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 and/or
- 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.