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How old does a child have to be to stay home alone in District of Columbia?

District of Columbia has no law that sets an age for staying home alone, but official guidance gives ages. What it says, and its source, is below.

Official guideline

The rule in District of Columbia

D.C.’s Child and Family Services Agency recommends that a child 10 or under never be unsupervised for any period, and that no child 12 or under supervise another child. (Agency guidance from 2008.)

Babysitting: the same source puts the youngest age to look after other children at 13.

Source: D.C. Child and Family Services Agency, Administrative Issuance CFSA-08-7: Children’s Self-Care and Care for Others (Dec. 24, 2008)

Checked October 15, 2026. Laws change, and this isn’t legal advice: your local child protection office can tell you how they see it.

What safety experts suggest, by age

Wherever you live, the Canada Safety Council’s guide is a useful yardstick. It suggests not leaving a child alone before 10, and then building up slowly:

AgeHow long, at most
Under 10Not alone
10–12Up to two hours, with a responsible adult nearby
13–14Up to five hours, with an adult reachable by phone
15–16A whole day, with a parent reachable by phone

Age is only half of it. A child who wants to, follows rules when you’re out, stays calm when something goes wrong and can always reach an adult is ready sooner than one who isn’t. Our guide to how old a child should be to stay home alone has a readiness checklist and how to set up the after-school routine.

The days that don’t fit the routine

Home alone after school works until it doesn’t: a sore throat, an early dismissal, practice across town at 4:30. Those are the days nobody thinks about cover until 2:45. In Kid Pickup you post the pickup, someone in your circle taps I’ll do it, and if nobody has it the app sends you a nudge with time to sort it out.

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FAQ

Questions about District of Columbia

What is the legal age to stay home alone in District of Columbia?

District of Columbia has no law that sets an age for staying home alone, but official guidance gives ages. D.C.’s Child and Family Services Agency recommends that a child 10 or under never be unsupervised for any period, and that no child 12 or under supervise another child. (Agency guidance from 2008.)

Can a 10-year-old stay home alone in District of Columbia?

No law in District of Columbia settles it by age. D.C.’s Child and Family Services Agency recommends that a child 10 or under never be unsupervised for any period, and that no child 12 or under supervise another child. (Agency guidance from 2008.) Safety guidance from the Canada Safety Council suggests not before 10, and then for up to about two hours, with a responsible adult nearby.

How old do you have to be to babysit in District of Columbia?

The same guidance puts the youngest age to look after other children at 13.

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