CQC Regulations List: How Many There Are, Every Regulation Explained and Which Apply to Care Homes (2026)
The complete list of the regulations CQC applies to care homes and home care, how they are grouped, which ones are the fundamental standards and where to find each in more detail.
CQC’s regulations page lists 30 regulations: 19 in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 (Regulations 4 to 20A) and 11 in the Care Quality Commission (Registration) Regulations 2009. Of the 19 in the 2014 set, 14 are the fundamental standards (Regulations 9 to 20A), the standards below which care must never fall. The others cover who can run a service and how, such as fit and proper directors and registered managers. CQC’s current fundamental standards list has 14, not 13, because Regulation 9A (visiting and accompanying) is included.
This reference is for registered managers, providers and new applicants in England. It sets out every regulation on CQC’s regulations for service providers and managers page, explains how they are grouped, and links to our guide for each one where we have one. Counts and titles are taken from CQC’s page, read on 25 October 2026. Where we add a summary, it is ours, not CQC’s wording, and the legal text is on legislation.gov.uk.
Key takeaways
- CQC lists 19 regulations in Part 3 of the 2014 Regulated Activities Regulations (4 to 20A) and 11 in the 2009 Registration Regulations.
- The fundamental standards are Regulations 9 to 20A: 14 on CQC’s current list.
- Regulations 4 to 8 cover who can provide a service and how it is run, including fit and proper directors and registered managers.
- The Registration Regulations cover the statement of purpose, notifications, fees and the form of notifications.
- Regulation 17 (good governance) underpins the rest because it requires the systems that check and improve quality.
In this guide
- How many CQC regulations are there?
- The Regulated Activities Regulations 2014 (Part 3): Regulations 4 to 20A
- The Registration Regulations 2009
- Which regulations apply to care homes and home care?
- What happens if a regulation is breached?
- Where to read the regulations
- Sources and how this was checked
- Frequently asked questions
How many CQC regulations are there?
| Set of regulations | Regulations | Count on CQC’s page | What they cover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, Part 3 | 4 to 8, and 9 to 20A (including 9A) | 19 | Requirements for providers and managers, and the fundamental standards |
| Care Quality Commission (Registration) Regulations 2009 | 12 to 22A (as listed) | 11 | Statement of purpose, financial position, notifications, fees and forms |
| Of which, the fundamental standards | 9, 9A, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 20A | 14 | The standards below which care must never fall |
Other numbers you may see (13 standards, 5 standards) come from older guides or from mixing up different things. See our guide to the fundamental standards and the 5 key questions.
The Regulated Activities Regulations 2014 (Part 3): Regulations 4 to 20A
| Regulation | Title (as CQC lists it) | Type | Our guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Requirements where the service provider is an individual or partnership | Who can provide a service | Registering with CQC |
| 5 | Fit and proper persons: directors | Who can provide a service | Fit and proper persons |
| 6 | Requirement where the service provider is a body other than a partnership | Who can provide a service | Who needs to register |
| 7 | Requirements relating to registered managers | Who can provide a service | Registered managers |
| 8 | General | General | |
| 9 | Person-centred care | Fundamental standard | Person-centred care |
| 9A | Visiting and accompanying in care homes, hospitals and hospices | Fundamental standard | Regulation 9A |
| 10 | Dignity and respect | Fundamental standard | Dignity in care |
| 11 | Need for consent | Fundamental standard | Consent |
| 12 | Safe care and treatment | Fundamental standard | Regulation 12 |
| 13 | Safeguarding service users from abuse and improper treatment | Fundamental standard | Safeguarding |
| 14 | Meeting nutritional and hydration needs | Fundamental standard | Regulation 14 |
| 15 | Premises and equipment | Fundamental standard | Regulation 15 |
| 16 | Receiving and acting on complaints | Fundamental standard | Complaints |
| 17 | Good governance | Fundamental standard | Regulation 17 |
| 18 | Staffing | Fundamental standard | Regulation 18 |
| 19 | Fit and proper persons employed | Fundamental standard | Recruitment files |
| 20 | Duty of candour | Fundamental standard | Duty of candour |
| 20A | Requirement as to display of performance assessments | Fundamental standard | Display of ratings |
The “type” column is our grouping. CQC’s fundamental standards page (updated 3 March 2026) describes the 14 standards in plain language for the public, and its guidance for each regulation explains what providers must do.
