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Home Daycare License Requirements in Minnesota (2026)

Opening a home daycare in Minnesota means getting a family child care home license from the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF). Here is exactly what that takes in 2026 — your capacity limit and ratios, the training and background checks, the application steps, and the postings and enrollment forms you need — sourced to the state’s own rules and dated.

Who needs a license — home types in Minnesota

Minnesota splits home-based care at TEN children and again at FOURTEEN, and the definitions are short enough to quote whole. FAMILY DAY CARE - Minn. R. 9502.0315, subp. 11: '"Family day care" means day care for no more than ten children at one time of which no more than six are under school age. The licensed capacity must include all children of any caregiver when the children are present in the residence.' GROUP FAMILY DAY CARE - subp. 13: '"Group family day care" means day care for no more than 14 children at any one time. The total number of children includes all children of any caregiver when the children are present in the residence.' LICENSED CAPACITY - subp. 18: '"Licensed capacity" means the total number of children ten years of age or younger permitted at any one time in the residence. The licensed capacity includes all children of any caregiver when the children are present in the residence.' READ THOSE THREE TOGETHER AND TWO THINGS FALL OUT. First, the ceiling counts YOUR OWN CHILDREN. DHS-8013 p. 16 says it in one sentence: 'Your own children younger than age 11 count towards your capacity.'

Second, the ceiling only counts children TEN OR YOUNGER, because Minn. R. 9502.0315, subp. 7 defines '"Child" means a person ten years of age or younger' and subp. 18 repeats 'ten years of age or younger'. An 11-year-old in the house is neither a licensed child nor a capacity cost. WHAT COUNTS AS THE HOME. Minn. R. 9502.0315, subp. 27: '"Residence" means the dwelling unit, as defined by section 405 of the State Building Code, in which day care is provided and which is occupied as a home.' Subp. 9: '"Day care" means the care of a child in a residence outside the child's own home for gain or otherwise, on a regular basis, for any part of a 24 hour day' - note 'or otherwise': being unpaid does not take you out of licensure. Subp. 26 defines the trigger for 'regular basis': '"Regularly" or "regular basis" means a cumulative total of more than 30 days within any 12 month period.' That 30-day figure is the same number that appears as an exclusion from licensure in Minn. Stat. 142B.05, subd. 2(a)(10). WHO THE APPLICANT MUST BE. Minn. R. 9502.0315, subp. 4: '"Applicant" means the person seeking a license to be the primary provider of day care in the residence' - and 9502.0335, subp. 1(B): 'The applicant shall be the person who will be the provider of care in the residence, present during the hours of operation, and who shall be legally responsible for the operation of the residence.'

You cannot license a home you do not personally staff, and 9502.0335, subp. 12 adds: 'No provider shall be issued a license to operate more than one day care residence.' THE PEOPLE VOCABULARY, which the ratio table then uses. Subp. 2: '"Adult" means a person at least 18 years of age.' Subp. 6: '"Caregiver" means the provider, substitute, helper, or another adult giving care in the residence.' Subp. 14: '"Helper" means a person at least 13 years of age and less than 18 years of age who assists the provider with the care of children.' Subp. 24: '"Provider" means the license holder and primary caregiver.' Subp. 29: '"Substitute" means an adult at least 18 years of age who assumes the responsibility of the provider.' Subp. 29a defines the supervision standard: '"Supervision" means a caregiver being within sight or hearing of an infant, toddler, or preschooler at all times so that the caregiver is capable of intervening to protect the health and safety of the child. For the school age child, it means a caregiver being available for assistance and care so that the child's health and safety is protected.'

THE AGE BANDS, which are statutory rather than in the rule. Minn. Stat. 142B.01, subd. 13: '(b) "Newborn" means a child between birth and six weeks old. (c) "Infant" means a child who is at least six weeks old but less than 12 months old. (d) "Toddler" means a child who is at least 12 months old but less than 24 months old, except that for purposes of specialized infant and toddler family and group family day care, "toddler" means a child who is at least 12 months old but less than 30 months old. (e) "Preschooler" means a child who is at least 24 months old up to school age. (f) "School age" means a child who is at least five years of age, but is younger than 11 years of age.' The split in (d) is the single most-missed detail in Minnesota home care: a toddler is under 24 months on a Class A, C1, C2 or C3 licence and under 30 MONTHS on a Class B1, B2 or D licence. DHS-7734-ENG prints it as a table: 'A - 12 months to less than 24 months; C1 - 12 months to less than 24 months; C2 - 12 months to less than 24 months; C3 - 12 months to less than 24 months; D - 12 months to less than 30 months; B1 - 12 months to less than 30 months; B2 - 12 months to less than 30 months.'

NOT IN A HOME AT ALL. Minnesota also licenses 'special family child care' under the family child care rules at a non-residence location (Minn. Stat. 142B.41, subd. 4) - see 'program'. And note the local-government limit: Minn. Stat. 142B.78, 'REGULATION OF FAMILY DAY CARE BY LOCAL GOVERNMENT ... The authority of local units of government to establish requirements for family day care programs is limited by section 299F.011, subdivision 4a, clauses (1) and (2)' - though Minn. R. 9502.0335, subp. 2(B) still requires that 'The residence must comply with any applicable local ordinances.'

How many children you can care for in Minnesota

FOURTEEN is the hard ceiling for a family child care licence in Minnesota, and TEN is the ceiling for the ordinary licence most new providers get. The numbers, class by class, from the Minn. R. 9502.0367 table read in full on 2026-08-25: Class A (family day care) - licensed capacity 10; Class B1 (specialized infant and toddler family day care) - 5; Class B2 - 6; Class C1 (group family day care) - 10; Class C2 - 12; Class C3 - 14; Class D (specialized infant and toddler group family day care) - 9. DHS-8013 p. 17 confirms the everyday reading of Class A: 'Class A license - 1 Adult - Capacity: 10 children under 11 years old ... School age: all 10 of the children can be school age.' That last clause matters: unlike many states, Minnesota's total is not a separate 'preschool' allowance plus a 'school-age' allowance. The ten is a single pot, and the age-distribution limits carve it up from inside. THE FOUR THINGS THAT SHRINK THE NUMBER ON YOUR LICENCE BELOW THE CLASS MAXIMUM. (1) YOUR OWN CHILDREN. Minn. R. 9502.0365, subp. 1(A): 'Providers shall be licensed for the total number of children, ten years of age or younger, who are present in the residence at any one time.

The licensed capacity must include all children of any caregiver when the children are present in the residence.' Same words at 9502.0315, subps. 11, 13 and 18. A provider with two children aged 4 and 7 at home holds an effective outside-enrolment ceiling of 8, not 10. (2) SQUARE FOOTAGE. Minn. R. 9502.0425, subp. 1: 'The licensed capacity of the day care residence must be limited by the amount of usable indoor space available to children. A minimum of 35 square feet of usable indoor space is required per child. A. Bathrooms, closets, space occupied by major appliances, and other space not used by children may not be counted as usable space. Space occupied by adult furniture, if it is used by children, may be counted as usable indoor space. B. Usable indoor space may include a basement if it has been inspected by a fire marshal, is free of hazard, and meets the minimum exiting standards.' Outdoors, subp. 2: 'There must be an outdoor play space of at least 50 square feet per child in attendance, adjacent to the residence, for regular use, or a park, playground, or play space within 1,500 feet of the residence.'

Fourteen children therefore need 490 sq ft of usable child space indoors. (3) THE AGE MIX. See 'ratios' - the under-school-age and infant/toddler sub-caps bind long before the headline total does in an infant-heavy programme. (4) WHAT THE LICENCE ITSELF SAYS. Minn. Stat. 142B.10, subd. 14(a): 'At minimum, the license shall state: (1) the name of the license holder; (2) the address of the program; (3) the effective date and expiration date of the license; (4) the type of license; (5) the maximum number and ages of persons that may receive services from the program; and (6) any special conditions of licensure.' Minn. R. 9502.0335, subp. 9 says the same in rule form - 'The license must indicate: A. the number and age groupings of children who may receive care at any one time'. The number printed on your licence is the number, not the class maximum. CAN YOU GO ABOVE 14? Almost never. Minn. Stat. 142B.30, subd. 1(c): 'Except as provided in section 142B.41, subdivision 4, paragraph (e), a county agency must not grant a license holder a variance to exceed the maximum allowable family child care license capacity of 14 children.'

The one exception is the not-for-profit special family child care variant at 142B.41, subd. 4(a)(5), where a county 'may grant a capacity variance ... to exceed the licensed capacity of 14 children by no more than five children during transition periods related to the work schedules of parents' - capped at 'a cumulative total of four hours per day', with a 1:7 staff ratio during the variance and full square-footage compliance. That is 19 children, in a non-residence, on a not-for-profit licence, for four hours a day. It is not a route for an ordinary home provider. MOVING BETWEEN CLASSES. Minn. R. 9502.0335, subp. 11(A): 'A new department application form must be submitted by the provider and a full licensing study as specified in part 9502.0335, subpart 2, must be completed when the provider wants to move the day care operation to a new residence or the provider wants to change to group family day care from family day care.' Going DOWN is lighter - subp. 11(B): 'A new department application form indicating the changes in the ages and numbers of children in care must be completed when the provider wants to change to family day care from group family day care.'

And going up in class means meeting the group family qualification at 9502.0355, subp. 3 (below, in 'prelicensing_steps'). DHS-7734-ENG adds one operating flexibility in a footnote: 'Class D may operate as a class B on days that only one caregiver is present.' WHAT CHANGES ON 1 JULY 2027. The new Minn. Stat. 142I.07, subd. 2 (Laws 2026, ch. 127, art. 13, s. 7) replaces the seven classes with two families and raises the ceiling to EIGHTEEN. Class A: capacity 10, 1 adult, 6 under school age, 3 infants and toddlers, 2 infants. Class C1: 5 / 1 / 5 / 3 / 3. Class C2: 10 / 1 / 8 / 4 / 2. Class C3: 12 / 1 / 10 / 3 / 2. Class C4: 14 / 2 / 10 / 6 / 4. Class C5: 18 / 2 / 12 / 5 / 2. Subd. 6 conditions the biggest one: 'Class C5 licenses must always operate at the level of exit discharge', and 'A family child care program with a class C license may operate as a lower C-class level family child care program on days when the adult-to-child ratios allow it to operate at a lower capacity.' Subd. 1 keeps the own-children rule and widens it to foster children: 'License holders must be licensed for the total number of children ten years of age or younger who are present on the premises of the family child care program at any one time during child care hours, including the caregiver's own children and foster children.' None of this is law today.

