Colorado Childcare Licensing
Colorado Childcare Square Footage Requirements (2026)
Indoor activity space is a measured Colorado licensing requirement: a center's licensed capacity is capped by the usable indoor square footage available per child. Child care centers must provide at least thirty (30) square feet of usable indoor floor space per child, and in the infant program at least fifty (50) square feet per infant for sleep and activities (8 CCR 1402-1, Section 2.231 INDOOR LEARNING ENVIRONMENT); centers must also provide a total outdoor play area of at least seventy-five (75) square feet per child for a minimum of one-third of the licensed capacity, or a minimum of 1,500 square feet, whichever is greater (8 CCR 1402-1, Section 2.524). Family child care homes must provide at least thirty-five (35) square feet of indoor floor space per child (Section 2.336) and at least seventy-five (75) square feet of usable outdoor play space per child in care (Section 2.337).
Licensing Agency
Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC), Division of Early Learning and Licensing and Administration (DELLA) →Last updated: April 2026
Researched by the TotReady Research TeamColorado Square Footage Requirements: The Specifics
Child care centers must provide at least thirty (30) square feet of usable indoor floor space per child, and in the infant program at least fifty (50) square feet per infant for sleep and activities (8 CCR 1402-1, Section 2.231 INDOOR LEARNING ENVIRONMENT)
8 CCR 1402-1, Section 2.231 INDOOR LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
centers must also provide a total outdoor play area of at least seventy-five (75) square feet per child for a minimum of one-third of the licensed capacity, or a minimum of 1,500 square feet, whichever is greater (8 CCR 1402-1, Section 2.524).
8 CCR 1402-1, Section 2.524
Family child care homes must provide at least thirty-five (35) square feet of indoor floor space per child (Section 2.336) and at least seventy-five (75) square feet of usable outdoor play space per child in care (Section 2.337).
Section 2.337
A standard family child care home may care for up to six (6) children from birth to eighteen (18) years of age, with no more than three (3) children under eighteen (18) months and no more than two (2) of those under twelve (12) months (8 CCR 1402-1, Section 2.307).
8 CCR 1402-1, Section 2.307
A large family child care home may serve up to twelve (12) children from birth to eighteen (18) years (capacity includes the provider's own children under ten), must add a second staff member when more than eight (8) children are present, and may care for no more than two (2) children under eighteen (18) months of age (8 CCR 1402-1, Section 2.309).
8 CCR 1402-1, Section 2.309
Colorado sets statewide maximum group sizes for child care centers by age band: 10 for ages 6 weeks-18 months
8 CCR 1402-1, Section 2.217 REQUIRED STAFF AND SUPERVISION
and 30 for 5 years and older (8 CCR 1402-1, Section 2.217 REQUIRED STAFF AND SUPERVISION). [Could not verify against Colorado .gov source a separate group-size maximum of 20 for a mixed-age 2 1/2-6 years group
8 CCR 1402-1, Section 2.217 REQUIRED STAFF AND SUPERVISION
the verified Section 2.217 table lists only the seven single-band figures above, and for mixed preschool groups the youngest child's maximum applies when more than 20% of the group is younger children.]
8 CCR 1402-1, Section 2.217 REQUIRED STAFF AND SUPERVISION
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Colorado Square Footage Requirements: Frequently Asked Questions
How much indoor space per child does Colorado require?
Child care centers must provide at least thirty (30) square feet of usable indoor floor space per child, and in the infant program at least fifty (50) square feet per infant for sleep and activities (8 CCR 1402-1, Section 2.231 INDOOR LEARNING ENVIRONMENT); centers must also provide a total outdoor play area of at least seventy-five (75) square feet per child for a minimum of one-third of the licensed capacity, or a minimum of 1,500 square feet, whichever is greater (8 CCR 1402-1, Section 2.524). Family child care homes must provide at least thirty-five (35) square feet of indoor floor space per child (Section 2.336) and at least seventy-five (75) square feet of usable outdoor play space per child in care (Section 2.337).
Does Colorado require outdoor play space too?
Child care centers must provide at least thirty (30) square feet of usable indoor floor space per child, and in the infant program at least fifty (50) square feet per infant for sleep and activities (8 CCR 1402-1, Section 2.231 INDOOR LEARNING ENVIRONMENT); centers must also provide a total outdoor play area of at least seventy-five (75) square feet per child for a minimum of one-third of the licensed capacity, or a minimum of 1,500 square feet, whichever is greater (8 CCR 1402-1, Section 2.524). Family child care homes must provide at least thirty-five (35) square feet of indoor floor space per child (Section 2.336) and at least seventy-five (75) square feet of usable outdoor play space per child in care (Section 2.337).
What space is excluded when calculating capacity in Colorado?
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 Colorado rule above.
Colorado childcare licensing rules are amended regularly. This page is compiled from published Colorado administrative codes and statutes for informational purposes only — always verify current requirements with the Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC), Division of Early Learning and Licensing and Administration (DELLA) before relying on them. TotReady provides information and document templates, not legal or regulatory advice.