Maryland suspends home daycare licenses when you violate health, safety, or staffing rules — and the suspension can be temporary or permanent depending on what you did

A license suspension in Maryland means you cannot legally operate your home daycare while the suspension is in effect. You must stop caring for children when ready. The Maryland Office of Child Care (part of the Department of Human Services) issues suspensions when it finds serious violations during inspections or investigations — things like unsafe sleeping areas, lack of required training, unsupervised children, or failure to report injuries.

Suspensions are different from license denials or revocations. A suspension is temporary: it lasts until you fix the violation and the Office of Child Care inspects again and approves. A revocation is permanent — your license is cancelled and you have to wait years before you can reapply. Most suspensions last weeks to a few months, but the timeline depends entirely on how quickly you correct the problem and how fast the Office schedules a follow-up inspection.

Key Takeaways

  • The Maryland Office of Child Care suspends licenses for violations found during inspections or investigations, and you must stop caring for children when ready when notified.
  • Common reasons for suspension include unsafe sleep environments, missing or expired staff training certifications, unsupervised children, and failure to report injuries or incidents to parents and the state.
  • You receive a written notice that lists the specific violations, the date the suspension takes effect, and what you must do to have it lifted.
  • To end a suspension, you must correct each violation, request a reinspection, and pass the follow-up inspection by the Office of Child Care.
  • You can request a hearing to challenge the suspension, but you must do so within a specific timeframe stated in your notice.

Common violations that trigger suspension in Maryland

The Maryland Office of Child Care suspends licenses for violations of the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) 13A.16.01, which sets the rules for family child care homes. The most frequent reasons include unsafe sleep spaces (cribs that don't meet safety standards, soft objects in sleep areas, improper mattress firmness), missing or expired training certificates (CPR, first aid, child abuse and neglect recognition), and inadequate supervision (children left alone, not accounted for during transitions, or in unsafe areas).

Other common violations are failure to report injuries or incidents to parents within 24 hours, lack of written policies on discipline or parent communication, missing health records or immunization documentation for children in care, and operating beyond your licensed capacity. Some suspensions result from substantiated reports of abuse or neglect, though those often lead to revocation rather than suspension. Violations related to medication storage, food safety, or hazardous materials also trigger suspensions because they pose when ready risk to children.

How you receive notice of suspension

When the Office of Child Care decides to suspend your license, you receive a written notice by mail or hand delivery. The notice states the specific violations, the effective date of the suspension (usually when ready or within a few days), and the steps you must take to have the suspension lifted. It also tells you whether you have the right to request a hearing and the important date for doing so — typically 10 business days from the date of the notice.

The notice is not a suggestion or warning. Once it is issued, you are legally prohibited from operating your home daycare. Continuing to care for children after suspension is a violation of state law and can result in criminal charges, civil penalties, and permanent loss of your license. You must notify all parents when ready that you are closed and help them find alternative care.

Steps to lift a suspension

To end a suspension, you must first understand exactly what violated the regulations. Read the notice carefully and, if it is unclear, contact the Office of Child Care's licensing unit to ask for clarification. Then take concrete action to fix each violation. If the problem is expired training, enroll in and complete the required course (CPR, first aid, or child abuse recognition training). If it is an unsafe crib, replace it with one that meets current safety standards. If it is a supervision issue, document the changes you have made to your daily routine and policies.

After you have corrected the violations, contact the Office of Child Care and request a reinspection. You will need to schedule this with the licensing unit — you cannot straightforward declare yourself fixed. During the reinspection, an inspector will verify that each violation has been corrected. If everything passes, the suspension is lifted and you can reopen. If violations remain or new ones are found, the suspension continues until you address them.

The time to reinspection varies. Some offices schedule within two to four weeks; others may take longer depending on workload. During the suspension, you are not operating and not earning income, so fixing violations quickly is in your financial interest. Keep copies of all certificates, receipts, and documentation showing what you did to correct the problems — the inspector will want to see proof.

Your right to request a hearing

Maryland law gives you the right to request a hearing to challenge the suspension. You must submit a written request to the Office of Child Care within the timeframe stated in your notice — usually 10 business days. The hearing is held before a hearing officer who is not the same person who issued the suspension. You can present evidence, call witnesses, and argue that the violations did not occur or were not serious enough to warrant suspension.

Requesting a hearing does not automatically lift the suspension while you wait. The suspension remains in effect unless the hearing officer or a court orders otherwise. Hearings can take weeks or months to schedule, so this option is useful if you genuinely believe the violations were misidentified or if you want a formal record of your challenge. If you cannot afford a lawyer, ask the Office of Child Care whether you are may have access to to free legal representation — some cases may have access to.

Difference between suspension and revocation

A suspension is temporary and conditional: fix the violations and you can reopen. A revocation is permanent: your license is cancelled and you cannot operate a home daycare in Maryland. Revocations typically result from serious violations like substantiated abuse or neglect, repeated violations after previous suspensions, or violations that pose imminent danger to children.

If your license is revoked, you can petition to reapply after a waiting period — usually one to five years depending on the reason for revocation. Suspension is the state's way of saying "stop now, fix this, and we will let you reopen." Revocation says "you cannot do this work in Maryland." Understanding which one you are facing is critical to your next steps.

What to tell parents and what to do during suspension

Contact every parent in writing as soon as you receive the suspension notice. Explain that your license has been suspended, that you cannot care for their children, and that they need to find alternative care when ready. Provide the date the suspension takes effect and, if you know it, an estimated date when you might reopen (though be honest that you do not know for certain). Offer to help them transition to another provider and return any personal items or records they need.

Do not operate illegally during the suspension. Some providers think they can care for one or two children "off the books" while suspended. This is a crime and will result in criminal charges, fines, and permanent loss of your license. The Office of Child Care investigates complaints, and parents or neighbors can report illegal operation.

Use the suspension time to fix violations thoroughly and document everything. Take photos of corrected sleep spaces, keep certificates of completed training, save receipts for equipment purchases, and write down the changes you made to policies or routines. When the reinspection happens, you want to show that you took the violations seriously and made real changes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I care for my own children during a suspension?

Yes. The suspension prohibits you from caring for other people's children for payment. Caring for your own children in your home is not regulated by the Office of Child Care and is not affected by a license suspension. However, do not use this as a loophole to care for other children while claiming they are relatives or friends.

How long does a suspension usually last?

It depends on how quickly you fix the violations and how soon the Office of Child Care can schedule a reinspection. Some suspensions are lifted within four to eight weeks; others take three to six months. Violations that require you to take a course or order new equipment take longer than violations you can fix when ready, like updating a policy.

What if I disagree with the violations listed in the notice?

Request a hearing within the timeframe stated in your notice. At the hearing, you can present evidence and argue that the violations did not occur or were misinterpreted. The hearing officer will make a decision, and you can appeal if you disagree with that decision. Consult a lawyer if the violations are serious or if you believe the inspection was unfair.

Do I have to pay a fee to reopen after suspension?

No. There is no reactivation fee in Maryland. Once the violations are corrected and the reinspection passes, your license is automatically reinstated. You do not need to reapply or pay any additional fees beyond what you already pay for your annual license renewal.

Will a suspension show up on my record if I want to work at a daycare center later?

Yes. Your licensing history is part of your record with the Office of Child Care. If you explore to work at a center or become a director, the center's licensing unit will see the suspension. How much it matters depends on what caused it and how long ago it happened. A suspension for a corrected training issue is viewed differently than one for safety violations.