Indoor Square Footage

Indoor Square Footage 1. Every license shall set forth the licensed facility’s maximum licensed capacity, which shall be based upon a minimum of thirty-five (35) square feet of usable indoor space per child. Likewise, the capacity for each room where children are kept shall have a minimum of thirty five (35) square feet of usable space per child, measured on the inside, wall-to-wall dimensions, subject to the following exceptions: a. During group activity periods such as film viewing, parties, dining, and sleeping, provided child-to-staff ratio is maintained; b. During periods when child pick-up or delivery is normally done, provided child-to staff ratio is maintained; c. In infant and toddler rooms as required in subsections 2-7 below; d. In school age only and summer day camp programs as outlined in Subchapter 23 and Subchapter 24 of these regulations. The usable space in determining the facility’s maximum licensed capacity is measured exclusive of food preparation areas, kitchens, bathrooms, toilets, areas for the care of ill children, offices, staff room, corridors, hallways, stairways, closets, lockers, laundries, furnace rooms, fixed or permanent cabinets, fixed or permanent storage shelving spaces, and areas not inhabited and used by children. 2. Rooms in which infants both play and sleep shall have a minimum of 40 square feet of usable space per child. There shall be at least 24” between each crib. A minimum of 36” is recommended. Cribs with solid ends may be placed end-to- end. 3. Rooms where infants play but do not sleep shall have a minimum of 15 square feet of usable space per child. NOTE: No other age group shall use this space nor can it be used for any purpose other than infant play. 4. Rooms where infants sleep but do not play shall have a minimum of 25 square feet of usable space per child. There shall be at least two feet between each crib. Cribs with solid ends may be placed end-to-end. 5. Rooms in which toddlers both play and sleep shall have a minimum of 45 square feet of usable space per child. There shall be at least 24” between each crib. A minimum of 36” is recommended. Cribs with solid ends may be placed end-to-end. However, if stackable cots, mats, or other storable sleeping equipment is utilized for sleeping the room shall be measured using the standard of 35 square feet per child. Should it be determined that the sleeping equipment is not properly stored when not in use the capacity of the room will be determined using 45 square feet per child 6. Rooms where toddlers play but do not sleep shall have a minimum of 25 square feet of usable space per child. NOTE: No other age group shall use this space nor can it be used for any purpose other than toddler play. 7. Rooms where toddlers sleep but do not play shall have a minimum of 25 square feet of usable space per child. There shall be at least 24” between each crib. A minimum of 36” is recommended. Cribs with solid ends may be placed end-to- end. 8. The licensing agency may re-measure the play of licensed operating child care facilities, or such parts impacted by the following circumstances, for purposes of determining licensed facility or classroom capacity only under the following circumstances: a. Major renovations; b. Significant change in layout and use of space; c. A change of ownership of an existing facility should the layout or use of space change. 9. “Grandfather Provision” for regulatory changes regarding maximum facility capacity or room capacity. Whenever the Mississippi State Board of Health amends these rules regarding square footage and/or licensed maximum capacity of child care facilities, and such change would result in a reduction in the number of children to be served in a licensed and operating facility or any of its classrooms, any such facility in operation at the time of final adoption of said rule change, and in compliance with all other child care regulations, shall be “grandfathered” in and exempt from application of the new regulation regarding capacity. This exemption shall continue for said facility through changes of ownership so long as the building is used continuously as a licensed child care facility and so long as there is no change in the layout or use of the space, as set out in subsection 8 above. Any break in use of the building as a licensed child care facility shall moot the grandfather exemption, and thereafter, any child facility opened and operated in said building shall be required to comply with the square footage/capacity regulation in affect at the time of the new license.