Building a daycare in Saskatchewan
A new licensed child care centre in Saskatchewan needs at least 3.7 square metres of usable floor area per licensed space, a separate sleeping area of 2.3 square metres per infant space, and 7 square metres of outdoor play area per space, under The Child Care Regulations, 2015. Staff ratios run from one worker per 3 infants to one per 15 school-age children. A 90-space centre therefore needs at least 333 square metres of usable floor area, before offices, washrooms, the kitchen and hallways, which do not count.
Updated . Source: The Child Care Regulations, 2015, in the Ministry of Education’s Child Care Licensee’s Manual. This page is a planning summary, not legal advice; confirm with your Early Learning and Child Care consultant.
Minimum space by centre size
Worked from sections 56 and 59 for a new centre. Usable floor area excludes offices, hallways, entryways, washrooms, kitchens, closets, locker areas, furnace and boiler rooms and large or fixed equipment. Add the infant sleeping area (2.3 m² per infant space) on top.
| Licensed spaces | Usable floor area | Outdoor play area |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | 111 m² (1,195 sq ft) | 210 m² (2,260 sq ft) |
| 47 | 174 m² (1,872 sq ft) | 329 m² (3,541 sq ft) |
| 65 | 241 m² (2,589 sq ft) | 455 m² (4,898 sq ft) |
| 82 | 303 m² (3,266 sq ft) | 574 m² (6,178 sq ft) |
| 90 | 333 m² (3,584 sq ft) | 630 m² (6,781 sq ft) |
The ministry’s guidelines also call for a ceiling height of 2.3 metres over at least half of each room, and suggest deducting 15% at the early design stage to allow for built-in cupboards and large equipment, with actual measurements taken before spaces are filled.
Ratios and group sizes
The number of rooms follows from group size: each age group needs a room large enough for its group, which is why a 90-child centre has separate infant, toddler, preschool and school-age rooms. Mixed-age groups use a 1 to 15 ratio with weighted counts (section 52).
| Age group | Staff to children | Maximum group |
|---|---|---|
| Infants | 1 to 3 | 6 |
| Toddlers | 1 to 5 | 10 |
| Preschool | 1 to 10 | 20 |
| School-age | 1 to 15 | 30 |
A modular daycare, built in Saskatchewan.
Herauf builds daycares indoors at its plant in Zehner, near Regina, in tiers of 30 to 47, 65 to 82 and 90 children. The 90-child facility has school-age, preschool, toddler and infant rooms, a sleep room, a kitchen and a staff room. Additions that connect to an existing building are available too. Each meets or exceeds CSA A277 and the National Building Code and typically takes about 16 weeks to manufacture and deliver, while your site is prepared.
Common questions
How much space does a daycare need in Saskatchewan?
A new child care centre in Saskatchewan must provide at least 3.7 square metres (about 40 sq ft) of usable floor area for each licensed space, plus a separate sleeping area of at least 2.3 square metres for each infant space, under section 56 of The Child Care Regulations, 2015. Offices, hallways, entryways, washrooms, kitchens, closets, locker areas and mechanical rooms do not count, so the whole building is larger. A 90-space centre needs at least 333 square metres of usable floor area.
How much outdoor play space does a Saskatchewan daycare need?
Seven square metres per licensed space under section 59 of The Child Care Regulations, 2015. At least half must be next to the centre, and the rest within walking distance, unless the licence says otherwise. A 90-space centre needs 630 square metres.
What are the staff-to-child ratios for daycares in Saskatchewan?
Under section 52 of The Child Care Regulations, 2015, a centre needs at least one child care worker for every 3 infants, 5 toddlers, 10 preschool children or 15 school-age children. Maximum group sizes under section 51 are 6 infants, 10 toddlers, 20 preschool children and 30 school-age children.
Can a daycare be a modular building?
Yes. Herauf Modular builds daycares indoors at its plant in Zehner, Saskatchewan, in capacity tiers of 30 to 47, 65 to 82 and 90 children, plus additions to an existing building. They meet or exceed CSA A277 and the National Building Code, are designed to meet childcare facility requirements, and typically take about 16 weeks to manufacture and deliver.
Who licenses child care centres in Saskatchewan?
The Ministry of Education's Early Learning and Child Care program licenses child care centres. An Early Learning and Child Care consultant works with the applicant through licensing. Zoning, development and building permits come from the municipality, so check with the town or city early.