This is the Minnesota Department of Human Services’ Family Child Care Orientation, Module 2 – Home environment.
The most common setting for a family child care program is a single family home that is owned by the provider. While this is the most common setting, it is not the only option. Other possible locations include:
If any of these spaces are rented rather than owned by you, you must first get your landlord’s approval.
You may operate a program that is licensed as family child care but is located somewhere other than your own home. It is considered to be a special family child care program.
Examples of other locations include:
Minnesota Statutes, section 245A.14, subdivision 4 provides information about family child care programs located somewhere other than the provider’s own home. For more information about this type of program or for answers to specific questions, please reach out to your county’s licensing unit.
The focus of this orientation will be on licensed family child care. If you would like to learn more about these other types of programs, you may reach out to your county licensing team or the Department of Human Services.
Your licensor will be inspecting all areas of your property - indoors and outdoors.
You may need to make changes to your home or property to comply with licensing requirements.
You may need to put safety measures in place, such as gates, locks, fencing, etc.
Now we will review the statute and rule language, as well as the plain language description regarding home environment requirements.
This next slides will highlight licensing requirements for indoor spaces.
Minnesota Rules, part 9502.0425, Subpart 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 specified in subpart 4.
Minnesota Rules, part 9502.0435
Subpart. 1. Sanitation and cleanliness. The residence must be free from accumulations of dirt, rubbish, or peeling paint – Make sure that there isn’t trash in the backyard. If you have a dog, make sure that the waste is picked up so that children are not exposed to it.
Subpart. 2. Pest control. Effective measures must be taken to protect the home against vermin and insects. Chemicals for insect and rodent control must not be applied in areas accessible to children when children are present. If you have ants, mice, etc., then it’s important to keep the traps away from children. If you apply treatments, you may want to consider applying them when children are not at your home.
Subpart. 3. Rubbish. Indoor and outdoor garbage and rubbish containers must not be accessible to infants and toddlers. For example, you’ll want to consider where you decide to change diapers so that the garbage is not accessible to children.
Minnesota Rules, part 9502.0425
Subpart. 8. Temperature. A minimum temperature of 62 degrees Fahrenheit must be maintained in indoor areas used by children.
Minnesota Rules, part 9502.0425
Subpart. 13. Sewage disposal. Daycare residences must have toilet facilities and sewage disposal systems that conform to the State Building Code or local septic system ordinances. The toilets must flush thoroughly. Outdoor toilets are permissible when local ordinances allow.
The inside of your home must meet the following requirements:
The following slides will provide information about protecting your home environment from fire.
Minnesota Rules, part 9502.0425, subpart 7
(D) Whenever in use, fireplaces, wood-burning stoves, solid fuel appliances, space heaters, steam radiators, and other potentially hot surfaces, such as steam pipes, must be protected by guards to prevent burns. All fireplaces, wood-burning stoves, space heaters, steam radiators, and furnaces must be installed according to the State Building Code.
(E) Heating and venting systems. The furnace, hot water heater, and workshop area must be inaccessible to children. Separation may be by a door, partition, or gate. There must be allowance for air circulation to the furnace.
Minnesota Statutes, section 245A.52, subdivision 5
(a) All homes must have an approved and operational carbon monoxide alarm installed within ten feet of each room used for sleeping children in care.
(b) Smoke alarms that have been listed by the Underwriter Laboratory must be properly installed and maintained on all levels including basements, but not including crawl spaces and uninhabitable attics, and in hallways outside rooms used for sleeping children in care.
(c) In homes with construction that began on or after May 2, 2016, smoke alarms must be installed and maintained in each room used for sleeping children in care.
Minnesota Statutes, section 245A.52, subdivision 4
A portable, operational, multipurpose, dry chemical fire extinguisher with a minimum 2 A 10 BC rating must be located in or near the kitchen and cooking areas of the residence at all times. The fire extinguisher must be serviced annually by a qualified inspector. All caregivers must know how to properly use the fire extinguisher.
To ensure children in your home are protected from fire:
Furnaces, water heaters, space heaters, fireplaces, workshops, and wood-burning stoves must not be accessible to children.
Furnaces must have room for air circulation.
You must have smoke alarms that are no more than 10 years old. They must be installed on all levels of your home, including the basement, and in hallways outside rooms where children sleep. In homes with construction that began on or after May 2, 2016, smoke alarms must also be installed inside each room where children sleep. A carbon monoxide alarm must be within 10 feet of each room where children sleep.
A fire extinguisher must be near the kitchen. All caregivers need to know how to use the fire extinguisher.
Now we’ll talk about some of the requirements for outdoor spaces
Swimming and wading pools, beaches, or other bodies of water on or adjacent to the site of the residence must be inaccessible to children except during periods of supervised use.
Wading pools must be kept clean.
When children use a swimming pool or beach, an attendant trained in first aid and resuscitation shall be present.
Any public swimming pool used by children must meet the listed requirements.
Minnesota Rules, part 9502.0425, Subpart 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. On-site supervision must be provided by a caregiver for children of less than school age when play space is not adjacent to the residence. Enclosure may be required by the agency to provide protection from rail, traffic, water, or machinery hazard. The area must be free of litter, rubbish, toxic materials, water hazards, machinery, unlocked vehicles, human or animal wastes, and sewage contaminants.
To ensure that children are safe while outside of your home, you may be required to fence the outdoor play space due to hazards on or near your property. For example, if you are near a railway, high traffic area, or by heavy machinery, you may need to install fencing to protect the children. Your licensor will help you determine if fencing or other precautions are needed.
Your outdoor play space must be free of litter, trash, toxic materials, water hazards, machinery, unlocked vehicles, waste, or sewage. If you have pets who access your outdoor play space, all waste must be picked up before children can be in the area.
