Head lice in child care: Oregon and Washington rules, and a practical plan
Toddlers nap side by side, share dress-up hats and climb on each other all day, so lice come through every child care program sooner or later. This guide covers what Oregon and Washington licensing rules actually require when you find lice, and a simple plan for handling it calmly.
Oregon's child care licensing rules come from the Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC). As of October 2026:
- Lice are not on the list of illnesses that keep a child out. The illness rules for centers, certified family homes and registered family homes (OAR 414-305-1010, 414-360-1010 and 414-210-1010) list symptoms such as fever and vomiting, but not lice. Lice also aren't on the Oregon Health Authority's list of restrictable diseases (OAR 333-019-0010).
- You must tell parents. Each rule set requires providers to tell parents at pick-up about an infestation exposure, and lice count as an infestation (centers: OAR 414-305-0270; certified family homes: 414-360-0270; registered family homes: 414-210-0270).
- Centers must watch for it. Certified centers check each child at arrival and through the day for illness and obvious signs of infestation (OAR 414-305-1010).
- Your own policy can be stricter. Programs may adopt their own exclusion policy, as long as families know it up front.
Registered and certified family child care homes moved to new rule divisions (414-210 and 414-360) on July 1, 2025. If your policy cites 414-205 or 414-350, it's time to update it. Official rule text: DELC child care rules.
For providers in Vancouver and Clark County, Washington's Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) rules are more specific:
- Children with head lice must be excluded, starting at the end of the day the lice were found. The child doesn't have to be picked up mid-day (WAC 110-300-0205).
- The child may return after the first treatment. There's no requirement for a nit-free head.
- Your written health policy must cover exclusion and return (WAC 110-300-0500), so write your lice procedure into it.
- School-age programs follow a separate chapter (WAC 110-301), whose illness rule doesn't include the lice clause.
The American Academy of Pediatrics and CDC both say a child with lice doesn't need to be sent home early: they can go home at the end of the day, be treated, and come back once treatment has begun. Both discourage “no-nit” rules that keep children out until every egg is gone. Washington's rule follows this closely. Oregon leaves the decision to you.
- Space nap mats so heads aren't touching, or lay children head to toe.
- Give each child their own cubby or hook, so coats and hats don't pile together.
- Send nap bedding home or wash it on hot every week.
- Put your lice policy in the family handbook, so nobody is surprised when it's used.
- Stay calm and keep it private. The child shouldn't be singled out or isolated in front of the group.
- Call the parent the same day, and give the details at pick-up: what you saw, where, and when the child can come back under your policy.
- Look closely at the children who nap or play nearest that child.
- Tell other families there's been an exposure, without naming the child. In Oregon this notice at pick-up is required.
- Wash the child's nap bedding, and anything worn on the head in the last two days, in hot water. Dry on high heat.
- Bag dress-up hats or soft toys you can't wash for two weeks, or put them through a hot dryer cycle.
- Vacuum rugs and upholstered furniture.
- Don't spray pesticides or use foggers. CDC advises against them, and they're a real risk around small children.
Parents who can't get rid of lice at home can come to our clinics in SE Portland or Beaverton, or have a technician come to them anywhere in the Portland metro or Vancouver. Treatment usually takes one visit, uses no pesticides, and carries a 60-day guarantee. Call 971-771-2705, 7am–8pm, 7 days a week.
This page summarizes licensing rules as of October 2026 and isn't legal advice. Rules change, so confirm with your DELC or DCYF licensing specialist before updating your policy. Child care resource and referral agencies and provider networks are welcome to share or link to this guide.