Idaho Childcare Licensing
Idaho Childcare Square Footage Requirements (2026)
Indoor activity space is a measured Idaho licensing requirement: a center's licensed capacity is capped by the usable indoor square footage available per child. Contact your Idaho licensing office to confirm this requirement — TotReady could not verify a specific value against a published Idaho administrative code.
Last updated: April 2026
Researched by the TotReady Research TeamIdaho Square Footage Requirements: The Specifics
A "family daycare home" provides daycare for six (6) or fewer children and a "group daycare facility" for seven (7) to twelve (12) children
12
capacity is governed by a maximum allowable child:staff ratio of twelve (12) points per staff member (each child under twenty-four (24) months = 2 points), so a single provider may serve up to six (6) infants or twelve (12) points' worth of older children (Idaho Code 39-1102(8),(9) and 39-1109(4)).
Idaho Code 39-1102(8),(9) and 39-1109(4)
No statewide numeric group-size cap — Idaho defines "group size" as "the maximum number of children in one (1) group or classroom" (Idaho Code 39-1102(10)) but sets no numeric maximum per age band
Idaho Code 39-1102(10)
capacity is governed solely by the twelve (12)-point child:staff ratio system rather than a separate group-size limit (Idaho Code 39-1109(4)).
Idaho Code 39-1109(4)
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Idaho Square Footage Requirements: Frequently Asked Questions
How much indoor space per child does Idaho require?
Contact your Idaho licensing office to confirm this requirement — TotReady could not verify a specific value against a published Idaho administrative code.
Does Idaho require outdoor play space too?
Contact your Idaho licensing office to confirm this requirement — TotReady could not verify a specific value against a published Idaho administrative code.
What space is excluded when calculating capacity in Idaho?
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 Idaho rule above.
Idaho childcare licensing rules are amended regularly. This page is compiled from published Idaho administrative codes and statutes for informational purposes only — always verify current requirements with the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, Division of Welfare (Self-Reliance) — daycare licensing; IdahoSTARS Customer Support Specialists collect documentation and assist applicants through the state licensing process on behalf of the Department before relying on them. TotReady provides information and document templates, not legal or regulatory advice.