Minnesota Launch Guide

How to Start a Daycare in Minnesota (2026)

Last updated: June 2026

Researched by the TotReady Research Team

Opening a licensed daycare in Minnesota means applying to 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)., clearing fingerprint-based background checks, meeting facility and staff-to-child ratio rules, and passing a licensing inspection. This guide walks the process end to end, grounded in Minnesota's licensing statutes.

Minnesota Daycare Licensing: Fees & Key Numbers

The statute-cited figures that shape your Minnesota launch budget and timeline.

Application fee
Child care centers pay a $500 application fee that is nonrefundable and not prorated and is in lieu of the annual license fee that expires on December 31 (Minn. Stat. 142B.12, subd. 3). No application or license fee is charged by the state for family or group family child care, but a county agency may charge a license fee not to exceed $50 for a one-year license or $100 for a two-year license (Minn. Stat. 142B.12, subd. 1(b) for the no-state-fee rule and subd. 2 for the discretionary county fee).
Annual renewal fee
Child care center licenses carry an annual license fee scaled to licensed capacity, ranging from $200 (capacity 1-24) up to $1,100 (capacity 225 or more), and the license expires December 31 each year (Minn. Stat. 142B.12, subd. 4(a)). Family and group family child care have no state renewal fee; a county agency may charge up to $50 for a one-year license or $100 for a two-year license (Minn. Stat. 142B.12, subd. 1(b) and subd. 2).
Pre-service training
Family child care applicants must complete at least 4 hours of child development and learning and behavior guidance training prior to initial licensure plus the 6-hour Supervising for Safety for Family Child Care course, in addition to pediatric first aid and pediatric CPR training that must be completed before initial licensure and before caring for a child (no fixed clock-hour minimum is specified in statute for first aid or CPR) (Minn. Stat. 142B.70, subds. 3a, 4a, 5a, and 10b), administered through the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) licensing system.
Annual training
Each family child care license holder and each second adult caregiver must complete 16 hours of ongoing training each year (each calendar year as of January 1, 2025), and this requirement does not vary by years of experience (Minn. Stat. 142B.70, subd. 8(a); DCYF training requirements for family child care providers).
License-exempt threshold
Minnesota sets no "up to N unrelated children" license-free allowance for ongoing family child care; instead, child care is excluded from licensure only when it is provided by a relative, provided by one unrelated individual to persons from a single related family, or provided for a cumulative total of less than 30 days in any 12-month period (Minn. Stat. 142B.05, subd. 2(a), clauses (1), (2), and (10); these exclusions moved from Minn. Stat. 245A.03, subd. 2 to chapter 142B effective June 18, 2025). A license is otherwise required to provide family day care, defined as care for no more than 10 children at one time of which no more than 6 are under school age (Minn. R. 9502.0315, subp. 9).
Family child care capacity
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); 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).
Indoor square footage
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).
Inspection schedule
At least one unannounced licensing inspection of each licensed child care center once per calendar year (statutory authority Minn. Stat. 142B.10, subd. 11 ('Inspections; waiver'); predecessor Minn. Stat. 245A.04/245A.16). New centers in their first year receive four DCYF 'Early and Often' visits: an initial scheduled technical-assistance visit approximately 3 months after the license is issued, with the remaining first-year visits unannounced.

The 8 Steps to Open a Daycare in Minnesota

Follow these in order. Each step is grounded in Minnesota's childcare licensing rules.

  1. Research your state's rules

    Confirm whether your program needs a license in Minnesota. Minnesota sets no "up to N unrelated children" license-free allowance for ongoing family child care; instead, child care is excluded from licensure only when it is provided by a relative, provided by one unrelated individual to persons from a single related family, or provided for a cumulative total of less than 30 days in any 12-month period (Minn. Stat. 142B.05, subd. 2(a), clauses (1), (2), and (10); these exclusions moved from Minn. Stat. 245A.03, subd. 2 to chapter 142B effective June 18, 2025). A license is otherwise required to provide family day care, defined as care for no more than 10 children at one time of which no more than 6 are under school age (Minn. R. 9502.0315, subp. 9).

