Washington Childcare Licensing
Washington Childcare Square Footage Requirements (2026)
Indoor activity space is a measured Washington licensing requirement: a center's licensed capacity is capped by the usable indoor square footage available per child. Licensed indoor early learning program space must have a minimum of thirty-five (35) square feet of usable space per child in attendance, plus fifteen (15) additional square feet for each infant or toddler using a crib or playpen (WAC 110-300-0354); outdoor play space must provide a minimum of seventy-five (75) square feet of usable space per child accessing the play space at any given time (WAC 110-300-0145).
Licensing Agency
Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families →Last updated: April 2026
Researched by the TotReady Research TeamWashington Square Footage Requirements: The Specifics
Licensed indoor early learning program space must have a minimum of thirty-five (35) square feet of usable space per child in attendance, plus fifteen (15) additional square feet for each infant or toddler using a crib or playpen (WAC 110-300-0354)
WAC 110-300-0354
outdoor play space must provide a minimum of seventy-five (75) square feet of usable space per child accessing the play space at any given time (WAC 110-300-0145).
WAC 110-300-0145
The department issues family home child care licenses for up to 12 children birth through 12 years of age, with a maximum of six children under two years of age, and two early learning program staff are required anytime more than six children are in care and any child in care is under two years of age (WAC 110-300-0355).
WAC 110-300-0355
Centers have age-band maximum group sizes and ratios: infants (birth-11 months) 8 at 1:4 or 9 at 1:3
birth-11 months
toddlers (12-29 months) 14 at 1:7 or 15 at 1:5
12-29 months
preschoolers (30 months-6 years) 20 at 1:10
30 months-6 years
and school-age children 30 at 1:15 (WAC 110-300-0356).
WAC 110-300-0356
Go Deeper
Generate a Washington-Compliant Handbook
TotReady builds a fully compliant parent handbook for your Washington childcare center in minutes — every required section, your branding, and regulatory citations included.
Washington Square Footage Requirements: Frequently Asked Questions
How much indoor space per child does Washington require?
Licensed indoor early learning program space must have a minimum of thirty-five (35) square feet of usable space per child in attendance, plus fifteen (15) additional square feet for each infant or toddler using a crib or playpen (WAC 110-300-0354); outdoor play space must provide a minimum of seventy-five (75) square feet of usable space per child accessing the play space at any given time (WAC 110-300-0145).
Does Washington require outdoor play space too?
Licensed indoor early learning program space must have a minimum of thirty-five (35) square feet of usable space per child in attendance, plus fifteen (15) additional square feet for each infant or toddler using a crib or playpen (WAC 110-300-0354); outdoor play space must provide a minimum of seventy-five (75) square feet of usable space per child accessing the play space at any given time (WAC 110-300-0145).
What space is excluded when calculating capacity in Washington?
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 Washington rule above.
Washington childcare licensing rules are amended regularly. This page is compiled from published Washington administrative codes and statutes for informational purposes only — always verify current requirements with the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families before relying on them. TotReady provides information and document templates, not legal or regulatory advice.