Nevada Childcare Licensing
Nevada Childcare Square Footage Requirements (2026)
Indoor activity space is a measured Nevada licensing requirement: a center's licensed capacity is capped by the usable indoor square footage available per child. A facility must provide at least 35 square feet of indoor space for each child, exclusive of bathrooms, halls, kitchen, stairs, storage spaces, multipurpose rooms and gymnasiums that are not regularly used, plus at least 37 1/2 square feet of outdoor play space for each child based on the maximum number of children stated on the license (NAC 432A.250).
Last updated: April 2026
Researched by the TotReady Research TeamNevada Square Footage Requirements: The Specifics
A facility must provide at least 35 square feet of indoor space for each child, exclusive of bathrooms, halls, kitchen, stairs, storage spaces, multipurpose rooms and gymnasiums that are not regularly used, plus at least 37 1/2 square feet of outdoor play space for each child based on the maximum number of children stated on the license (NAC 432A.250).
NAC 432A.250
A Nevada Family Care Home may care for up to 6 children total, with no more than 2 children under 1 year of age (State of Nevada Child Care Licensing Reference Guide, Family Care Homes group-size table)
State of Nevada Child Care Licensing Reference Guide, Family Care Homes group-size table
caring for up to 12 children makes it a Group Care Home, which requires one additional caregiver (State of Nevada Child Care Licensing Reference Guide
State of Nevada Child Care Licensing Reference Guide
staffing ratios under NAC 432A.5205).
State of Nevada Child Care Licensing Reference Guide
For Nevada child care centers, maximum group size by age band is: under 9 months = 8
State of Nevada Child Care Licensing Reference Guide
9 months to under 2 years = 12
State of Nevada Child Care Licensing Reference Guide
and 5 years and older = 36 (State of Nevada Child Care Licensing Reference Guide
State of Nevada Child Care Licensing Reference Guide
NAC 432A.5205, with ratios determined by the youngest child in a mixed-age room).
State of Nevada Child Care Licensing Reference Guide
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Nevada Square Footage Requirements: Frequently Asked Questions
How much indoor space per child does Nevada require?
A facility must provide at least 35 square feet of indoor space for each child, exclusive of bathrooms, halls, kitchen, stairs, storage spaces, multipurpose rooms and gymnasiums that are not regularly used, plus at least 37 1/2 square feet of outdoor play space for each child based on the maximum number of children stated on the license (NAC 432A.250).
Does Nevada require outdoor play space too?
A facility must provide at least 35 square feet of indoor space for each child, exclusive of bathrooms, halls, kitchen, stairs, storage spaces, multipurpose rooms and gymnasiums that are not regularly used, plus at least 37 1/2 square feet of outdoor play space for each child based on the maximum number of children stated on the license (NAC 432A.250).
What space is excluded when calculating capacity in Nevada?
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 Nevada rule above.
Nevada childcare licensing rules are amended regularly. This page is compiled from published Nevada administrative codes and statutes for informational purposes only — always verify current requirements with the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Welfare and Supportive Services (DWSS), Child Care Licensing (CCL) program. (Statewide child care licensing is consolidated under DWSS; the last county program, Washoe, transferred to the state on July 1, 2024.) before relying on them. TotReady provides information and document templates, not legal or regulatory advice.