requirements across all 50 states and D.C., reviewing hundreds of government sources over hundreds of hours to build guides he wished existed when he started. Not a lawyer or accountant - just a business owner who has done the research so you don't have to.

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