Adult-to-child ratios

Minnesota does not publish an adult:child ratio in the American sense. It publishes ONE TABLE - Minn. R. 9502.0367, 'CHILD/ADULT RATIOS; AGE DISTRIBUTION RESTRICTIONS' - which pairs a licensed capacity with a minimum number of adults and then caps the number of children under school age, the combined number of infants AND toddlers, and the number of infants alone. Here is the whole table, transcribed from the Revisor's text on 2026-08-25. A. FAMILY DAY CARE (Class A): licensed capacity 10 / adults 1 / total children under school age 6 / 'Of the total children under school age, a combined total of no more than 3 shall be infants and toddlers. Of this total, no more than 2 shall be infants.' B. SPECIALIZED INFANT AND TODDLER FAMILY DAY CARE: (1) capacity 5 / 1 adult / 3 under school age / 'No more than 3 shall be infants.' (2) capacity 6 / 1 adult / 4 under school age / 'No more than 2 shall be infants.' C. GROUP FAMILY DAY CARE: (1) capacity 10 / 1 adult / 8 under school age / 'Of the total children under school age, a combined total of no more than 3 shall be infants and toddlers. Of this total, no more than 2 shall be infants.' (2) capacity 12 / 1 adult / 10 under school age / 'Of the total children under school age, a combined total of no more than 2 shall be infants and toddlers.

Of this total, no more than 1 shall be an infant.' (3) capacity 14 / 2 ADULTS / 10 under school age / 'Of the total children under school age, a combined total of no more than 4 shall be infants and toddlers. Of this total, no more than 3 shall be infants.' The table then adds, under C(3): 'A helper may be used in place of a second adult caregiver when there is no more than 1 infant or toddler present.' D. SPECIALIZED INFANT AND TODDLER GROUP FAMILY DAY CARE: capacity 9 / 2 adults / 7 under school age / 'Of the total children, no more than 4 shall be infants.' Followed by: 'Both caregivers shall be adults.' Read column 3 carefully: the 7 is the number of children UNDER SCHOOL AGE inside a capacity of 9, not a separate total of 9-minus-2. Minn. R. 9502.0365, subp. 2 repeats the adult requirement in the body of the rule: 'In specialized infant and toddler group family day care, the caregivers must be adults.' THE SHAPE OF THE THING. Notice what the table does NOT do: it does not give you a per-adult ratio you can multiply. Adding a second adult to a Class A home does not buy you an eleventh child - the capacity number is a licence attribute, not a staffing output.

The only place staffing buys capacity is the step from C2 (12 children, 1 adult) to C3 (14 children, 2 adults), and from a lone caregiver to the two-adult D licence. Minn. R. 9502.0365, subp. 1 frames the whole scheme: 'Family day care and group family day care providers shall comply with part 9502.0367, which limits the total number of children and the number of preschoolers, toddlers, and infants who may be in care at any one time, and provides for the number of adults who are required to be present ... B. Within the licensed capacity, the age distribution restrictions specify the maximum number of children under school age, infants, and toddlers who are in care at any one time.' THE NESTING, SPELLED OUT, BECAUSE PEOPLE GET IT WRONG. On a Class A licence the numbers are 10 > 6 > 3 > 2, each a subset of the one before: at most 10 children ten or under; of those at most 6 under school age; of those 6 at most 3 infants-plus-toddlers combined; of those 3 at most 2 infants. DHS-8013 p. 17 walks the same ladder: 'School age: all 10 of the children can be school age ... Under school age: of the 10 children, you can have up to 6 who are under school age (which then reduces the number of school age children you can have) ...

Preschool: all 6 of the children under school age can be preschoolers ... Of the 6 under school age, you can have up to a total of 3 infants and toddlers. Toddlers: up to 3 can be toddlers. Infants: up to 2 can be infants.' A Class A provider may hold three under-2s only if no more than two of them are under 12 months. AND REMEMBER THE 30-MONTH TODDLER ON B AND D LICENCES. Because Minn. Stat. 142B.01, subd. 13(d) stretches 'toddler' to 'less than 30 months old' for the specialized infant-and-toddler classes, the infant/toddler sub-caps on B1, B2 and D bite against a wider age band than the identical-looking caps on A, C1, C2 and C3. NEWBORNS BREAK THE TABLE. Minn. R. 9502.0365, subp. 3: 'When a newborn is in care and only one adult caregiver is present, the newborn shall be the only child under 12 months of age and the provider shall not care for more than two other children at the same time unless another adult caregiver is also present or the newborn is the provider's own.' A newborn (birth to six weeks) not your own, with you alone, collapses your programme to three children total.

DHS-8013 p. 19 restates it: 'If you are caring for a newborn who is not your own child and there is not another adult caregiver, you cannot care for any additional infants and can only care for up to two other children,' and adds the foster-care wrinkle: 'If you are also licensed to provide foster care and a newborn is placed in your home as a foster child, the newborn (foster child) is considered your own child for the purposes of capacity and ratios.' HELPERS. Minn. R. 9502.0365, subp. 4: 'A helper may be used in place of a second adult caregiver when there is no more than one infant or toddler present.' A helper is 13 to 17 (9502.0315, subp. 14). So a C3 home running 14 children on one adult plus a 15-year-old helper is lawful only while at most ONE child in the house is under two (under 30 months on a specialized licence). SUBSTITUTES - THE STATUTE OVERRIDES THE RULE, AND THE RULE IS THE ONE MOST OFTEN QUOTED. Minn. R. 9502.0365, subp. 5 says: 'The use of a substitute caregiver must be limited to a cumulative total of not more than 30 days in any 12-month period.' That 30-day figure IS NO LONGER THE LAW.

Minn. Stat. 142B.74, subd. 1: 'Notwithstanding Minnesota Rules, part 9502.0365, subpart 5, the use of a substitute caregiver in a licensed family child care program must be limited to a cumulative total of not more than 500 hours annually. The license holder must document the name, dates, and number of hours of the substitute who provided care.' Five hundred hours, not thirty days, and the hours must be logged. The 500-hour line is also the definitional boundary between a 'substitute' and a 'second adult caregiver' for training purposes - Minn. Stat. 142B.70, subd. 2: '"second adult caregiver" means an adult who cares for children in the licensed program along with the license holder for a cumulative total of more than 500 hours annually ... "substitute" means an adult who assumes responsibility for a license holder for a cumulative total of not more than 500 hours annually.' EMERGENCY COVER BY AN UNVETTED ADULT. Minn. Stat. 142B.74, subd. 2 permits, in a genuine emergency only, 'an adult who has not completed the training requirements under this chapter or the background study requirements under chapter 245C' to supervise children while parents are called to collect them, capped at 'not to exceed 24 hours per emergency incident', with notice to the county 'within seven days' and county notice onward to the commissioner within three business days.

SOMEONE ELSE MINDING YOUR OWN CHILD. Minn. Stat. 142B.77 lets a relative or reported household member be present and supervise the licence holder's own child, exempt from training, supervision and (if not a household member) background study, provided that person '(2) is not a designated caregiver, helper, or substitute for the licensed program; (3) is involved only in the care of the license holder's own child; and (4) does not have direct, unsupervised contact with any nonrelative children receiving services.' FROM 1 JULY 2027. Minn. Stat. 142I.07, subd. 2 (Laws 2026, ch. 127, art. 13) reprints the table with new numbers - see 'capacity_max' - and subd. 4(a) rewrites the supervision standard: 'A caregiver must be within sight or hearing of newborns, infants, toddlers, and preschoolers at all times without the use of monitoring devices, except as provided in section 142I.18.' Subd. 5 adds an overnight-care rule that does not exist today: 'When a family child care program has a child in care after 11 p.m. and before 5 a.m.: (1) at least one adult caregiver must remain awake and available to respond to children's needs at all times.'

Training you must complete before licensure

Everything below must be finished BEFORE the licence issues and before you care for a child. The governing section is Minn. Stat. 142B.70, 'FAMILY CHILD CARE TRAINING REQUIREMENTS', and the state's own current summary is DHS-7672-ENG, 'Training Requirements for Licensed Family Child Care', revision 12-25 - the most recently revised Minnesota family child care document I could read on 2026-08-25. WHO THE RULES APPLY TO. Minn. Stat. 142B.70, subd. 1(a): 'License holders, second adult caregivers, and substitutes must comply with the training requirements in this section.' Subd. 2 gives the boundaries: a 'second adult caregiver' works more than 500 hours annually; a 'substitute' assumes responsibility for not more than 500 hours annually; a 'helper' is a minor aged 13 to 17; and 'An adult who cares for children in the licensed program along with the license holder for a cumulative total of not more than 500 hours annually has the same training requirements as a substitute.' Helpers get a grace period - subd. 1(b): 'Helpers who assist with care on a regular basis must complete six hours of training within one year after the date of initial employment.'

THE SIX-HOUR CORE COURSE. Minn. Stat. 142B.70, subd. 10(b): 'Before initial licensure and before caring for a child, all family child care license holders and each second adult caregiver shall complete and document the completion of the six-hour Supervising for Safety for Family Child Care course developed by the commissioner.' Subd. 10(a) lists what the course must cover: '(1) preventing and controlling infectious diseases; (2) administering medication; (3) preventing and responding to allergies; (4) ensuring building and physical premises safety; (5) handling and storing biological contaminants; (6) preventing and reporting child abuse and maltreatment; and (7) emergency preparedness.' FOUR HOURS OF CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND BEHAVIOR GUIDANCE. Subd. 3(a): 'the license holder and each second adult caregiver shall complete and document at least four hours of child development and learning and behavior guidance training prior to initial licensure, and before caring for children ... The training shall be developed or approved by the commissioner of children, youth, and families.' Subd. 3(b) exempts anyone who '(1) ha[s] taken a three-credit course on early childhood development within the past five years; (2) ha[s] received a baccalaureate or master's degree in early childhood education or school-age child care within the past five years; (3) [is] licensed in Minnesota as a prekindergarten teacher, an early childhood educator, a kindergarten to grade 6 teacher with a prekindergarten specialty, an early childhood special education teacher, or an elementary teacher with a kindergarten endorsement; or (4) ha[s] received a baccalaureate degree with a Montessori certificate within the past five years.'

