Vermont Childcare Licensing
Vermont Childcare Square Footage Requirements (2026)
Indoor activity space is a measured Vermont licensing requirement: a center's licensed capacity is capped by the usable indoor square footage available per child. Vermont requires a minimum of 35 square feet of safe usable indoor space per child (excluding bathrooms, storage spaces, hallways, and furnace rooms) plus a minimum of 75 square feet of outdoor play area per child (Vermont Center Based regs § 5.10.4.1 and § 5.10.3.1.1; Family Child Care Home regs § 5.10.4.1.1 and § 5.10.3.1.1.1).
Licensing Agency
Vermont Department for Children and Families (DCF), Child Development Division (CDD) — Child Care Licensing Unit →Last updated: April 2026
Researched by the TotReady Research TeamVermont Square Footage Requirements: The Specifics
Vermont requires a minimum of 35 square feet of safe usable indoor space per child (excluding bathrooms, storage spaces, hallways, and furnace rooms) plus a minimum of 75 square feet of outdoor play area per child (Vermont Center Based regs § 5.10.4.1 and § 5.10.3.1.1
regs § 5.10.4.1
Family Child Care Home regs § 5.10.4.1.1 and § 5.10.3.1.1.1).
regs § 5.10.4.1.1
A Registered Family Child Care Home may care for up to 10 children during Year-Round Care (12 during the Summer Vacation option), with no more than 6 children under 24 months
12 during the Summer Vacation option
a Licensed Family Child Care Home may care for up to 12 children with three staff (max 6 under 24 months), and with a single provider may care for up to 6 children, or up to 8 if all are aged 3-12 years (Vermont Family Child Care Home Licensing Regulations § 6.2.1.2 and § 6.2.2 capacity charts).
Vermont Family Child Care Home Licensing Regulations § 6.2.1.2 and § 6.2.2 capacity charts
Vermont sets maximum group sizes for center-based programs distinct from staff ratios: birth-18 months = 8, 18-30 months = 10, 24-36 months = 10, 32-42 months = 15, 36 months-Kindergarten = 20, and 1st grade and up = 26 (Vermont Center Based Child Care and Preschool Programs Licensing Regulations § 6.2.1.3).
Vermont Center Based Child Care and Preschool Programs Licensing Regulations § 6.2.1.3
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Vermont Square Footage Requirements: Frequently Asked Questions
How much indoor space per child does Vermont require?
Vermont requires a minimum of 35 square feet of safe usable indoor space per child (excluding bathrooms, storage spaces, hallways, and furnace rooms) plus a minimum of 75 square feet of outdoor play area per child (Vermont Center Based regs § 5.10.4.1 and § 5.10.3.1.1; Family Child Care Home regs § 5.10.4.1.1 and § 5.10.3.1.1.1).
Does Vermont require outdoor play space too?
Vermont requires a minimum of 35 square feet of safe usable indoor space per child (excluding bathrooms, storage spaces, hallways, and furnace rooms) plus a minimum of 75 square feet of outdoor play area per child (Vermont Center Based regs § 5.10.4.1 and § 5.10.3.1.1; Family Child Care Home regs § 5.10.4.1.1 and § 5.10.3.1.1.1).
What space is excluded when calculating capacity in Vermont?
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 Vermont rule above.
Vermont childcare licensing rules are amended regularly. This page is compiled from published Vermont administrative codes and statutes for informational purposes only — always verify current requirements with the Vermont Department for Children and Families (DCF), Child Development Division (CDD) — Child Care Licensing Unit before relying on them. TotReady provides information and document templates, not legal or regulatory advice.