    Read the rule that defines license-exempt care before you do anything else — it determines whether you operate as a family child care home, a center, or an exempt arrangement.

  2. Complete pre-service training & CPR

    Finish the required pre-service training and certifications. Family child care applicants must complete at least 4 hours of child development and learning and behavior guidance training prior to initial licensure plus the 6-hour Supervising for Safety for Family Child Care course, in addition to pediatric first aid and pediatric CPR training that must be completed before initial licensure and before caring for a child (no fixed clock-hour minimum is specified in statute for first aid or CPR) (Minn. Stat. 142B.70, subds. 3a, 4a, 5a, and 10b), administered through the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) licensing system.

    Plan for ongoing training too: Each family child care license holder and each second adult caregiver must complete 16 hours of ongoing training each year (each calendar year as of January 1, 2025), and this requirement does not vary by years of experience (Minn. Stat. 142B.70, subd. 8(a); DCYF training requirements for family child care providers).

  3. Pass background checks

    Submit fingerprint-based background checks for yourself and every staff member, volunteer, and (where applicable) household member before anyone has unsupervised access to children.

    Background-check clearance often takes the longest of any single step — start it early so it doesn't gate your opening date.

  4. Prepare your facility

    Set up a space that meets Minnesota's facility standards. 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).

    Match your enrollment plan to capacity limits: 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); 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).

  5. Submit your license application & fee

    File your application 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). and pay the licensing fee. Child care centers pay a $500 application fee that is nonrefundable and not prorated and is in lieu of the annual license fee that expires on December 31 (Minn. Stat. 142B.12, subd. 3). No application or license fee is charged by the state for family or group family child care, but a county agency may charge a license fee not to exceed $50 for a one-year license or $100 for a two-year license (Minn. Stat. 142B.12, subd. 1(b) for the no-state-fee rule and subd. 2 for the discretionary county fee).

    Include your parent handbook, staff policies, enrollment forms, and operations manual — inspectors ask for these at the initial visit.

  6. Pass the licensing inspection

    Schedule and pass your pre-licensing inspection. At least one unannounced licensing inspection of each licensed child care center once per calendar year (statutory authority Minn. Stat. 142B.10, subd. 11 ('Inspections; waiver'); predecessor Minn. Stat. 245A.04/245A.16). New centers in their first year receive four DCYF 'Early and Often' visits: an initial scheduled technical-assistance visit approximately 3 months after the license is issued, with the remaining first-year visits unannounced.

    The inspector checks ratios, square footage, sanitation, emergency preparedness, and your written policies against the regulations.

  7. Open your doors

    Once your license is issued, you can legally begin caring for children under Minnesota rules. Maintain the staff-to-child ratios at all times: Infant (6 weeks up to 16 months; per 9503.0040, subp. 4 may extend up to 18 months) 1:4 (maximum group size 8), Toddler (16 months up to 33 months; per 9503.0040, subp. 4 may extend up to 35 months) 1:7 (maximum group size 14), Preschooler (33 months to first day of kindergarten) 1:10 (maximum group size 20), School-age (attending kindergarten and older) 1:15 (maximum group size 30)

    Keep certifications current and your handbook updated — these are the items most often cited at renewal.

  8. Enroll families

    Use your compliant enrollment paperwork to bring in families. A complete, Minnesota-specific parent handbook signals professionalism and keeps you inspection-ready from day one.

    Required enrollment and admission forms must be signed before a child's first day — have them ready before you advertise open spots.

What You Need to Apply in Minnesota

Minnesota licensing requires these documents and forms at the initial application and inspection.

