Louisiana Childcare Licensing
Louisiana Childcare Square Footage Requirements (2026)
Indoor activity space is a measured Louisiana licensing requirement: a center's licensed capacity is capped by the usable indoor square footage available per child. A minimum of 35 square feet of usable indoor space per child is required (reduced to 25 square feet per child only in spaces used exclusively by children age four and above, with Fire Marshal and LDE approval), plus a minimum of 75 square feet of outdoor play space per child using the play space at any one time (La. Admin. Code tit. 28, Pt. CLXI, §1903).
Licensing Agency
Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE), Bulletin 137 - Louisiana's Early Learning Center Licensing Regulations (LAC Title 28, Part CLXI) →Last updated: April 2026
Researched by the TotReady Research TeamLouisiana Square Footage Requirements: The Specifics
A minimum of 35 square feet of usable indoor space per child is required (reduced to 25 square feet per child only in spaces used exclusively by children age four and above, with Fire Marshal and LDE approval), plus a minimum of 75 square feet of outdoor play space per child using the play space at any one time (La. Admin. Code tit. 28, Pt.
La. Admin. Code tit. 2
Louisiana family child care is defined as care for six or fewer unrelated children offered in the child care provider's private home (a registered/certified category, not a licensed one), and Bulletin 137 sets no separate larger family-home tier that adds capacity for an assistant or a distinct under-X-months sub-limit (LDOE in-home/family provider registration
a registered/certified category, not a licensed one
and 6 years and up, 46 (La. Admin. Code tit. 28, Pt.
La. Admin. Code tit. 2
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Louisiana Square Footage Requirements: Frequently Asked Questions
How much indoor space per child does Louisiana require?
A minimum of 35 square feet of usable indoor space per child is required (reduced to 25 square feet per child only in spaces used exclusively by children age four and above, with Fire Marshal and LDE approval), plus a minimum of 75 square feet of outdoor play space per child using the play space at any one time (La. Admin. Code tit. 28, Pt. CLXI, §1903).
Does Louisiana require outdoor play space too?
A minimum of 35 square feet of usable indoor space per child is required (reduced to 25 square feet per child only in spaces used exclusively by children age four and above, with Fire Marshal and LDE approval), plus a minimum of 75 square feet of outdoor play space per child using the play space at any one time (La. Admin. Code tit. 28, Pt. CLXI, §1903).
What space is excluded when calculating capacity in Louisiana?
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 Louisiana rule above.
Louisiana childcare licensing rules are amended regularly. This page is compiled from published Louisiana administrative codes and statutes for informational purposes only — always verify current requirements with the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE), Bulletin 137 - Louisiana's Early Learning Center Licensing Regulations (LAC Title 28, Part CLXI) before relying on them. TotReady provides information and document templates, not legal or regulatory advice.