PEDIATRIC FIRST AID. Subd. 4(a): 'Before initial licensure and before caring for a child, license holders, second adult caregivers, and substitutes must be trained in pediatric first aid. The first aid training must have been provided by an individual approved to provide first aid instruction. First aid training may be less than eight hours.' Subd. 4(b): 'Video training reviewed and approved by the county licensing agency satisfies the training requirement of this subdivision.' PEDIATRIC CPR. Subd. 5(a): 'Before initial licensure and before caring for a child, license holders, second adult caregivers, and substitutes must be trained in pediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), including CPR techniques for infants and children, and in the treatment of obstructed airways.' Subd. 5(b) requires the course to be built '(1) by the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross and incorporat[ing] psychomotor skills to support the instruction; or (2) using nationally recognized, evidence-based guidelines for CPR training and incorporat[ing] psychomotor skills'. Unlike first aid, CPR has no video carve-out.

SUID AND ABUSIVE HEAD TRAUMA - TIED TO THE AGES YOU ARE LICENSED FOR, NOT TO THE CALENDAR. Subd. 6(a): 'License holders must ensure and document that before the license holder, second adult caregivers, substitutes, and helpers assist in the care of infants, they are instructed on the standards in section 142B.46 and receive training on reducing the risk of sudden unexpected infant death. In addition, license holders must ensure and document that before the license holder, second adult caregivers, substitutes, and helpers assist in the care of infants and children under school age, they receive training on reducing the risk of abusive head trauma from shaking infants and young children.' Subd. 6(d): 'Training for family and group family child care providers must be developed by the commissioner in conjunction with the Minnesota Sudden Infant Death Center and approved by the Minnesota Center for Professional Development. Sudden unexpected infant death reduction training and abusive head trauma training may be provided in a single course of no more than two hours in length.' DHS-7672 renders the timing precisely: SUID 'Yes, before being licensed to care for infants'; AHT 'Yes, before being licensed to care for children under school age'.

Subd. 6(f) exempts a relative who is only caring for the licence holder's own child and is not a designated caregiver. CHILD PASSENGER RESTRAINT - THE COURSE CALLED B.E.S.T. Subd. 7(b)(1): 'Before a license holder, second adult caregiver, substitute, or helper transports a child or children under age nine in a motor vehicle, the person placing the child or children in a passenger restraint must satisfactorily complete training on the proper use and installation of child restraint systems in motor vehicles.' (2): 'Training required under this subdivision must be at least one hour in length, completed at initial training, and repeated at least once every five years.' (3): 'Training under this subdivision must be provided by individuals who are certified and approved by the Department of Public Safety, Office of Traffic Safety.' DHS-7672 names the course 'Basic Education for Safe Travel (B.E.S.T.)' and marks it 'Yes, before licensure if you plan to transport children'. Programmes that 'only transport school-age children ... in child care buses as defined in section 169.448' are exempt (subd. 7(c)).

SUBSTITUTES HAVE THEIR OWN FOUR-HOUR COURSE, AND IT IS ROUTINELY OMITTED FROM SUMMARIES. Subd. 10(c): 'The license holder must ensure and document that, before caring for a child, all substitutes have completed the four-hour Basics of Licensed Family Child Care for Substitutes course developed by the commissioner, which must include health and safety topics as well as child development and learning.' Substitutes do NOT take Supervising for Safety and do NOT take the four-hour child development block; they take pediatric first aid, pediatric CPR, SUID/AHT as applicable, B.E.S.T. if they will place a child under nine in a restraint, and the substitutes course. WHAT THE LICENCE HOLDER MUST TEACH THEIR OWN STAFF BEFORE THOSE STAFF TOUCH A CHILD. Subd. 1(d): 'Before a second adult caregiver or substitute cares for a child or assists in the care of a child, the license holder must train the second adult caregiver or substitute on: (1) the emergency preparedness plan required under section 142B.71, subdivision 3; and (2) allergy prevention and response required under section 142B.71, subdivision 1.' DHS-7672 adds a third item to that in-house overview: 'license holder's policies'.

WHO IS EXEMPT FROM REPEATING PRE-SERVICE TRAINING. Subd. 1(c): 'Training requirements established under this section that must be completed prior to initial licensure must be satisfied only by a newly licensed child care provider or by a child care provider who has not held an active child care license in Minnesota in the previous 12 months ... If a licensed provider moves to a new county, the new county is prohibited from requiring the provider to complete any orientation class or training for new providers.' That last sentence is worth holding on to: ORIENTATION IS NOT A UNIVERSAL STATUTORY REQUIREMENT. The state handbook DHS-8013 p. 9 states it as a county option: 'Counties MAY require individuals who are interested in becoming licensed to attend an orientation or informational meeting before receiving a license application ... You will receive application materials after you have participated in an orientation meeting.' Most counties do require it; the statute does not. A BRAKE ON NEW REQUIREMENTS. Subd. 12: 'New and increased training requirements under this section must not be imposed on providers until the commissioner establishes statewide accessibility to the required provider training.'

WHO MAY TRAIN YOU. Subd. 11(c): 'County licensing staff must accept training approved by the Minnesota Center for Professional Development, including: (1) face-to-face or classroom training; (2) online training; and (3) relationship-based professional development, such as mentoring, coaching, and consulting.' Subd. 11(b): 'Unless specifically authorized in this section, one training does not fulfill two different training requirements. Courses within the identified knowledge and competency areas that are specific to child care centers or legal nonlicensed providers do not fulfill the requirements of this section.' Records live in the Develop data system (subd. 8(b)). AFTER 30 JUNE 2027 this whole section is gone: Laws 2026, ch. 127, art. 13, s. 25(a) and (b) repeal Minn. Stat. 142B.70, subdivisions 1 to 12, and the replacement is Minn. Stat. 142I.10 to 142I.12, effective 1 July 2027. The new initial list at 142I.10, subd. 1(c) keeps the four-hour development block, the six-hour Supervising for Safety course, pediatric first aid, pediatric CPR ('Online-only CPR courses without a hands-on component do not meet this requirement'), combined SUID/AHT, the one-hour restraint course, and adds explicit pre-service training on the emergency plan, on allergy prevention and response, on the programme's own policies, on mandated reporting under chapter 260E, and on swimming pool safety if a pool is used - plus a new global rule at subd. 1(a): 'Before providing care, an applicant, a primary provider of care, and each second adult caregiver must have completed all required initial training within the prior 24 months.'

Ongoing (annual) training

SIXTEEN HOURS a year for the licence holder and for each second adult caregiver. Minn. Stat. 142B.70, subd. 8(a): 'For purposes of family and group family child care, the license holder and each second adult caregiver must complete 16 hours of ongoing training each year. Repeat of topical training requirements in subdivisions 3 to 9 shall count toward the annual 16-hour training requirement.' The sixteen is not sixteen ON TOP of the required topics - the required topics count inside it. DHS-7672-ENG (rev. 12-25) prints it as 'Yes, 16 hours (includes required training course hours)' for both roles. ONE HOUR for substitutes and for adult caregivers under 500 hours a year. Subd. 8(c): 'Substitutes and adult caregivers who provide care for 500 or fewer hours per year must complete a minimum of one hour of training each calendar year, and the training must include the requirements in subdivisions 3, 4, 5, 6, and 9.' SIX HOURS for helpers, within their first year - subd. 1(b). 'ANNUAL' NOW MEANS THE CALENDAR YEAR, AND THIS CHANGED ON 1 JANUARY 2025. Minn. Stat. 142B.01, subd. 3: 'For the purposes of family child care under sections 142B.70 to 142B.72 and 142B.74 and family child foster care training, "annual" or "annually" means each calendar year.'

DHS-7672 explains the transition in terms a provider can act on: 'Until December 31, 2024, "annual" was defined in the law, for the purposes of training requirements, to allow for the completion of annual training requirements within the one-year period following the license effective date, or the one-year period following the anniversary of the license effective date. Effective January 1, 2025, "annual" or "annually" means each calendar year. This means that the annual training requirements must be completed between January 1 and December 31 each year.' Any Minnesota guidance still keyed to your licence anniversary is out of date. WHAT MUST BE IN THE SIXTEEN, EVERY YEAR. (a) At least two hours of child development and learning OR behavior guidance - Minn.

Stat. 142B.70, subd. 3(c): 'The license holder and each second adult caregiver must annually take at least two hours of child development and learning or behavior guidance training. A three-credit course about early childhood development meets the requirements of this paragraph.' (b) A two-hour active supervision course - subd. 10(d)(1): the licence holder and each second adult caregiver shall complete 'the annual completion of either: (i) a two-hour active supervision course developed by the commissioner; or (ii) any courses in the ensuring safety competency area under the health, safety, and nutrition standard of the Knowledge and Competency Framework that the commissioner has identified as an active supervision training course'. (c) SUID and AHT ANNUALLY, in a two-year in-person/video alternation - subd. 6(e): 'Sudden unexpected infant death reduction training and abusive head trauma training required under this subdivision must be completed in person or as allowed under subdivision 11, clause (1) or (2), at least once every two years. On the years when the individual receiving training is not receiving training in person ... the individual ... must receive sudden unexpected infant death reduction training and abusive head trauma training through a video of no more than one hour in length.

The video must be developed or approved by the commissioner.' DHS-7672 files SUID and AHT under 'Annually', with the note '(Training must first be completed in a classroom or via an online training. On the off year, the training may be completed by watching approved videos.)' The common summary that SUID/AHT is 'every two years' is wrong: it is every year, in-person or online every other year and by approved video in between. THE REST OF THE SIXTEEN.

