Section 170-295-0080 - How is my licensed capacity determined?(1) Maximum allowable capacity of your center is determined based on useable square footage and available toilets and sinks. The licensed capacity (the number of children you are allowed to have in your center at any one time) may be less than the maximum capacity, but not exceed it. The licensed capacity is based on our evaluation of the program, the ages and characteristics of the children, the experience of the staff, and usable floor space. You must have: (a) Fifty square feet of useable floor space per infant (includes crib, playpen, infant bed and bassinets);(b) Thirty-five square feet of useable floor space for each toddler or older child that is dedicated to the children during child care hours; and(c) Fifteen additional square feet must be provided for each toddler using a crib or playpen when cribs are located in the sleeping and play area.(2) The areas included in your square footage must be available at all times for the children. The following areas will not be included in determining the useable square footage for each child: (a) Food preparation areas of the kitchen;(c) All bath, toilet rooms and hand washing areas;(d) Hallways, diaper changing areas (includes the changing table, sink and twenty-four inches of floor space around the changing table and sink), stairways, closets, offices, staff rooms, lockers and custodial areas;(e) Furnace rooms, hot water heater rooms, storage rooms, or mop sink rooms; and(f) Cabinets, storage, and fixed shelving spaces unless accessible to and used by children (for example, cubbies, shelves for storing toys and puzzles, bookshelves, etc.). If the children do not have access to their cubbies or toy storage areas, it is not included in the square footage.(3) You can use a multipurpose room and gymnasium for multiple purposes such as playing, dining, napping, and learning activities, and before and after school programs when the room:(a) Meets the square footage requirements for the purpose and number of children to be served; and(b) Is being used for one purpose and does not interfere with usage of the room for another purpose.(4) You may use and consider the napping area as child care space if staff remove mats and cots when they are not in use and the children then have free access to the area.(5) We will not issue you a license to care for more children than the rules in this chapter permit.(6) We may issue you a license to care for fewer children than the center's maximum capacity.Wash. Admin. Code § 170-295-0080
06-15-075, recodified as § 170-295-0080, filed 7/13/06, effective 7/13/06. Statutory Authority: Chapters 74.12 and 74.15 RCW. 03-14-110, § 388-295-0080, filed 6/30/03, effective 8/1/03.