The Registration Regulations 2009
| Regulation | Title (as CQC lists it) | Our guide |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | Statement of purpose | Statement of purpose |
| 13 | Financial position | Registering with CQC |
| 14 | Notice of absence | Manager absence |
| 15 | Notice of changes | Change or cancel registration |
| 16 | Notification of death of service user | Death notification |
| 17 | Notification of death or unauthorised absence of a service user who is detained or liable to be detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 | CQC notifications |
| 18 | Notification of other incidents | CQC notifications |
| 19 | Fees | CQC annual fees |
| 20 | Requirements relating to termination of pregnancies | Not relevant to most care homes |
| 21 | Death of a service provider | CQC notifications |
| 22A | Form of notifications to the Commission | CQC notifications |
CQC’s page also lists the amendments to these regulations, including the 2015 amendment regulations and the 2020 and 2021 coronavirus amendments, and links to the full text on legislation.gov.uk.
Which regulations apply to care homes and home care?
CQC applies the same regulations to both, but some bite differently (our summary):
| Regulation | Care homes | Home care |
|---|---|---|
| 9A visiting and accompanying | Applies (care homes, hospitals and hospices) | Does not apply as written |
| 12 and 15 safe care, premises and equipment | Premises, fire, equipment and the care environment | Risks in people’s own homes, equipment you supply, lone working |
| 14 food and drink | Menus, dining, weight and hydration monitoring | Support with meals and drinks in the visit, where part of the care plan |
| 18 staffing | Rotas and dependency across 24 hours | Enough staff and travel time to deliver every visit |
| 7 registered managers | Needed for each regulated activity in most cases | Same; homecare applications are checked in two stages |
See CCTV, staffing levels and domiciliary care governance for examples of how the same regulation works in each setting.
What happens if a regulation is breached?
CQC can take regulatory action for breaches, from action plan requests and warning notices to conditions and cancellation, and can prosecute for some offences. CQC says it cannot prosecute for a breach of Regulation 18 (staffing) but can take other regulatory action. See CQC enforcement action explained and prosecutions and offences. Regulation 17 matters most in practice because it requires the audits, actions and records that find and fix problems. See our CQC compliance guide.
Where to read the regulations
- CQC’s regulations for service providers and managers page lists every regulation, links to CQC’s guidance on each and to the text on legislation.gov.uk.
- The text of the 2014 regulations, the 2015 and later amendments and the 2009 Registration Regulations is on legislation.gov.uk.
- CQC’s guidance on each regulation sets out what providers must do and how CQC will judge it. Use it alongside the legal text.
Sources and how this was checked
- CQC: Regulations for service providers and managers (read 25 October 2026): the list of regulations and titles.
- CQC: The fundamental standards of care (page last updated 3 March 2026).
The counts are of the regulations listed on CQC’s page at that date. The grouping, care home and home care comparison are our summaries. This is not legal advice.
Map your evidence to the regulations
CQCLogic organises actions and evidence by CQC key question and regulation, with owners and deadlines, so you can show how you meet each one. It does not submit anything to CQC. See a sample improvement plan, view pricing or get started free.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many CQC regulations are there?
CQC’s regulations page lists 30: 19 in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 (Regulations 4 to 20A) and 11 in the Care Quality Commission (Registration) Regulations 2009. Fourteen of the 2014 regulations are the fundamental standards.
How many fundamental standards are there?
CQC’s current list has 14 (Regulations 9, 9A, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 and 20A). Older guides and some AI answers say 13 because Regulation 9A, visiting and accompanying, was added.
What are the CQC regulations for care homes?
The same regulations apply to care homes and home care: Regulations 4 to 20A of the 2014 regulations and the 2009 Registration Regulations. The fundamental standards, Regulations 9 to 20A, are the ones inspectors assess most directly, including Regulation 9A for visiting in care homes.
What is Regulation 13 according to CQC?
Regulation 13 is safeguarding service users from abuse and improper treatment. The fundamental standard says people must not suffer any form of abuse or improper treatment, including neglect, degrading treatment, unnecessary or disproportionate restraint or inappropriate limits on freedom.
What is CQC Regulation 7?
Regulation 7 in the 2014 regulations covers requirements relating to registered managers. See our guide to registered manager requirements and how to register as a manager.
What are the Care Quality Commission Registration Regulations 2009?
A separate set of regulations covering matters such as the statement of purpose, financial position, notice of absence and changes, notifications of deaths and other incidents, fees and the form of notifications. CQC’s page lists 11 of them.
What are the CQC minimum standards?
CQC does not use the phrase “minimum standards” on its regulations page. The fundamental standards are described as the standards below which care must never fall.
Are the CQC regulations the same as the 5 key questions?
No. The regulations are the law. The five key questions (safe, effective, caring, responsive, well-led) are how CQC assesses and rates services.
Which CQC regulation is most important?
All must be met, but Regulation 17 (good governance) underpins the rest because it requires effective systems to assess, monitor and improve quality and safety.
Where can I read the full CQC regulations?
CQC’s regulations for service providers and managers page lists them and links to CQC’s guidance and the text on legislation.gov.uk.