Tennessee Childcare Licensing
Tennessee Childcare Square Footage Requirements (2026)
Indoor activity space is a measured Tennessee licensing requirement: a center's licensed capacity is capped by the usable indoor square footage available per child. Tennessee requires a minimum of thirty (30) square feet of usable indoor play space per child in each classroom, and each nap room must contain a minimum of thirty (30) square feet of floor space per child; no minimum outdoor square footage per child is specified in the licensing rules (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-04-01-.22).
Last updated: April 2026
Researched by the TotReady Research TeamTennessee Square Footage Requirements: The Specifics
Tennessee requires a minimum of thirty (30) square feet of usable indoor play space per child in each classroom, and each nap room must contain a minimum of thirty (30) square feet of floor space per child
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no minimum outdoor square footage per child is specified in the licensing rules (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-04-01-.22).
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A Tennessee family child care home may have no more than seven (7) children present at any one time (up to twelve (12) total if any number above seven are related to the primary educator)
up to twelve (12) total if any number above seven are related to the primary educator
one (1) educator may supervise up to seven children when no more than four are under age 2, a second educator is required when five (5) or more children under age 2 are present, and a second educator is also required for more than seven children (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-04-01-.20).
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Tennessee sets maximum group sizes for child care centers in addition to ratios: 8 for infants (6 weeks-15 months), 12 for toddlers (12-30 months), 18 for three-year-olds, 20 for four- and five-year-olds, and no maximum group size for school-age children (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-04-01-.22).
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Tennessee Square Footage Requirements: Frequently Asked Questions
How much indoor space per child does Tennessee require?
Tennessee requires a minimum of thirty (30) square feet of usable indoor play space per child in each classroom, and each nap room must contain a minimum of thirty (30) square feet of floor space per child; no minimum outdoor square footage per child is specified in the licensing rules (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-04-01-.22).
Does Tennessee require outdoor play space too?
Tennessee requires a minimum of thirty (30) square feet of usable indoor play space per child in each classroom, and each nap room must contain a minimum of thirty (30) square feet of floor space per child; no minimum outdoor square footage per child is specified in the licensing rules (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-04-01-.22).
What space is excluded when calculating capacity in Tennessee?
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 Tennessee rule above.
Tennessee childcare licensing rules are amended regularly. This page is compiled from published Tennessee administrative codes and statutes for informational purposes only — always verify current requirements with the Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS), Child Care Services before relying on them. TotReady provides information and document templates, not legal or regulatory advice.