Child care providers are not required to be licensed if they meet Minnesota Statute 142B subd.2 guidelines.
Criteria to provide legally nonlicensed child care
If you do not meet one of these criteria, licensure is required to provide child care. Under state law, operating without a license is a misdemeanor.
- Child care is provided by a relative to only related children. State law identifies relation as a:
- Spouse
- Natural or adopted parent
- Grandparent
- Aunt or uncle
- Natural or adopted child
- Stepchild
- Stepsibling
- Niece or nephew
- Child care is provided to children from a single family unrelated to provider.
Licensure is not required if you are providing legally unlicensed child care, but if you would like to be registered contact the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth and Families.
If you are interested in becoming a Dakota County licensed child care provider, contact Family Child Care Licensing at 952-891-7400 or childcare@co.dakota.mn.us.