Delaware Childcare Licensing
Delaware Childcare Square Footage Requirements (2026)
Indoor activity space is a measured Delaware licensing requirement: a center's licensed capacity is capped by the usable indoor square footage available per child. Centers must provide at least 35 square feet of usable indoor floor space per child (measured wall-to-wall, excluding toilet rooms, kitchen, isolation areas, offices, storage, hallways, furnace rooms, and gymnasiums) and at least 75 square feet of outdoor play space per child (50 square feet for centers licensed before January 1, 2007); family homes require 25 square feet of indoor space per child and large family homes 35 square feet of indoor space per child (DELACARE Regs for Early Care and Education and School-Age Centers, Sec. 49.E.2 and Sec. 53.D-F; DELACARE Regs for Family and Large Family Child Care Homes, Sec. 50 and Sec. 55).
Last updated: April 2026
Researched by the TotReady Research TeamDelaware Square Footage Requirements: The Specifics
Centers must provide at least 35 square feet of usable indoor floor space per child (measured wall-to-wall, excluding toilet rooms, kitchen, isolation areas, offices, storage, hallways, furnace rooms, and gymnasiums) and at least 75 square feet of outdoor play space per child (50 square feet for centers licensed before January 1, 2007)
50 square feet for centers licensed before January 1, 2007
family homes require 25 square feet of indoor space per child and large family homes 35 square feet of indoor space per child (DELACARE Regs for Early Care and Education and School-Age Centers, Sec. 49.E.2 and Sec. 53.D-F
DELACARE Regs for Early Care and Education and School-Age Centers, Sec. 49.E.2 and Sec. 53.D-F
DELACARE Regs for Family and Large Family Child Care Homes, Sec. 50 and Sec. 55).
DELACARE Regs for Early Care and Education and School-Age Centers, Sec. 49.E.2 and Sec. 53.D-F
A Level I family home may care for up to 4 children preschool-age-or-younger plus 2 school-age (6 max present, max 2 under 12 months) or alternatively up to 5 preschool-age-or-younger (max 2 under 12 months, max 3 under 24 months)
max 2 under 12 months, max 3 under 24 months
a Level II family home up to 6 preschool-age-or-younger plus 3 school-age (9 max, max 2 under 12 months, max 4 under 24 months)
9 max, max 2 under 12 months, max 4 under 24 months
a large family home with one staff member may serve up to 9 (6 preschool-or-younger plus 3 school-age, max 2 under 12 months, max 4 under 24 months) and with two staff up to 12 (max 4 under 12 months, max 6 under 24 months) (DELACARE Regs for Family and Large Family Child Care Homes, Sec. 49 and Sec. 62).
DELACARE Regs for Family and Large Family Child Care Homes, Sec. 49 and Sec. 62
Delaware sets center maximum group sizes by age band distinct from ratio: infant (under 12 months) 8, young toddler (12-23 months) 12, older toddler (24-35 months) 16, young preschool/3-year-old (36-47 months) 20, older preschool/4-year-old (48 months or older not yet in kindergarten) 24, and school-age 30 (no variance above 30 granted)
no variance above 30 granted
maximum group size need not be maintained when 12 or fewer children are present in the center (DELACARE Regs for Early Care and Education and School-Age Centers, Sec. 27 Ratios, Group Size, and Supervision).
DELACARE Regs for Early Care and Education and School-Age Centers, Sec. 27 Ratios, Group Size, and Supervision
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Delaware Square Footage Requirements: Frequently Asked Questions
How much indoor space per child does Delaware require?
Centers must provide at least 35 square feet of usable indoor floor space per child (measured wall-to-wall, excluding toilet rooms, kitchen, isolation areas, offices, storage, hallways, furnace rooms, and gymnasiums) and at least 75 square feet of outdoor play space per child (50 square feet for centers licensed before January 1, 2007); family homes require 25 square feet of indoor space per child and large family homes 35 square feet of indoor space per child (DELACARE Regs for Early Care and Education and School-Age Centers, Sec. 49.E.2 and Sec. 53.D-F; DELACARE Regs for Family and Large Family Child Care Homes, Sec. 50 and Sec. 55).
Does Delaware require outdoor play space too?
Centers must provide at least 35 square feet of usable indoor floor space per child (measured wall-to-wall, excluding toilet rooms, kitchen, isolation areas, offices, storage, hallways, furnace rooms, and gymnasiums) and at least 75 square feet of outdoor play space per child (50 square feet for centers licensed before January 1, 2007); family homes require 25 square feet of indoor space per child and large family homes 35 square feet of indoor space per child (DELACARE Regs for Early Care and Education and School-Age Centers, Sec. 49.E.2 and Sec. 53.D-F; DELACARE Regs for Family and Large Family Child Care Homes, Sec. 50 and Sec. 55).
What space is excluded when calculating capacity in Delaware?
Most states exclude hallways, bathrooms, kitchens, offices, and storage from the usable indoor activity space used to compute capacity. Confirm the exact exclusions in the cited Delaware rule above.
Delaware childcare licensing rules are amended regularly. This page is compiled from published Delaware administrative codes and statutes for informational purposes only — always verify current requirements with the Delaware Department of Education, Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) before relying on them. TotReady provides information and document templates, not legal or regulatory advice.