Family Child Care Licensing

About Child Cares

Family child care is a rewarding and challenging profession. A licensed child care program is a small business in our community and provides an important and critical service. The way providers care for children and guide their growth will be a part of shaping their future.

Blue Earth County has approximately 100 licensed child care programs, with a capacity to serve 1,300 children. The County is delegated by the Minnesota Department of Human Services to license providers of child care in a setting other than a child care center. Typically, the sites of most licensed programs are in the home of the provider, however, certain commercial spaces are permitted.

For residents interested in learning how to become a licensed child care provider in Blue Earth County, the first step is to attend an orientation meeting. In this meeting you will learn more about what it means to be a licensed child care provider and the application process. Orientation meetings are done by licensing staff, and the meeting is required as part of the application process.  

Orientation and Application information can be found here.

Licensing Information

Under state law, the following day care situations are excluded from licensure:

• Child care is provided by a relative to related children, only
• Child care is provided to children from a single, unrelated family for any length of time
• Child care is provided for a cumulative total of less than 30 days in any 12 month period

If you are unsure if you need to be licensed, please contact Licensing Services staff.