North Dakota HHS Early Childhood Licensing
North Dakota requires a family child care license once early childhood services are provided for four or more children ages 24 months and under, or for six or seven children through age eleven with no more than three under 24 months, per N.D. Cent. Code 50-11.1-03(1). Below those triggers, up to five children through age eleven with at most three under 24 months, no license applies, and the state offers a voluntary self-declaration for exactly that range. The count includes every child present under 12, the provider's own included.
| Tier | Children | Age limits | Your own kids |
|---|---|---|---|
| Self-declarationself declaration | up to 5 |
| Count |
| In-home provider (registered)in home registration | up to 5 |
| Count |
| Family child carefcc license | up to 9 |
| Count |
| Group child caregcc license | 8 to 30 |
| Count |
Age limits and totals for every tier, with row-level citations, live on the North Dakota home daycare ratios page.
For every home category all children present on the premises under age 12 must be counted, and the chapter protects them regardless of whether money or goods are received. A provider's own child, foster child or grandchild over age eleven is exempt from the count.
A provider caring for up to five children through age eleven, no more than three under 24 months, may apply for a self-declaration document; the statute says the application is voluntary and the department approves or denies it.
Family child care runs to 9 children on the statutory age mixes; group child care covers 8 to 30 children and uses a fractional point formula in N.D. Admin. Code 75-03-09-09 to set staffing, with at most 4 children under 18 months per caregiver.
Operating without a required license after written notice draws a civil penalty of fifty dollars per day of operation under the chapter.
Up to five children through age eleven, of whom no more than three may be under 24 months. A license is required at four or more children 24 months and under, or six or seven children with at most three under 24 months, per N.D. Cent. Code 50-11.1-03(1).
Yes while they are under 12; all children present on the premises under age twelve are counted, and only a provider's own child, foster child or grandchild over eleven is exempt, per 50-11.1-02.1.
Voluntary documentation with the department for a provider caring for up to five children through age eleven with at most three under 24 months, per 50-11.1-02(27) and 50-11.1-16.
Up to nine children through age eleven on the statutory mixes, for example seven not yet in school with at most three under 24 months, per 50-11.1-02(7) and 50-11.1-03(1).
The chapter counts all children present regardless of relationship, exempting only the provider's own child, foster child or grandchild over eleven; the Child Care Assistance Program separately recognizes approved relative providers for subsidy purposes.
DaycareRules is an informational reference about home child care licensing rules in the United States. It reprints thresholds, capacity limits, ratios and citations from state statutes and regulations, together with the date each state was last verified. Nothing on this site is legal advice, and rules change. Confirm with your state licensing agency before acting on any number printed here.