How to start a daycare in New Hampshire.
New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services licenses child care centers in New Hampshire. These are the steps, each with the state's own page.
Steps checked on the state's own pages, November 4, 2026.
Opening a child care center in New Hampshire, step by step
Create an NHCIS account
Make an account in the New Hampshire Connections Information System, called NHCIS.
Source: He-C 4002 NH Child Care Licensing RuleGet a health officer approval
Get written approval from your local health officer. The inspection must be within 12 months before you apply.
Source: He-C 4002 NH Child Care Licensing RulePass a fire inspection
Get written approval from your local fire inspector. It must also be within 12 months before you apply.
Source: He-C 4002 NH Child Care Licensing RuleGet zoning approval
Get papers from your town or city showing zoning approval, or that none is needed.
Source: He-C 4002 NH Child Care Licensing RuleSend background check forms
Send background check forms for the owner or applicant and for the program manager.
Source: He-C 4002 NH Child Care Licensing RuleShow you are in good standing
Get proof from the New Hampshire secretary of state that your business is in good standing.
Source: He-C 4002 NH Child Care Licensing RuleDraw your space
Send a diagram of your indoor and outdoor space for each building.
Source: He-C 4002 NH Child Care Licensing RulePass the inspection and get a permit
After a complete application and an inspection, a new program gets a 6-month permit.
Source: He-C 4002 NH Child Care Licensing Rule
At a glance
- Who licenses centers
- New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, Child Care Licensing Unit (CCLU). Licenses seven kinds of child care programs, including group child care centers.Source: Child Care Licensing
- Group child day care center
- Care for preschool children and up to 5 school-age childrenSource: Section 170-E:2 Definitions.
- Small group child day care center
- No more than 12 preschool childrenSource: Section 170-E:2 Definitions.
- Licensed capacity
- Set by your fire, health and zoning approvals and your floor spaceSource: He-C 4002 NH Child Care Licensing Rule
- License at renewal
- 3 yearsSource: He-C 4002 NH Child Care Licensing Rule
Good to know
- A building put up before 1978 needs a lead safety certification.Source: He-C 4002 NH Child Care Licensing Rule
- A school-age program inside a school building skips the health, fire and zoning papers.Source: He-C 4002 NH Child Care Licensing Rule
- The licensing unit asks you to contact it early, while you are still planning.Source: Child Care Application Instructions
Run a program in New Hampshire? Bloomily handles enrollment, billing, check-in and family messages. See how it works
Plan your program
- How to start a home daycare in New Hampshire
The kinds of home daycare the state allows, and the steps.
- New Hampshire licensing guide
Ratios, trainings and the checklist the state asks for.
- Child care grants in New Hampshire
Grants the state runs for providers.
- Daycare startup costs in New Hampshire
Revenue, staff pay and rent from your own numbers.
- Daycare business plan
How to write a plan for funding and licensing.
- Tuition calculator
Typical rates by state and age group.
- Ratio calculator
Staff needed for each age group, by state.
Questions, answered
How do I start a daycare in New Hampshire?
The first step: Create an NHCIS account. All 8 steps are on this page, each with the state's own link.
Who licenses child care centers in New Hampshire?
New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, Child Care Licensing Unit (CCLU). Licenses seven kinds of child care programs, including group child care centers.
About this page
Steps checked on the state's own pages, November 4, 2026.
This page is a summary of the state's own pages. It is not legal advice, and rules change.
Questions about childcare in New Hampshire?
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