  • Applicant Agreement, Acknowledgement, and Verification Form (submitted via DCYF Provider Hub; notarized original required per application)
  • Child Care Emergency Plan, DHS-7955
  • Maltreatment of Minors Mandated Reporting Policy, DHS-7634A
  • Child Care Center Serious Injury and Death Reporting Form (DCYF fillable PDF)
  • Swaddling Consent for an Infant, DHS-7218
  • Directive for Alternative Infant Sleep Position, DHS-7216
  • Individual Child Care Program Plan (ICCPP), DHS-7995
  • Background study via NETStudy 2.0 (Minn. Stat. ch. 245C) — electronic submission, no paper form number
  • Childcare Annual Immunization Status Report (AISR), submitted electronically to the Minnesota Department of Health (Minn. Stat. 121A.15)

Staff-to-child ratios you must maintain

Minnesota requires these maximum staff-to-child ratios, enforced by 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).: Infant (6 weeks up to 16 months; per 9503.0040, subp. 4 may extend up to 18 months) 1:4 (maximum group size 8), Toddler (16 months up to 33 months; per 9503.0040, subp. 4 may extend up to 35 months) 1:7 (maximum group size 14), Preschooler (33 months to first day of kindergarten) 1:10 (maximum group size 20), School-age (attending kindergarten and older) 1:15 (maximum group size 30).

Skip the 80-hour paperwork grind

Get your Minnesota licensing kit

The inspector asks for a parent handbook, staff policies, enrollment forms, and an operations manual — all Minnesota-specific. The TotReady Startup Bundle gives you every document you need to apply, ready to customize in about 30 minutes.

See the Startup Bundle →

One-time purchase · Minnesota-specific documents

Starting a Daycare in Minnesota: FAQs

Do I need a license to start a daycare in Minnesota?
Minnesota sets no "up to N unrelated children" license-free allowance for ongoing family child care; instead, child care is excluded from licensure only when it is provided by a relative, provided by one unrelated individual to persons from a single related family, or provided for a cumulative total of less than 30 days in any 12-month period (Minn. Stat. 142B.05, subd. 2(a), clauses (1), (2), and (10); these exclusions moved from Minn. Stat. 245A.03, subd. 2 to chapter 142B effective June 18, 2025). A license is otherwise required to provide family day care, defined as care for no more than 10 children at one time of which no more than 6 are under school age (Minn. R. 9502.0315, subp. 9).
How much does it cost to get a daycare license in Minnesota?
Child care centers pay a $500 application fee that is nonrefundable and not prorated and is in lieu of the annual license fee that expires on December 31 (Minn. Stat. 142B.12, subd. 3). No application or license fee is charged by the state for family or group family child care, but a county agency may charge a license fee not to exceed $50 for a one-year license or $100 for a two-year license (Minn. Stat. 142B.12, subd. 1(b) for the no-state-fee rule and subd. 2 for the discretionary county fee). Renewal: Child care center licenses carry an annual license fee scaled to licensed capacity, ranging from $200 (capacity 1-24) up to $1,100 (capacity 225 or more), and the license expires December 31 each year (Minn. Stat. 142B.12, subd. 4(a)). Family and group family child care have no state renewal fee; a county agency may charge up to $50 for a one-year license or $100 for a two-year license (Minn. Stat. 142B.12, subd. 1(b) and subd. 2).
Who issues daycare licenses in Minnesota?
Childcare licensing in Minnesota is handled by 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).. You apply to this agency, pay the licensing fee, and schedule your inspection through them.
What training do I need before opening a daycare in Minnesota?
Family child care applicants must complete at least 4 hours of child development and learning and behavior guidance training prior to initial licensure plus the 6-hour Supervising for Safety for Family Child Care course, in addition to pediatric first aid and pediatric CPR training that must be completed before initial licensure and before caring for a child (no fixed clock-hour minimum is specified in statute for first aid or CPR) (Minn. Stat. 142B.70, subds. 3a, 4a, 5a, and 10b), administered through the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) licensing system.

Keep researching Minnesota

Minnesota Licensing Requirements

Full handbook sections, ratios, immunization rules, and penalties for Minnesota.

Read more →

How to Start a Daycare: Complete Guide

The cross-state playbook, from choosing a program type to opening day.

Read more →

License-Exemption Thresholds by State

Compare when a license is required across all 50 states.

Read more →

Licensing Fees by State

Application and renewal fee data for every state we track.

Read more →

Licensing rules change. The figures above are compiled from Minnesota statutes and agency materials and are provided 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 applying. TotReady provides information and document templates, not legal advice.