Watch this video on in home daycare providers and contact us for more information: 

Carver County Child Care Licensing Video

Effective June 1st, 2021, Carver County Daycare Licensing is open in person or virtually. If you are interested in becoming a family child care provider, please contact Tristin Sprengeler at Tpsprengeler@carvercountymn.gov or (952) 361-1714.

Unsure if you want to open an in-home Family Child Care Program or a Child Care Center? Visit the Wayfinder site to explore options and learn more.

The Carver County Child Care Licensing Unit, as an agent of the State of Minnesota Department of Human Services, DHS, is responsible to license and monitor In-home Family Child Care providers within the county.

Click on the links below for more information:

• Forms for Licensed Providers 
• Resources for Providers
• Staff Documents

Check out the 

DHS Website

for Providers & Parents!

The Child Care Licensing staff is available to answer questions about the licensing process.  By working together, we hope to get providers off to a positive and successful start in the child care field.

Contact Us:

Carver County Child Care Licensing

Health & Human Services Bldg.

602 East 4^th Street Chaska, MN  55318

(952) 361-1600
Fax: 952-361-1660

*Child Care Centers in Minnesota are licensed through the Department of Human Services Licensing Division.  For information regarding a child care center, call DHS at (651)431-6500 or visit the DHS website.

Are you looking for Child Care? Let us help you! 

Below are a few websites to explore in your search to find child care:

• Department of Human Services Licensing Look-up (DHS)
  • This website gives you a full listing of all licensed in-home providers and centers in Minnesota. 
  • In the County or City field enter the county or the specific city you wish to find care.
  • Under the Type of Service field, select “Family Child Care” (or “Child Care Centers” if interested in a center).
  • Click Search.  No other fields need to be filled in.

• Parent Aware of MN

  Access licensed programs that have volunteered to receive a star rating.

  • Scroll down to Selecting a Program.
  • Click on Choosing Care Checklist to search for care in your are

• To see a visual of where the licensed facilities in Carver County are located, along with contact information for that program, visit the Carver County Child Care Licensing webpage.

*If you are considering a specific Carver County in-home child care provider, please feel free to call Carver County Child Care Licensing at (952) 361-1714. At this time you can verify that the provider is licensed, and can ask if there are any complaints, negative actions, or any investigations pending in the provider’s file.  We can also go over some of the parent evaluations that we have received regarding the provider. 

Additional information may found in these resources:

• Monitoring licensed child care
• Your Child's Safety in Licensed Family Child Care
• Think Small website

(We do not license child care centers.  They are licensed by DHS.  Information on a specific child care center may be reviewed on the DHS Licensing Look Up website referenced above.  If you need to contact a licensing agency in regards to a child care center, you can call the DHS at (651) 431-6500.) 

Do I Need To Be Licensed?

Minnesota Statutes, Section 245A.03, subdivision 1 requires that an individual, corporation, part­nership, voluntary association, or other organization must not operate a nonresidential program (i.e., family child care home) unless licensed by the Commissioner of Human Services.

There are certain exclusions to the licensure requirement.  Under Minnesota Statutes, section 245A.03, sub­division 2, the following child care situations are excluded from licensure:

A.   child care provided to children from a single, unrelated family, for any length of time;

B.  child care provided for a cumulative total of less than 30 days in any 12-month period;

C. child care provided by a relative to only related children (Minnesota Statutes, section 245A.02, subdivision 13 defines an "individual who is related" as a spouse, a parent, a natural or adopted child or stepchild, 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.)

Unless you meet this exclu­sion, you must be licensed, in the state of Minnesota.  The standards you must meet to be­come licensed are in Minnesota Rules, parts 9502.0300 to 9502.0445.

What is the process to become a Licensed Provider?

1. Call Carver County Child Care Licensing at (952) 361-1714 to register for the Information and the Orientation sessions.  

• These sessions are held virtually
• Please let us know if an interpreter is needed
• Paperwork will be sent to you in the mail.

2. Attend the Information Session.

3. Responsibilities of the Applicant:

• Complete the packet of forms
• Register for the required pre-licensing training
• Schedule a physical with your physician
• Submit an application to the MN Fire Marshall for a home inspection
• Complete paperwork for NetStudy Background

4. Register for the Orientation session.

5. Bring/send the completed packet of forms prior to the orientation session along with a non-refundable personal check or cashier’s check in the amount of $50.00, payable to Carver County Health & Human Services. (Licensing Fee)

6. The Child Care Unit will then review all application forms.

7. The unit will generate the Applicant Initiated Instruction form and will send it to you so that you can create an account in NetStudy 2.0 and begin your background study process.

8. Reference letters will be mailed by licensing to those you have indicated on the application.

9. When above the items are received and complete, the licensor will call to schedule home inspection.

10. Upon completion of the home inspection by the licensing agency, with all necessary requirements met, Carver County will submit the license application request to DHS.

11.   DHS will mail you your License.

To find out more information, you can read DHS Guide to Becoming a Licensed Family Child Care Provider.

This process typically takes 3-6 months to complete

For more information call us at (952) 361-1714

Directions to the Government Center

General Licensing Information

The following rules, licensing acts, and regulations govern licensed family child care:

• Minnesota Rules Chapter 9502 – Licensing of Day Care Facilities

• Minnesota Statute Chapter 245A - Human Services Licensing

• Minnesota Statute Chapter 245C - Human Services Background Studies

• Mandated Reporter Training - MN Child Welfare Training Academy
• Develop - MN Training Registry 
• Develop - How to Download and Print Training Record
• SUID/AHT Videos to view
• Carver County Licensed Child Care Association (CCLCCA)
• American Heart Association 
• American Red Cross
• Carver County Public Health - Child And Restraint Systems Training (C.A.R.S.)
• MN Child Passenger Safety Program (C.A.R.S.)
• Think Small  
• Eager To Learn/Anytime Learning
• SafeGard Classes Online
• The CARE Courses School
• Chaska Community Education
• Waconia Community Education
• Watertown-Mayer Community Education

*Please Note: All required training must be taught by a trainer approved through MN Center for Professional Development!

 The links listed on this website are not all inclusive lists.  These lists are for informational purposes only and does not indicate endorsement of any listed organization by Carver County Health & Human Services.