Subd. 8(a) lists the seven areas the balance must come from: '(1) child development and learning training ...; (2) developmentally appropriate learning experiences, including training in creating positive learning experiences, promoting cognitive development, promoting social and emotional development, promoting physical development, promoting creative development; and behavior guidance; (3) relationships with families ...; (4) assessment, evaluation, and individualization ...; (5) historical and contemporary development of early childhood education ...; (6) professionalism ...; and (7) health, safety, and nutrition, including training in establishing healthy practices; ensuring safety; and providing healthy nutrition.' A Develop-approved trainer may bank up to two hours for teaching - subd. 8(b) - but 'may only count training instruction hours for the first instance in which they deliver a particular content-specific training during each licensing year', and only in content area VII A or B. CULTURAL DYNAMICS AND DISABILITY TRAINING is a standing content requirement, not an hour count - subd. 9(a): 'The training required of family and group family child care providers and staff must include training in the cultural dynamics of early childhood development and child care', with six listed outcomes and commissioner-approved curriculum.

THE LONGER CYCLES. First aid and CPR: subds. 4(a) and 5(a) both require repetition 'at least once every two years within 90 days of the date the training was previously taken'. DHS-7672 files this under the heading 'Every 2 years and 90 days' and gives a worked example: 'A second adult caregiver completed Pediatric First Aid and Pediatric CPR training on April 1, 2024. The second adult caregiver must complete Pediatric First Aid and Pediatric CPR training again by June 30, 2026.' Health and Safety I and Health and Safety II, two hours each, at least once every five years - subd. 10(d)(2), with the useful concession that 'A license holder's or second adult caregiver's completion of either training in a given year meets the annual active supervision training requirement in clause (1).' Basics of Licensed Family Child Care for Substitutes, four hours, repeated every three years - subd. 10(e): 'At least once every three years, license holders must ensure and document that substitutes have completed the four-hour Basics of Licensed Family Child Care for Substitutes course.' DHS-7672's worked example: 'A substitute caregiver who completed The Basics of Licensed Family Child Care for Substitutes on June 1, 2024, must repeat this training no later than December 31, 2027.' B.E.S.T. child passenger restraint, at least once every five years - subd. 7(b)(2). WHAT HAPPENS AFTER 30 JUNE 2027. Minn.

Stat. 142B.70 is repealed and Minn. Stat. 142I.10 takes over, and the annual clock-hour figure DROPS. 142I.10, subd. 2(a) requires annually: two hours of child development/learning/behavior guidance; a two-hour active supervision course; SUID/AHT on the same in-person-then-video alternation; and '(4) at least four hours of ongoing training each calendar year that must include topics identified in the Minnesota knowledge and competency framework. Repeat of topical training requirements in subdivision 1 counts toward the annual ten-hour requirement.' The enacted text calls the total a 'ten-hour requirement' in clause (4) and again in paragraph (b) while itemising four hours in clause (4) - read the ten-hour label as the total and the four hours as the free-choice balance. Whichever reading a county takes, 16 becomes 10 on 1 July 2027. CPR AND FIRST AID REMAIN, on the same two-years-plus-90-days clock (142I.10, subd. 3(a)(1)), with a new express bar on online-only CPR (142I.10, subd. 1(c)(4)(i)).

Background checks

A Minnesota family child care background study is a CHAPTER 245C study, it is run by the DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES rather than by the licensing department, it is fingerprint-and-photograph based, and it repeats on a five-year clock. Each of those four facts is quotable. WHO RUNS IT. Minn. Stat. 142A.09, subd. 1: 'The commissioner of human services shall conduct background studies of individuals specified in section 245C.03, subdivision 5c, affiliated with: (1) a facility or program licensed or seeking a license under chapter 142B.' Subd. 2(a): 'The commissioner of human services shall conduct the background studies required by subdivision 1 in compliance with the provisions of chapter 245C. The commissioner of human services shall provide necessary forms and instructions, shall conduct the necessary background studies of individuals, and shall provide notification of the results of the studies to the facilities, individuals, and the commissioner of children, youth, and families.' Inside chapter 245C the word 'commissioner' means DHS and only DHS - Minn. Stat. 245C.02, subd. 7: '"Commissioner" means the commissioner of human services.'

DCYF's role is downstream: 142A.09, subd. 3(a) gives 'the commissioner of children, youth, and families' the job of deciding reconsideration requests, including variance requests, except where a programme is licensed by both departments. Minn. Stat. 142A.02, subd. 1(b) puts it structurally: 'The commissioners of human services and children, youth, and families are hereby constituted the "state agency" for background studies under chapter 245C', and (c) adds that they are 'the "joint interagency office" for background studies under chapter 245C.' WHO GETS STUDIED. Minn.

Stat. 245C.03, subd. 5c(a), 'Programs licensed or regulated by the Department of Children, Youth, and Families': '(1) the person or persons applying for a license; (2) an individual age 13 and over, living in the household where the licensed program will be provided, who is not receiving licensed services from the program; (3) current or prospective employees of the applicant or license holder who will have direct contact with persons served by the facility, agency, or program; (4) volunteers or student volunteers who will have direct contact with persons served by the program to provide program services if the contact is not under the continuous, direct supervision by an individual listed in clause (1) or (3); (5) an individual age ten to 12 living in the household where the licensed services will be provided when the commissioner has reasonable cause ...; (6) an individual who, without providing direct contact services at a licensed program, may have unsupervised access to children receiving services from a program, when the commissioner has reasonable cause ...; (7) all controlling individuals as defined in section 142B.01, subdivision 11; and (8) notwithstanding the other requirements in this subdivision, child care background study subjects as defined in section 245C.02, subdivision 6a.'

Family child care reaches the statute through that clause (8) door: Minn. Stat. 245C.02, subd. 6a(a) defines '"Child care background study subject"' as 'an individual who is affiliated with a licensed child care center, certified license-exempt child care center, LICENSED FAMILY CHILD CARE PROGRAM, or legal nonlicensed child care provider ... and who is: (1) employed by a child care provider for compensation; (2) assisting in the care of a child for a child care provider; (3) a person applying for licensure, certification, or enrollment; (4) a controlling individual ...; (5) an individual 13 years of age or older who lives in the household where the licensed program will be provided and who is not receiving licensed services from the program; (6) an individual ten to 12 years of age who lives in the household ... when the commissioner has reasonable cause; (7) an individual who ... may have unsupervised access to a child receiving services'. THE THIRTEEN-YEAR-OLD LINE IS THE ONE PROVIDERS TRIP ON: every household member 13 and over is studied, and a 10-to-12-year-old is studied whenever the commissioner has reasonable cause.

FINGERPRINTS AND PHOTOGRAPH. Minn. Stat. 245C.05, subd. 5(c): 'For background studies initiated on or after the implementation of NETStudy 2.0, except as provided under subdivision 5a, every subject of a background study must provide the commissioner with a set of the background study subject's classifiable fingerprints and photograph. The photograph and fingerprints must be recorded at the same time by the authorized fingerprint collection vendor or vendors and sent to the commissioner through the commissioner's secure data system.' Subd. 5(d): 'The fingerprints shall be submitted by the commissioner to the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and, when specifically required by law, submitted to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for a national criminal history record check.' Subd. 5(e): 'The fingerprints must not be retained by the Department of Public Safety, Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, or the commissioner. The Federal Bureau of Investigation will not retain background study subjects' fingerprints.' Subdivision 5a sets out modified requirements for minors. WHEN, AND HOW OFTEN. Minn.

Stat. 245C.04, subd. 1(a): 'The commissioner shall conduct a background study of an individual required to be studied ... at least upon application for initial license for all license types.' Subd. 1(b): '... a child care background study must include submission of fingerprints for a national criminal history record check and a review of the information under section 245C.08. A BACKGROUND STUDY FOR A CHILD CARE PROGRAM MUST BE REPEATED WITHIN FIVE YEARS FROM THE MOST RECENT STUDY conducted under this paragraph.' Subd. 1(h): 'Applicants for licensure, license holders, and other entities as provided in this chapter must submit completed background study requests to the commissioner using the electronic system known as NETStudy before individuals specified in section 245C.03, subdivision 1, begin positions allowing direct contact in any licensed program.' Subd. 1(i) forces a NEW study when 'an individual returns to a position requiring a background study following an absence of 120 or more consecutive days' or when a programme resumes after a 120-day gap. Substitutes get an extra beat - subd. 1(k): 'For purposes of family child care, a substitute caregiver must receive repeat background studies at the time of each license renewal', unless subd. 1(l) applies (study completed on or after 1 October 2017 and the substitute is on the licence holder's active roster in NETStudy 2.0). THE COUNTY IS YOUR INTAKE DESK.

Minn. Stat. 245C.04, subd. 1(d): 'At reapplication for a family child care license: (1) for a background study affiliated with a licensed family child care center, the individual shall provide information required under section 245C.05, subdivision 1, paragraphs (a), (b), and (d), to the county agency, and be fingerprinted and photographed under section 245C.05, subdivision 5; (2) the county agency shall verify the information received under clause (1) and forward the information to the commissioner and submit the request in NETStudy 2.0 to complete the background study; and (3) the background study conducted by the commissioner under this paragraph must include a review of the information required under section 245C.08.' Subd. 1(g) puts the same collection duty on the county for newly affiliated household members. Documents come back to the subject electronically - 245C.05, subd. 4(e): 'The background study subject shall access background study-related documents electronically in the applicant portal', with a variance available for paper. WHAT A FAILED STUDY DOES TO THE LICENCE. Minn. R. 9502.0335, subp. 6 makes it a flat bar: no licence, or revocation, non-renewal or suspension, where the applicant, provider 'or any other person living in the day care residence or present during the hours children are in care, or working with children ... C. Refuses to give written consent for the disclosure of criminal history records as specified in Minnesota Statutes, section 245C.09' or 'D.

