Key takeaways
Age a Child Can Be Left Home Alone by State
Illinois sets the oldest legal minimum age to
Illinois
Illinois sets the oldest legal minimum age to leave a child home alone at 14, the only state above 10. Maryland and North Carolina set a legal minimum of 8, and Oregon sets 10.
Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, and
Mississippi
Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, and Mississippi share the highest recommended age on record at 12, though none make it a legal requirement. Kansas and Oklahoma share the lowest recommended age at 6.
Map
Age a Child Can Be Left Home Alone by State 2026 Map
| Rank | State | Age |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Illinois | 14 |
| 2 | Colorado | 12 |
| 2 | Connecticut | 12 |
| 2 | Florida | 12 |
| 2 | Mississippi | 12 |
| 6 | Kentucky | 11 |
| 7 | Michigan | 10 |
| 7 | New Mexico | 10 |
| 7 | Oregon | 10 |
| 7 | South Dakota | 10 |
| 7 | Tennessee | 10 |
| 7 | Washington | 10 |
| 13 | Georgia | 9 |
| 13 | North Dakota | 9 |
| 15 | Maryland | 8 |
| 15 | North Carolina | 8 |
| 17 | Nebraska | 7 |
| 18 | Kansas | 6 |
| 18 | Oklahoma | 6 |
Illinois (14) sets the oldest age on record, the only legal minimum above 10. Kansas and Oklahoma (6 each) set the youngest recommended age on record.
Age a Child Can Be Left Home Alone by State Table
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|
Rank
|
State
|
Age
|
Basis
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Illinois
|
14 | Legal minimum |
| 2 |
Colorado
|
12 | Recommended |
| 2 |
Connecticut
|
12 | Recommended |
| 2 |
Florida
|
12 | Recommended |
| 2 |
Mississippi
|
12 | Recommended |
| 6 |
Kentucky
|
11 | Recommended |
| 7 |
Michigan
|
10 | Recommended |
| 7 |
New Mexico
|
10 | Recommended |
| 7 |
Oregon
|
10 | Legal minimum |
| 7 |
South Dakota
|
10 | Recommended |
| 7 |
Tennessee
|
10 | Recommended |
| 7 |
Washington
|
10 | Recommended |
| 13 |
Georgia
|
9 | Recommended |
| 13 |
North Dakota
|
9 | Recommended |
| 15 |
Maryland
|
8 | Legal minimum |
| 15 |
North Carolina
|
8 | Legal minimum |
| 17 |
Nebraska
|
7 | Recommended |
| 18 |
Kansas
|
6 | Recommended |
| 18 |
Oklahoma
|
6 | Recommended |
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States With the Oldest and Youngest Home Alone Age Requirements
Top 10 Highest — Age
Top 10 Lowest — Age
States With a Legal Minimum Home Alone Age
Illinois sets a legal minimum age of 14, the only state whose set minimum exceeds 10. Oregon sets a legal minimum of 10, while Maryland and North Carolina each set a legal minimum of 8.
Maryland and North Carolina both base their minimum on fire code rather than a standalone childcare statute. Maryland's fire code allows children 8 and older to be left alone briefly and children 12 and older for longer periods, and North Carolina's fire code sets 8 as the minimum age in the absence of a statewide law.
States With a Recommended Home Alone Age
Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, and Mississippi share the highest recommended, non-legal age on record at 12, tied with the fire-code minimum for longer periods in Maryland. Kansas and Oklahoma share the lowest recommended age at 6, the youngest figure on record.
Georgia and North Dakota both set a recommended age of 9, with each state building in a higher threshold for extended time alone. Georgia recommends ages 9 to 12 for short periods and 13 and up for extended time, and North Dakota's DHS guidelines set 9 as the minimum and 12 for longer periods.
States That Regulate the Home Alone Age Locally
New Mexico lists a recommended age of 10 statewide, but the city of Albuquerque sets its own minimum age of 11. Minnesota regulates the issue at the local level with no statewide figure on record, one of 31 states in this list without a listed age.
Quick Answers
What age can a child be left home alone in Illinois?
Which states have a legal minimum age for leaving a child home alone?
What is the recommended age to leave a child home alone?
Does Georgia have a law about the age a child can be left home alone?
What age can a child be left home alone in Maryland?
Which states regulate the home alone age at the local level?
Methodology
Ages reflect each state's legally mandated minimum age or, where no law exists, a published recommended guideline age, on record as of 2026. Several states without a listed figure regulate the issue at the local level instead.
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