Minnesota Childcare Licensing

Minnesota Childcare Square Footage Requirements (2026)

Indoor activity space is a measured Minnesota 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 is required per child, excluding hallways, stairways, closets, utility rooms, lavatories, water closets, kitchens, and space occupied by cribs (Minn. R. 9503.0155, subp. 9 for centers; Minn. R. 9502.0425, subp. 1 for family child care). Centers must also provide an outdoor activity area of at least 1,500 square feet with at least 75 square feet per child within the area during use (Minn. R. 9503.0155, subp. 7), and family child care must provide at least 50 square feet of outdoor play space per child (Minn. R. 9502.0425, subp. 2).

Licensing Agency

Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF), Child Care Centers Licensing. Note: child care center licensing transferred from the Department of Human Services (DHS) to DCYF effective June 18, 2025. Existing DHS-issued licenses remain valid and license holders need not reapply; the governing rules (Minn. Rules ch. 9503) remain in force, and the licensing statutes formerly in Minn. Stat. ch. 245A have been recodified into Minn. Stat. ch. 142B (licensing) and ch. 142C (certification). →

Last updated: April 2026

Researched by the TotReady Research Team

Minnesota Square Footage Requirements: The Specifics

A minimum of 35 square feet of usable indoor space is required per child, excluding hallways, stairways, closets, utility rooms, lavatories, water closets, kitchens, and space occupied by cribs (Minn. R. 9503.0155, subp. 9 for centers

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Minn. R. 9502.0425, subp. 1 for family child care).

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Centers must also provide an outdoor activity area of at least 1,500 square feet with at least 75 square feet per child within the area during use (Minn. R. 9503.0155, subp. 7), and family child care must provide at least 50 square feet of outdoor play space per child (Minn. R. 9502.0425, subp. 2).

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A Minnesota family day care home with one adult may care for a maximum of 10 children at one time, of whom no more than 6 are under school age and no more than 3 are a combined total of infants and toddlers (no more than 2 of whom are infants)

no more than 2 of whom are infants

a group family day care home may care for up to 10 children with one adult, up to 12 children with one qualified adult (no more than 10 under school age, no more than 2 infants/toddlers including no more than 1 infant), or up to 14 children with two adults (no more than 10 under school age and no more than 4 infants/toddlers, including no more than 3 infants) (Minn. R. 9502.0367).

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Minnesota child care centers must observe maximum group sizes of 8 for infants, 14 for toddlers, 20 for preschoolers, and 30 for school-age children

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these maximums apply at all times except during meals, outdoor activities, field trips, naps and rest, and special activities such as films, guest speakers, and holiday programs (Minn. R. 9503.0040).

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Family child care does not set a separate group-size cap beyond its total capacity limits.

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Minnesota Square Footage Requirements: Frequently Asked Questions

How much indoor space per child does Minnesota require?

A minimum of 35 square feet of usable indoor space is required per child, excluding hallways, stairways, closets, utility rooms, lavatories, water closets, kitchens, and space occupied by cribs (Minn. R. 9503.0155, subp. 9 for centers; Minn. R. 9502.0425, subp. 1 for family child care). Centers must also provide an outdoor activity area of at least 1,500 square feet with at least 75 square feet per child within the area during use (Minn. R. 9503.0155, subp. 7), and family child care must provide at least 50 square feet of outdoor play space per child (Minn. R. 9502.0425, subp. 2).

Does Minnesota require outdoor play space too?

A minimum of 35 square feet of usable indoor space is required per child, excluding hallways, stairways, closets, utility rooms, lavatories, water closets, kitchens, and space occupied by cribs (Minn. R. 9503.0155, subp. 9 for centers; Minn. R. 9502.0425, subp. 1 for family child care). Centers must also provide an outdoor activity area of at least 1,500 square feet with at least 75 square feet per child within the area during use (Minn. R. 9503.0155, subp. 7), and family child care must provide at least 50 square feet of outdoor play space per child (Minn. R. 9502.0425, subp. 2).

What space is excluded when calculating capacity in Minnesota?

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 Minnesota rule above.

Minnesota childcare licensing rules are amended regularly. This page is compiled from published Minnesota administrative codes and statutes for informational purposes only — always verify current requirements with the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF), Child Care Centers Licensing. Note: child care center licensing transferred from the Department of Human Services (DHS) to DCYF effective June 18, 2025. Existing DHS-issued licenses remain valid and license holders need not reapply; the governing rules (Minn. Rules ch. 9503) remain in force, and the licensing statutes formerly in Minn. Stat. ch. 245A have been recodified into Minn. Stat. ch. 142B (licensing) and ch. 142C (certification). before relying on them. TotReady provides information and document templates, not legal or regulatory advice.