Has a disqualification under Minnesota Statutes, section 245C.15, that is not set aside under Minnesota Statutes, section 245C.22, or for which a variance has not been granted under Minnesota Statutes, section 245C.30.' The statute doubles it - Minn. Stat. 142B.10, subd. 14(h): 'The commissioner shall not issue or reissue a license under this chapter if an individual living in the household where the services will be provided as specified under section 245C.03, subdivision 1, has been disqualified and the disqualification has not been set aside and no variance has been granted.' A variance for a disqualified individual is one of the five variance types a county may NOT grant (142B.30, subd. 1(a)(3)). THE OTHER DISQUALIFIERS, WHICH HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH A CRIMINAL RECORD. Minn. R. 9502.0335, subp. 6(A) bars licensure where a person in the home 'Abuses prescription drugs or uses controlled substances ... or alcohol, to the extent that the use or abuse has or may have a negative effect on the ability of the provider to give care', and requires '12 months of verified abstinence before licensure' where past dependency affected care or required treatment.

Subp. 6(E) and (F) allow denial where a child of the household has been placed in foster care or residential treatment within the past 12 months and 'the agency determines the reasons for placement reflect on the ability of the provider to give care'. Subp. 2(D) lets the commissioner or county require 'a physical, mental illness, or chemical dependency or abuse evaluation of any caregiver or person living in the residence' on reasonable cause. AGENCY FILE. Minn. R. 9502.0345, subp. 1(H) requires the county to keep 'Arrest, conviction, or criminal history information and substantiated maltreatment information used to disqualify an individual required to have a background study under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 245C.' The state publishes a worksheet, DHS-7733-ENG (9-20), 'Family Child Care Background Study Worksheet: Is a background study required?', to help providers work out who in the household must be studied.

The application, step by step

Work through these in order — the prep packet turns them into a checklist you can tick off:

1. START WITH YOUR COUNTY, NOT WITH THE STATE. Minn. R. 9502.0335, subp. 1(A): 'Application for a license must be made on the application form issued by the department. The application must be made in the county where the applicant resides.' DHS-8013-ENG, 'Guide to Becoming a Licensed Family Child Care Provider', p. 8: 'Your county licensor is your first resource for all licensing questions ... Your county is your first and on-going point of contact to help you through the application process.' P. 9: 'Applications are submitted and processed directly with the county where your program will operate. Contacting your county family child care licensing unit is the first step in this process.' The handbook prints the whole sequence as a flow chart: contact your county licensor - write your policies - obtain physician's statement of a medical exam - attend county orientation - complete required pre-licensure training - complete all the required licensing paperwork - complete the family child care application and return it to the county - read and understand all licensing rules and statutes - complete a pre-licensing home inspection with the licensor - complete fire marshal inspection - register and complete all necessary background studies - receive your family child care license - interview families and open your program.
2. ATTEND ORIENTATION IF YOUR COUNTY RUNS ONE - AND KNOW THAT IT IS A COUNTY OPTION, NOT A STATE MANDATE. DHS-8013 p. 9: 'Counties may require individuals who are interested in becoming licensed to attend an orientation or informational meeting before receiving a license application. The orientation meeting will give you a broad overview of the licensing process, licensing regulations, and next steps if you decide to apply for a license. Orientation may be offered in person, online or over the phone with your county's licensors ... You will receive application materials after you have participated in an orientation meeting.' The statute expressly forbids one county re-imposing orientation on a provider moving in from another - Minn. Stat. 142B.70, subd. 1(c): 'If a licensed provider moves to a new county, the new county is prohibited from requiring the provider to complete any orientation class or training for new providers.'
3. CHECK YOU QUALIFY FOR THE CLASS YOU WANT. For family day care the bar is age and health. Minn. R. 9502.0355, subp. 1: 'An applicant for family day care or group family day care shall be an adult at the time of licensure' - and 'adult' is 18 (9502.0315, subp. 2). For GROUP family day care there is an experience gate on top. Subp. 3: 'A group family day care applicant shall meet all the requirements listed in subparts 1 and 2 for family day care. A group family day care applicant shall also meet the qualifications in item A, B, or C. A. A minimum of one years' substantial compliance with parts 9502.0315 to 9502.0445 as a licensed family day care provider; or B. A minimum of six months' substantial compliance ... as a licensed family day care provider; and (1) completion of an accredited competency based family day care training and assessment program offered by an accredited institute; or (2) thirty hours of child care, health, and nutrition training ... and a minimum of 520 hours of experience as an assistant teacher, student teacher, or intern in an elementary school or licensed child care center, or as an assistant adult caregiver in a licensed group family day care home; or (3) thirty hours of child development or early childhood education training ... and a minimum of 520 hours of experience as a licensed practical or registered nurse; or C. Certification or licensure indicating (1) completion of a two year child development or early childhood education associate or certificate program at an accredited college or university; (2) completion of a nine month child development assistant program at an accredited technical college; (3) a current Level I or Level II prekindergarten license from the Department of Education; (4) a kindergarten through sixth grade teaching degree from an accredited university or college that includes a minimum of 30 hours of child development training; or (5) documentation of a minimum of six months satisfactory experience as a full-time teacher at a state licensed group day care center.' This is why DHS-8013 p. 17 says Class A 'is what most new family child care providers are eligible for during their first year of being licensed' - you generally cannot start at C1.
4. GET THE PHYSICAL EXAMINATION, FOR YOURSELF AND FOR EVERY REGULAR ADULT CAREGIVER. Minn. R. 9502.0355, subp. 2(A): 'The applicant shall supply documentation to the agency with the license application that the applicant has had a physical examination from a licensed physician within 12 months prior to initial licensure and is physically able to care for children.' Subp. 2(B) extends the same requirement to 'all adult caregivers who are assisting with care on a regular basis ... within 12 months prior to employment within the residence.' The county keeps these on file - 9502.0345, subp. 1(B).
5. COMPLETE THE PRE-SERVICE TRAINING BEFORE THE LICENCE, NOT AFTER. The full list, with citations, is in 'preservice_training': the six-hour Supervising for Safety for Family Child Care course (Minn. Stat. 142B.70, subd. 10(b)); four hours of child development and learning and behavior guidance (subd. 3(a)); pediatric first aid (subd. 4(a)); pediatric CPR (subd. 5(a)); SUID training before being licensed to care for infants and abusive head trauma training before being licensed to care for children under school age (subd. 6(a)); and the one-hour B.E.S.T. child passenger restraint course if you will transport children under nine (subd. 7(b)). DHS-7672-ENG (rev. 12-25) is the state's current grid and marks each of these 'Yes, before licensure'.
6. INITIATE THE BACKGROUND STUDIES - YOURS, EVERY HOUSEHOLD MEMBER 13 AND OVER, AND EVERY CAREGIVER. Run through DHS-7733-ENG, the 'Family Child Care Background Study Worksheet', then submit through NETStudy 2.0 via your county. Minn. Stat. 245C.04, subd. 1(h) is the timing rule: studies must be submitted 'before individuals ... begin positions allowing direct contact in any licensed program.' Fingerprints and a photograph are taken by the authorised vendor (245C.05, subd. 5(c)). Minn. R. 9502.0335, subp. 11(C) repeats the obligation whenever the licence changes: 'A background study must be initiated and completed as required under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 245C.'
7. WRITE THE POLICIES AND THE PLANS BEFORE THE VISIT. Minn. R. 9502.0405, subp. 3 requires sixteen written items to be 'available for discussion with parents or the agency': 'A. the ages and numbers of children in care in the residence; B. the hours and days of operation; C. meals and snacks to be served; D. labeling requirements for food brought from the child's home; E. sleeping and rest arrangements; F. nondiscrimination practices ...; G. policies for the care of ill children, disease notification procedures, immunizations, and medicine permission policies; H. emergency, fire, and storm plans and the monthly fire drill log; I. seat belt and transportation plans and field trip and transportation permission requirements; J. fees; K. termination and notice procedures; L. plans for a helper and substitute for emergencies, vacations, or holidays; M. the presence of pets in the residence; N. a complete copy of parts 9502.0315 to 9502.0445; O. insurance coverage; and P. whether or not smoking is permitted in the residence during the hours children are in care.' Separately, Minn. Stat. 142B.71, subd. 3(a) requires a written emergency preparedness plan 'written on a form developed by the commissioner and updated at least annually' covering evacuation, relocation, shelter-in-place and lockdown, a designated relocation site and evacuation route, parent notification and reunification, accommodations for a child with a disability or chronic medical condition, storage of medically necessary medicine, continuity of operations, communication with local emergency management, and 'accommodations for infants and toddlers.'
