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Alert:
Service and license centers closed June 19 in observance of Juneteenth.
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Child Care
 
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Child Care Licensing
952-891-7400
childcare@co.dakota.mn.us

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Legally Unlicensed Child Care

Page Content

There are exclusions to the licensure requirement. Under Minnesota Statute 245A.03, subdivision 2, the following child care situations don't require licenses:

  • Child care provided by a relative to only related children​
  • Child care provided to children from a single, unrelated family, for any length of time.

Minnesota Statute 245A.02, subdivision 13 defines an “individual who is related" as a spouse, a parent, a natural or adopted child or stepchildren, a stepparent, a stepbrother, a stepsister, a niece, a nephew, an adoptive parent, a grandparent, a sibling, an aunt, an uncle, or a legal guardian. If you don't meet this definition, you must be licensed in order to continue providing child care.

Under state law, operating without a license is a misdemeanor.

If you are interested in becoming licensed and are a Dakota County resident, see the Licensing New Providers page. 

Last updated: 3/19/2024 11:27 AM

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  • 1590 Highway 55
  • Hastings, MN 55033
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