Minnesota's Child Care Camera Law (Statute 142B.68), in Plain English
What it requires, who it applies to, and the recordkeeping piece most centers underestimate. Effective July 1, 2026.
Verified against the statute at revisor.mn.gov · Published June 2026
Does this apply to your center?
Important first: 142B.68 does not require every Minnesota daycare to install cameras. The requirement is triggered for a licensed child care center after a maltreatment-investigation memorandum has been posted for that center. Once triggered, the center must come into compliance within six months and maintain it for four years.
If that's not your situation today, the smart move is to be ready — not to scramble inside a six-month clock later.
What the law requires
| Requirement | What 142B.68 says |
|---|---|
| Effective date | July 1, 2026 |
| Where | At least one camera in each room designated for infants or toddlers. If one camera can't view ≥80% of the room's square footage, add cameras for maximum visibility. |
| When recording | Continuously during all hours the center is operating. |
| Camera quality | Accurate date/time on the recording; minimum 720p resolution and ≥15 frames/second (existing camera systems already in place before July 1, 2026 are grandfathered). |
| Retention | 28 calendar days — longer if a law-enforcement investigation is pending, or six months where Minnesota Rules 9503.0130 applies. (Using unredacted footage for staff training requires written parental consent; redacted training use is allowed without it.) |
| Signage | A sign at each visitor entrance reading exactly: "Video security cameras are present to record persons and activities." |
| Who can access | Access is restricted; follow the statute's rules on who may view recordings. |
These are the load-bearing figures. If you've seen "90-day retention" or a January effective date elsewhere — those are wrong; they come from secondary write-ups, not the statute.
The part centers underestimate: recordkeeping
Buying cameras is the easy 20%. The other 80% is operational: keeping footage for the full retention window without gaps, controlling who can pull it, producing the right clip fast when a licensor or investigator asks, and keeping the entrance signage posted. A camera that was "recording" but lost the day you need it doesn't satisfy anyone.
How TinyGuard helps
TinyGuard isn't a legal determination of whether 142B.68 applies to you — that's between you and your licensor. What it does handle is the recordkeeping the law turns on:
- Continuous capture during operating hours from your existing IP cameras (works with 720p+ cameras — the law's minimum).
- Retention you set per camera — you pick how long each camera keeps footage (7, 30, 60, or 365 days) and we hold it for that full window without gaps. If your center is camera-triggered under 142B.68, choose a tier that meets the 28-day floor; for the six-month retention that applies to reportable incidents under Minn. R. 9503.0130, choose the 365-day tier. Meeting your state's minimum is your selection to make — the cheapest tier is below the floor, so set it to match your obligation.
- Access controls — recordings are pulled through expiring, signed links, not an open NVR anyone can browse.
- A printable entrance-sign template with the exact statutory wording (free download below).
One Raspberry Pi we ship to you.
Free entrance-sign template. The exact statutory wording, print-ready — open the sign and print or save as PDF. No email wall.
Frequently asked questions
This page is general information, not legal advice, and it summarizes Minnesota Statute 142B.68 as of June 2026. The statute is the controlling source — read it at revisor.mn.gov and confirm your obligations with the Minnesota Department of Human Services and your licensor.