8. SORT THE INSURANCE, OR GIVE THE NOTICE. Minn. R. 9502.0355, subp. 4: 'A provider shall have: A. a certificate of insurance for the residence for general liability coverage for bodily injury in the amount of at least $100,000 per person and $250,000 per occurrence; or B. if the provider has liability coverage of lesser limits or no liability coverage, the provider shall give a written notice of the level of liability coverage to parents of all children in care prior to admission or when there is a change in the amount of insurance coverage; and C. the provider shall maintain copies of the notice, signed by the parents to indicate they have read and understood it, in the provider's records.' The state form for the notice is DHS-7741-ENG (8-18), 'Liability Insurance Notice to Parents or Guardians Family Child Care'.
9. SUBMIT THE APPLICATION - FORM DHS-8206 - TO THE COUNTY, AND PAY THE COUNTY FEE. The eDocs landing page served on 2026-08-25 is titled 'Family Child Care License Application (DHS-8206)'. DHS-8013 p. 9 lists what it asks for: 'the type and class of license you are applying for, if you have held a license before, your identifying information, tax identification information, address and type of dwelling you will be providing care in, people living in the home and working in the program, workers' compensation insurance verification, hours of operation of your program, references, and identifying if you plan to participate in any publicly funded program.' There is NO state licence fee for family child care - Minn. Stat. 142B.12, subd. 1(b): 'Except as provided under subdivision 2, no application or license fee shall be charged for child foster care or family and group family child care.' The county may charge - subd. 2(a): 'A county agency may charge a license fee to an applicant or license holder not to exceed $50 for a one-year license or $100 for a two-year license', payable in instalments over up to a year, and deductible from child care assistance payments if you receive them (subd. 2(b)). Minn. R. 9502.0335, subp. 1(C) defines when the file is complete: 'An application for licensure is complete when the applicant completes, signs, and submits all department forms and documentation needed for licensure to the agency and the agency receives all inspection, zoning, evaluation, and investigative reports, documentation, and information required to verify compliance.' The commissioner then 'shall act on the application within 90 working days after a complete application and any required reports have been received' (Minn. Stat. 142B.10, subd. 1(a)); an incomplete or substantially deficient initial application gets written notice and 45 days to resubmit.
10. PASS THE LICENSING STUDY OF THE HOME. Minn. R. 9502.0335, subp. 2: 'The applicant shall give the agency access to the residence for a licensing study to determine compliance with parts 9502.0315 to 9502.0445.' The statutory inspection is at Minn. Stat. 142B.10, subd. 11(a): 'Before issuing a license under this chapter, the commissioner shall conduct an inspection of the program. The inspection must include but is not limited to: (1) an inspection of the physical plant; (2) an inspection of records and documents; (3) observation of the program in operation; and (4) an inspection for the health, safety, and fire standards in licensing requirements for a child care license holder' - with paragraph (b) waiving the observation until within one year after issuance where the programme is not yet running. You are entitled to an exit interview - subd. 11(c): 'Before completing a licensing inspection in a family child care program or child care center, the licensing agency must offer the license holder an exit interview ... The commissioner shall not issue a correction order or negative licensing action for violations of law or rule not discussed in an exit interview.' And if you disagree with your licensor's reading of a rule, subd. 11(d) gives you five business days to ask the commissioner in writing for clarification, and 'The county licensor must not issue a correction order related to the disputed licensing requirement until the commissioner has provided clarification.'
11. GET THE FIRE MARSHAL IN IF YOU FALL INTO ONE OF THE FIVE TRIGGER CATEGORIES. Minn. R. 9502.0335, subp. 2(C): 'An initial inspection of the residence by a fire marshal to determine compliance with the State Fire Code and compliance with orders issued are conditions of licensure for all residences with freestanding solid fuel heating appliances; manufactured (mobile) homes; new applicants for licensure with a licensed capacity of more than ten; day care residences which use the basement for child care; and residences in mixed or multiple occupancy buildings. "Multiple occupancy building" means a structure with two or more residential dwelling units such as a duplex, apartment building, or townhome. "Mixed occupancy building" means a residence in a structure that contains nonresidential occupancies or an attached garage.' A local fire code inspector approved by the state fire marshal may do it, and the fee is capped - Minn. Stat. 142B.44: 'A local fire code inspector or the state fire marshal may recover the cost of these inspections through a fee of no more than $50 per inspection.' Bring the home up to the statutory physical standards first: two means of escape from every sleeping room and from a basement used for child care with prescribed window openings (142B.72, subd. 1); a rated door and 1/2-inch gypsum separation to an attached garage (subd. 2); combustibles 18 inches from a gas or fuel-oil heater and 36 inches from a solid-fuel appliance (subd. 3); 'A portable, operational, multipurpose, dry chemical fire extinguisher with a minimum 2 A 10 BC rating ... located in or near the kitchen and cooking areas of the residence at all times ... serviced annually by a qualified inspector' (subd. 4); 'an approved and operational carbon monoxide alarm installed within ten feet of each room used for sleeping children in care' plus UL-listed smoke alarms in hallways outside sleeping rooms and on all levels including basements (subd. 5); and handrails, guardrails and gates on stairways (subd. 8). Note that any variance to these five subdivisions needs 'written approval from the state fire marshal' (subd. 7).
12. MEET THE REST OF THE PHYSICAL-ENVIRONMENT RULE. 35 sq ft usable indoor space per child and 50 sq ft outdoor play space per child (Minn. R. 9502.0425, subps. 1 and 2); water hazards inaccessible except during supervised use (subp. 3); a crib, portable crib or playpen with a waterproof mattress for each infant and newborn, meeting 16 C.F.R. parts 1508 and 1509 (subp. 9); guardrails on decks, balconies or lofts more than 30 inches up (subp. 11); closet and bathroom latches openable from the correct side and no double-cylinder locks on exit doors (subp. 12); a flame spread rating of 200 or less on interior walls and ceilings (subp. 15); tamper-proof or shielded receptacles accessible to children under first grade, and no extension cords as substitute wiring (subp. 18); a minimum indoor temperature of 62 degrees Fahrenheit (subp. 8); and, in a GROUP family child care home, no smoking at all during hours of operation (subp. 19, citing Minn. Stat. 144.414, subd. 2). Firearms 'must be unloaded and inaccessible to children. Ammunition and firearms must be stored in separate locked areas' (9502.0435, subp. 5). A private well must be 'tested annually by a Minnesota Health Department certified laboratory for coliform bacteria and nitrate nitrogens', with the results filed with the county (9502.0445, subp. 1(A)). Pets are limited to a closed list - 'dogs, cats, fish, guinea pigs, gerbils, rabbits, hamsters, rats, mice, and birds if the birds are clear of chlamydia psittaci' - with current rabies tags for dogs and cats (9502.0435, subp. 12).
13. RECEIVE THE LICENCE, POST IT, AND WATCH THE TERM. Minn. R. 9502.0335, subp. 4: 'A license must be issued by the department when the provider fully complies with parts 9502.0315 to 9502.0445. The period of licensure may be up to two years. The license must not be transferred to another provider.' Subp. 5 allows an initial licence of up to two years where minor deviations exist that 'do not threaten the health, rights, or safety of the children' and will be corrected within a stated time. Subp. 10: 'The provider shall post the license in the residence in a prominent place.' The licence must carry the licensing agency's telephone number - Minn. Stat. 142B.61, subd. 2: 'A new or renewed child care license must include the licensing agency's telephone number and a statement that informs parents who have questions about their child's care that they may call the licensing agency.' Expect the term to change: Minn. Stat. 142B.10, subd. 14(l) ends 'Upon implementation of the provider licensing and reporting hub, licenses may be issued each calendar year', and subd. 1(e) provides that 'Upon implementation of the provider licensing and reporting hub, applicants and license holders must use the hub in the manner prescribed by the commissioner.'
14. OPEN, AND KEEP THE RECORDS FROM DAY ONE. Before a child starts you need the completed admission and arrangements form (Minn. R. 9502.0405, subp. 4(A), state form DHS-7776-ENG), written special instructions on toilet training, eating, sleeping, allergies and health problems (subp. 4(B)), immunisation records kept under Minn. Stat. 121A.15 and updated 'for an infant, every six months; for a toddler, annually; for a preschool child, every 18 months; and for a school-age child, every three years' (subp. 4(C)), advance written consent for emergency medical care (subp. 4(D)), written permission to transport (subp. 4(E)), and the allergy form required by Minn. Stat. 142B.71, subd. 1. You must also hand the parent the rule summary at admission - Minn. R. 9502.0405, subp. 2: 'A descriptive summary of parts 9502.0315 to 9502.0445 shall be distributed to the parent by the provider at the time a child is admitted to care.' Then keep the reporting clock: report suspected abuse or neglect immediately under Minn. Stat. ch. 260E; report household membership changes or a new regular caregiver within 30 days; report a fire requiring the fire department within 48 hours; and report 'immediately after the occurrence of any serious injury or death of a child within the day care residence' (9502.0375, subp. 2).

