South Carolina rulebook · checked October 2026
In South Carolina, you may watch up to None counted children before a license is required — and South Carolina counts your own children in that number. Care for one household's children, and care for relatives, sits outside the line entirely.
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Licensing agency: South Carolina Department of Social Services (DSS) — Division of Child Care Licensing
The line: In South Carolina, you may watch up to None counted children before a license is required — and South Carolina counts your own children in that number. Care for one household's children, and care for relatives, sits outside the line entirely.
Your own children: counted — South Carolina includes your own children in the numbers that decide your category.
| Category | Capacity | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Family Child Care Home (registered) | up to 6 | No more than 6 children in total — the count includes children living in the home and children in care who are related to you. Family homes must be REGISTERED; you may elect to be licensed instead. |
| Group Child Care Home (licensed) | up to 12 | 7 to 12 children in total, same counting. At 13 or more children the program is a child care center. |
Rules checked October 2026 · Sources: S.C. Code § 63-13-20(13)–(14) (family and group child care home definitions); S.C. Code § 63-13-410 (group homes); § 63-13-810 et seq. (family homes); S.C. Code Regs. 114-528 (family child care homes); SC DSS Child Care Licensing. This page reads the published rules; it is not legal advice, and the South Carolina Department of Social Services (DSS) — Division of Child Care Licensing is the final word.