What you must post on your walls

• THE LICENCE, IN A PROMINENT PLACE. Minn. R. 9502.0335, subp. 10: 'The provider shall post the license in the residence in a prominent place.' What must appear on it is fixed by subp. 9 - 'A. the number and age groupings of children who may receive care at any one time; B. the expiration date of the license and location of the residence; C. the name and address of the provider; and D. that the provider is licensed under parts 9502.0315 to 9502.0445 of Minnesota Rules' - and by Minn. Stat. 142B.10, subd. 14(a), which adds 'the type of license' and 'any special conditions of licensure'. Since the licence must also carry 'the licensing agency's telephone number and a statement that informs parents who have questions about their child's care that they may call the licensing agency' (Minn. Stat. 142B.61, subd. 2), posting the licence is how that complaint route reaches parents. When you stop, the licence goes back: 9502.0335, subp. 15 - 'When a provider stops giving care, or if a license is revoked, suspended, or not renewed, the provider shall return the license to the commissioner, stop all advertising and refrain from providing care to children in excess of the exclusions specified in part 9502.0325, subpart 3.'
• EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBERS - AND HERE THE STATUTE HAS CANCELLED THE RULE, WHICH IS THE SINGLE MOST-REPEATED ERROR IN MINNESOTA FAMILY CHILD CARE SUMMARIES. Minn. R. 9502.0435, subp. 8(B) still reads: 'Emergency phone numbers must be posted by the telephone. The numbers must be those of the local fire department, police department, emergency transportation, and poison control center.' That requirement has been REMOVED by statute. Minn. Stat. 142B.71, subd. 5, 'Telephone requirement': 'Notwithstanding Minnesota Rules, part 9502.0435, subpart 8, item B, A LICENSE HOLDER IS NOT REQUIRED TO POST A LIST OF EMERGENCY NUMBERS. A license holder may use a cellular telephone to meet the requirements of Minnesota Rules, part 9502.0435, subpart 8, if the cellular telephone is sufficiently charged for use at all times.' What survives from subp. 8 is the availability duty, not a posting duty: '(A) An operable telephone must be located within the residence' (as modified by the cell-phone allowance) and '(C) The emergency phone numbers of the parents and child's physician and dentist must be readily available within the residence and taken on field trips.' READILY AVAILABLE, NOT POSTED.
• THE WRITTEN FIRE ESCAPE PLAN AND THE DRILL LOG - ON FILE, AND APPROVED BY THE COUNTY. Minn. R. 9502.0435, subp. 8(F): 'The provider shall have a written fire escape plan and a log of monthly fire and storm drills on file in the residence. The plan must be approved by the agency and specify: (1) emergency phone numbers; (2) a place to meet outdoors for roll call; (3) smoke detector and fire extinguisher locations; (4) plans for monthly fire and tornado drill sessions; and (5) escape routes to the outside from all levels used by children. In buildings with three or more dwelling units, enclosed exit stairs must be indicated.' Note the operative words: 'on file in the residence', not 'posted'. The state's log form is DHS-7748-ENG, 'Storm and Fire Drill'. The storm side is subp. 8(E): 'For severe storms and tornadoes, the provider shall have a designated area within the residence that children shall go to for cover, and an operable battery flashlight, and portable radio or TV available.'
• THE EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS PLAN - AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW, ON THE COMMISSIONER'S FORM, UPDATED YEARLY. Minn. Stat. 142B.71, subd. 3(a): 'A licensed family child care provider must have a written emergency preparedness plan for emergencies that require evacuation, sheltering, or other protection of children, such as fire, natural disaster, intruder, or other threatening situation ... The plan must be written on a form developed by the commissioner and updated at least annually.' Subd. 3(b): 'The license holder must train caregivers before the caregiver provides care and at least annually on the emergency preparedness plan and document completion of this training.' Subd. 3(c): 'The license holder must conduct drills according to the requirements in Minnesota Rules, part 9502.0435, subpart 8. The date and time of the drills must be documented.' Subd. 3(d): 'The license holder must have the emergency preparedness plan available for review.' Again: AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW, not posted. The commissioner's form is DHS-7955, 'Child Care Emergency Plan'.
• THE ALLERGY INFORMATION - READILY AVAILABLE TO ALL CAREGIVERS. Minn. Stat. 142B.71, subd. 1(a): 'Before admitting a child for care, the license holder must obtain information about any known allergy from the child's parent or legal guardian. The license holder must maintain current allergy information in each child's record. The allergy information must include a description of the allergy, specific triggers, avoidance techniques, symptoms of an allergic reaction, and procedures for responding to an allergic reaction, including medication, dosages, and a doctor's contact information.' Subd. 1(b): 'The child's allergy information must be documented on a form approved by the commissioner, readily available to all caregivers, and reviewed annually by the license holder and each caregiver.' The approved form is DHS-7736-ENG, 'Family Child Care Allergy Information Form', which itself states: 'Complete one form for each child. This form must be kept on file at the family child care home.'
• THE RULE SUMMARY FOR PARENTS - HANDED OVER AT ADMISSION, PLUS A FULL COPY OF THE RULE KEPT IN THE HOME. Minn. R. 9502.0405, subp. 2: 'A descriptive summary of parts 9502.0315 to 9502.0445 shall be distributed to the parent by the provider at the time a child is admitted to care. The summary shall be provided by the department to the agency for distribution to the provider. The summary shall be written in language that is understandable to the general public and: A. state that parts 9502.0315 to 9502.0445 govern the licensing of day care residences; B. specify the rule part headings contained in parts 9502.0315 to 9502.0445; and C. state that a complete copy of parts 9502.0315 to 9502.0445 may be seen at the day care residence, the agency, department, or State Law Library.' The department's summary is DHS-7747-ENG, revision 9-25. Separately, Minn. R. 9502.0405, subp. 3(N) requires the provider to keep 'a complete copy of parts 9502.0315 to 9502.0445' available for discussion with parents or the county.
• THE MALTREATMENT REPORTING POLICY - GIVEN TO EVERY PARENT AT ENROLMENT. Minn. Stat. 142B.61, subd. 1(a): 'The Department of Children, Youth, and Families must develop policies and procedures for reporting suspected child maltreatment that fulfill the requirements in chapter 260E and provide the policies and procedures to all licensed child care providers.' Subd. 1(b): the policies and procedures 'must: (1) be provided to the parents of all children at the time of enrollment in the child care program; and (2) be made available upon request.'
• THE LIABILITY-INSURANCE NOTICE, WHERE COVER IS BELOW THE RULE MINIMUM. Minn. R. 9502.0355, subp. 4(B): 'if the provider has liability coverage of lesser limits or no liability coverage, the provider shall give a written notice of the level of liability coverage to parents of all children in care prior to admission or when there is a change in the amount of insurance coverage', with signed copies retained under subp. 4(C). State form DHS-7741-ENG.
• CRIB DOCUMENTATION - MAINTAINED ON SITE AND SHOWN TO PARENTS ON REQUEST. Minn. Stat. 142B.45, subd. 3(c): 'Documentation of the review completed under this subdivision shall be maintained by the license holder on site and made available to parents or guardians of children in care and the commissioner.' The annual review is against the CPSC's list of unsafe cribs (subd. 3(a)), and family child care homes must additionally inspect every mesh- or fabric-sided play yard 'On at least a monthly basis' (subd. 3(e)). State form DHS-7743-ENG, 'Monthly Crib Safety Inspection Form for Family Child Care Providers'.
• IF YOU HOLD A SPECIAL FAMILY CHILD CARE LICENCE IN COMMERCIAL SPACE, ONE EXTRA POSTING WITH PRESCRIBED WORDING. Minn. Stat. 142B.41, subd. 4(a)(6)(iv) requires that 'the license holder prominently displays the license issued by the commissioner which contains the statement "This special family child care provider is not licensed as a child care center."'
• WHAT IS NOT A POSTING, DESPITE FREQUENT CLAIMS. There is no Minnesota family child care requirement to post a daily schedule, a menu, a ratio chart, a licensor's business card, a parent's bill of rights, a fire-drill certificate, or - as set out above - a list of emergency numbers. Correction orders and licensing actions are published by the State on the Licensing Information Lookup website rather than posted in the home (DHS-8013 pp. 45-47), and a 'fix-it ticket' is expressly not published at all: Minn. Stat. 142B.17, subd. 1(c) - 'The commissioner shall not publicly publish a fix-it ticket on the department's website.'

Enrollment forms for each child

• DHS-8206 - FAMILY CHILD CARE LICENSE APPLICATION. The single application form, submitted to the county, not the state. The eDocs landing page served on 2026-08-25 is titled 'Family Child Care License Application (DHS-8206)' (https://edocs.dhs.state.mn.us/lfserver/Public/DHS-8206-ENG); the file itself is an XFA PDF that must be opened in Adobe Reader. The rule behind it: Minn. R. 9502.0335, subp. 1(A) - 'Application for a license must be made on the application form issued by the department. The application must be made in the county where the applicant resides' - and Minn. Stat. 142B.10, subd. 1(a) - 'The application must be made on the forms and in the manner prescribed by the commissioner.' DHS-8013 p. 9 lists its contents, beginning with 'the type and class of license you are applying for'. The same form is used to change the terms of a licence: Minn. R. 9502.0335, subp. 11(A) and (B).
• DHS-7776-ENG (rev. 9-19) - FAMILY CHILD CARE ADMISSION AND ARRANGEMENTS. The form on its face: 'Complete one form for each child in care. This form must be kept on file at the family child care home. Please Note: Pursuant to MN Rules 9502.0405, subpart 4, the provider shall obtain the required information for each child prior to admission and keep the information up to date.' The rule calls it by name - 9502.0405, subp. 4(A): 'The signed and completed admission and arrangements form of the department must be on file in the provider's home' - and lists the nine data items it must carry, from the child's name and birthdate through 'Names of all persons authorized to remove the child from the residence' to 'Insurance notification specified in part 9502.0355, subpart 4.'
• DHS-7736-ENG (rev. 7-17) - FAMILY CHILD CARE ALLERGY INFORMATION FORM. The commissioner-approved form required by Minn. Stat. 142B.71, subd. 1(b). One per child, kept on file, readily available to all caregivers, reviewed annually. The form's own note still cites the pre-recodification section number ('Pursuant to MN Statute 245A.51, subd. 1'), which is now Minn. Stat. 142B.71 - the requirement is unchanged, the citation on the form is stale.
• DHS-7747-ENG (rev. 9-25) - RULE AND STATUTE SUMMARY FOR PARENTS, FAMILY CHILD CARE. This is the 'descriptive summary' the department must supply and the provider must hand to every parent at admission under Minn. R. 9502.0405, subp. 2. Its subtitle is the clearest single statement of the current Minnesota legal frame: 'Minnesota Rules, Chapter 9502 and Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 142B and Chapter 245C', and paragraph A: 'Minnesota Rules, parts 9502.0300 to 9502.0445 govern the provisions of licensing family and group family child care. Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 142B governs licensed programs and may supersede some requirements in the family child care rule.'
• DHS-7955 - CHILD CARE EMERGENCY PLAN. The 'form developed by the commissioner' on which the written emergency preparedness plan must be written and annually updated under Minn. Stat. 142B.71, subd. 3(a). The eDocs landing page served 2026-08-25 is titled 'Child Care Emergency Plan (DHS-7955)'. The companion guidance is DHS-7414-ENG (rev. 3-24), 'Keeping Kids Safe: Child Care Provider Emergency Planning Guide'.
• DHS-7748-ENG - STORM AND FIRE DRILL LOG. Required by Minn. R. 9502.0435, subp. 8(F) ('a log of monthly fire and storm drills on file in the residence') and by Minn. Stat. 142B.71, subd. 3(c) ('The date and time of the drills must be documented').
• DHS-7743-ENG - MONTHLY CRIB SAFETY INSPECTION FORM FOR FAMILY CHILD CARE PROVIDERS, with the annual certification on the reverse. It implements Minn. Stat. 142B.45: brand name and model number documented for every crib (subd. 2(a)-(b), 'Any crib for which the license holder does not have the documentation required under paragraph (a) must not be used by or be accessible to children in care'), federal compliance under 16 C.F.R. parts 1219 and 1220 (subd. 2(c)), an annual check against the CPSC unsafe-crib list (subd. 3(a)-(b)), and monthly inspection of mesh- or fabric-sided play yards (subd. 3(e)). The form's own instruction: 'Maintain this document on site and make it available to parents of children in care and the commissioner upon request.'
• THE THREE INFANT-SLEEP FORMS UNDER MINN. STAT. 142B.46. DHS-7216-ENG (rev. 1-24), 'Directive for Alternative Infant Sleep Position' - 'This form is the approved format to direct an alternative sleep position and must remain on file' - required because 142B.46(a) obliges back-sleeping 'unless the license holder has documentation from the infant's physician, advanced practice registered nurse, or physician assistant directing an alternative sleeping position ... on a form developed by the commissioner'. DHS-7218-ENG (rev. 2-24), 'Swaddling Consent for an Infant', required by 142B.46(f): 'Prior to any use of swaddling for sleep by a provider licensed under this chapter, the license holder must obtain informed written consent for the use of swaddling from the parent or guardian of the infant on a form developed by the commissioner.' DHS-7219-ENG (rev. 1-24), 'Optional Form for Parent Statement: Infant Less Than Six Months of Age Regularly Rolling Over' - optional, and tied to 142B.46(a)'s allowance for an infant who 'independently rolls onto its stomach after being placed to sleep on its back'. A helmet at sleep also needs signed clinical documentation 'on a form developed by the commissioner' (142B.46(e)).
• DHS-7741-ENG (rev. 8-18) - LIABILITY INSURANCE NOTICE TO PARENTS OR GUARDIANS, FAMILY CHILD CARE. Required whenever cover is below $100,000 per person / $250,000 per occurrence or absent, under Minn. R. 9502.0355, subp. 4(B), with parent-signed copies retained under subp. 4(C).
• DHS-7746-ENG - PRESCRIPTION AND NON-PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION PERMISSION, FAMILY CHILD CARE. The form is OPTIONAL, the permission is not. DHS-8013 p. 25: 'You must obtain written permission from a child's parent(s) prior to administering medicine, diapering products, sunscreen lotions, and insect repellents. DHS has an optional form on its website that you may decide to use to meet these requirements; however, you may also create your own form.' The underlying rule is Minn. R. 9502.0435, subp. 16(F)(1) and (2).
• DHS-7733-ENG (rev. 9-20) - FAMILY CHILD CARE BACKGROUND STUDY WORKSHEET ('Is a background study required?'), used to work out which household members and helpers must be studied before the background studies are submitted through NETStudy 2.0 under Minn. Stat. 245C.04, subd. 1.
• REFERENCE DOCUMENTS RATHER THAN FORMS, BUT THE ONES A COUNTY LICENSOR WILL EXPECT YOU TO HAVE READ: DHS-7672-ENG (rev. 12-25), 'Training Requirements for Licensed Family Child Care' - the current initial/annual/2-year/3-year/5-year grid by role; DHS-7734-ENG (rev. 6/2018), 'Age Group Definitions ... Family and Group Child Care' - the class-by-class toddler definitions and a reprint of the Minn. R. 9502.0367 ratio table; and DHS-8013-ENG (rev. 10-20), 'Guide to Becoming a Licensed Family Child Care Provider' - the 107-page state handbook, still the only end-to-end narrative of the process, and still written against the repealed Minn. Stat. ch. 245A numbering (see 'verify_flag').
• DOCUMENTS YOU MUST PRODUCE THAT ARE NOT STATE FORMS: a licensed physician's statement of a physical examination within the previous 12 months, for the applicant and for each regular adult caregiver (Minn. R. 9502.0355, subp. 2); the sixteen written policy items at Minn. R. 9502.0405, subp. 3; written parental instructions on toilet training, eating, sleeping, allergies and health problems (subp. 4(B)); immunisation records under Minn. Stat. 121A.15 (subp. 4(C)); advance written consent for emergency medical care (subp. 4(D)); written permission to transport (subp. 4(E)); written permission for a school-age child to take part in activities away from the residence (9502.0415, subp. 12); and, for a private well, the annual coliform and nitrate test result filed with the county (9502.0445, subp. 1(A)).

What's specific about getting licensed in Minnesota

Minnesota just moved the goalposts administratively: as of July 1, 2024 child care licensing left the Department of Human Services (DHS) for the new Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF), and the governing statute was renumbered from Chapter 245A to Chapter 142B (family-child-care training moved from §245A.50 to §142B.70). The rules themselves (Minnesota Rules Chapter 9502) did not change, so most online guides, forms, and even providers still say 'DHS' and '245A.' The deeper trap is who your licensor actually is: Minnesota is a county-delegated state. You do not apply to the state — your county (or Tribal) licensing agency runs your orientation, inspects your home, investigates complaints, and recommends the license; DCYF only issues it. Two applicants in different counties can face different orientation schedules, waitlists, and interpretations for the same rulebook.

How long it takes and what it costs in Minnesota

Timeline: Realistically 3-6 months from first county contact to an issued license, driven mostly by (a) county orientation and inspection scheduling, (b) completing the pre-service training courses (first aid/CPR/SUID-AHT/6-hour Supervising for Safety), and (c) background study turnaround for you and all household members. Counties with waitlists can push this longer.

Cost: Varies — confirm the current figures with your county/Tribal agency and DCYF. Expect: an annual state license fee (modest; set by statute and by license class), background study fees for yourself and each required household member/caregiver, fingerprinting costs for new studies, and out-of-pocket course fees for first aid, CPR, SUID/AHT, and the six-hour Supervising for Safety course. Do not budget from a single quoted number found online — the DHS-to-DCYF transition and county administration mean fees should be verified directly.

Source: PRIMARY RULES - Minnesota Rules, chapter 9502, 'LICENSING OF DAY CARE FACILITIES' (published by the Revisor under the agency heading 'Human Services Department'), parts 9502.0300 to 9502.0445: chapter page https://www.revisor.mn.gov/rules/9502/ ; full chapter text https://www.revisor.mn.gov/rules/9502/full ; key parts read individually at https://www.revisor.mn.gov/rules/9502.0315/ (definitions), /9502.0325/ (applicability and exclusions), /9502.0335/ (licensing process, posting, variances), /9502.0341/ (negative licensing actions), /9502.0345/ (agency records), /9502.0355/ (caregiver qualifications, insurance), /9502.0365/ (capacity, newborns, helpers, substitutes), /9502.0367/ (the child/adult ratio and age distribution table), /9502.0375/ (reporting), /9502.0395/ (behavior guidance), /9502.0405/ (admissions, records, policies), /9502.0415/ (activities and equipment), /9502.0425/ (physical environment, 35 sq ft, smoking), /9502.0435/ (sanitation, first aid kit, emergencies, transport, medicine), /9502.0445/ (water, food, nutrition).

PRIMARY STATUTES - Minnesota Statutes 2025, chapter 142B, 'CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES LICENSING': https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/142B (table of sections and the 2026-session amendment notices), with individual sections at https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/142B.01 (definitions and age classifications), /142B.05 (who must be licensed), /142B.10 (application, inspection, grant of licence), /142B.12 (fees), /142B.16 (correction orders), /142B.17 (fix-it ticket), /142B.171 (weighted risk system), /142B.30 (delegation to county agencies), /142B.41 (special family child care), /142B.44 (fire marshal inspection), /142B.45 (crib safety), /142B.46 (safe sleep), /142B.53 (mandatory reporting), /142B.60 and /142B.61 (information and reporting notification), /142B.70 (family child care training), /142B.71 (family child care health and safety, including the emergency-numbers override), /142B.72 (family child care physical space), /142B.74 (substitutes, 500 hours), /142B.75 (infant sleep supervision), /142B.76 (diapering area disinfection), /142B.77 (supervision of the licence holder's own child), /142B.78 (local government).

Chapter 142A, 'DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES': /142A.02 (creation of the department) and /142A.09 (background studies conducted by the commissioner of human services). Chapter 245C, 'HUMAN SERVICES BACKGROUND STUDIES': /245C.02 (definitions, including 'commissioner' = human services and 'child care background study subject'), /245C.03 (individuals to be studied, subd. 5c for DCYF programs), /245C.04 (when studies are required, five-year repeat, county collection at reapplication), /245C.05 (fingerprints and photograph, NETStudy 2.0). Effective-date default rule: /645.02. THE 2027 REPLACEMENT LAW - Laws of Minnesota 2026, chapter 127, article 12 ('CHILD CARE CENTER LICENSING MODERNIZATION', enacting Minn. Stat. ch. 142H) and article 13 ('FAMILY CHILD CARE LICENSING MODERNIZATION', enacting Minn. Stat. ch. 142I, repealing Minn. R. ch. 9502 and Minn. Stat. 142B.70 to 142B.77 at article 13, section 25, and effective 1 July 2027 at article 13, section 26): https://www.revisor.mn.gov/laws/2026/0/Session+Law/Chapter/127/ . Recodification history: Laws of Minnesota 2024, chapter 80, article 2, section 74 (the 245A-to-142B renumbering table): https://www.revisor.mn.gov/laws/2024/0/Session+Law/Chapter/80/ .

AGENCY DOCUMENTS, all served from the Minnesota eDocs library at https://edocs.dhs.state.mn.us/lfserver/Public/ on 2026-08-25 - DHS-8206 Family Child Care License Application (landing page title verified); DHS-8013-ENG (10-20) Guide to Becoming a Licensed Family Child Care Provider; DHS-7672-ENG (12-25) Training Requirements for Licensed Family Child Care; DHS-7734-ENG (6/2018) Age Group Definitions, Family and Group Child Care; DHS-7747-ENG (9-25) Rule and Statute Summary for Parents, Family Child Care; DHS-7736-ENG (7-17) Family Child Care Allergy Information Form; DHS-7776-ENG (9-19) Family Child Care Admission and Arrangements; DHS-7743-ENG Monthly Crib Safety Inspection Form for Family Child Care Providers; DHS-7218-ENG (2-24) Swaddling Consent for an Infant; DHS-7216-ENG (1-24) Directive for Alternative Infant Sleep Position; DHS-7219-ENG (1-24) Optional Form for Parent Statement on Rolling Over; DHS-7414-ENG (3-24) Keeping Kids Safe: Child Care Provider Emergency Planning Guide; DHS-7733-ENG (9-20) Family Child Care Background Study Worksheet; DHS-7741-ENG (8-18) Liability Insurance Notice to Parents or Guardians; DHS-7746-ENG Prescription and Non-Prescription Medication Administration Permission; DHS-7748-ENG Storm and Fire Drill; DHS-7955 Child Care Emergency Plan. NOT USED, BECAUSE UNREACHABLE FROM THIS NETWORK ON 2026-08-25 (Radware bot-manager block): https://dcyf.mn.gov/ and all its family-child-care pages, https://mn.gov/dhs/ and https://mn.gov/elicense/ .

Verified 2026-08-25. General information, not legal advice and not a guarantee of licensure — confirm with your state’s licensing agency before applying.