How to start a daycare in New Jersey.
New Jersey Department of Children and Families licenses child care centers in New Jersey. These are the steps, each with the state's own page.
Steps checked on the state's own pages, November 3, 2026.
Opening a child care center in New Jersey, step by step
Read the Manual of Requirements
Read the Manual of Requirements for Child Care Centers. A center is licensed once it meets those rules.
Source: Office of LicensingGet a certificate of occupancy
Send the Office of Licensing a certificate of occupancy. A first license waits for it.
Source: N.J.A.C. 3A:52, Manual of Requirements for Child Care CentersGet a fire safety certificate
Get a fire safety inspection certificate from your town. The fire inspection must be from the last 12 months.
Source: N.J.A.C. 3A:52, Manual of Requirements for Child Care CentersShow the site needs no cleanup
Send a state approval letter showing the site needs no more cleanup.
Source: N.J.A.C. 3A:52, Manual of Requirements for Child Care CentersComplete health and safety training
Finish the pre-service health and safety trainings the state requires.
Source: LicensingComplete fingerprint background checks
The center sponsor and every staff member 18 or older need a fingerprint background check.
Source: N.J.A.C. 3A:52, Manual of Requirements for Child Care CentersApply at least 45 days before you open
Send a complete application to the Office of Licensing at least 45 days before you plan to open.
Source: N.J.A.C. 3A:52, Manual of Requirements for Child Care CentersGet your license
The Office of Licensing issues a regular license once the center meets every rule.
Source: N.J.A.C. 3A:52, Manual of Requirements for Child Care Centers
At a glance
- Who licenses centers
- New Jersey Department of Children and Families, Office of Licensing (OOL). Licenses child care centers that serve 6 or more children under age 13.Source: Office of Licensing
- Who needs a license
- Centers serving 6 or more children under 13Source: Office of Licensing
- License length
- Three yearsSource: Office of Licensing
- Temporary license
- Up to six months at a timeSource: N.J.A.C. 3A:52, Manual of Requirements for Child Care Centers
- Inspections
- A monitoring visit each year, plus a renewal visit every three yearsSource: Office of Licensing
- Rules for centers
- N.J.A.C. 3A:52, Manual of Requirements for Child Care CentersSource: N.J.A.C. 3A:52, Manual of Requirements for Child Care Centers
Good to know
- A new center may not open in a building that was once a dry cleaner or funeral home.Source: N.J.A.C. 3A:52, Manual of Requirements for Child Care Centers
- Every child care center must test its water for lead and copper.Source: Licensing & Billing
- Building or remodeling for a center? The Office of Licensing must approve your drawings before work starts.Source: N.J.A.C. 3A:52, Manual of Requirements for Child Care Centers
Run a program in New Jersey? Bloomily handles enrollment, billing, check-in and family messages. See how it works
Plan your program
- How to start a home daycare in New Jersey
The kinds of home daycare the state allows, and the steps.
- New Jersey licensing guide
Ratios, trainings and the checklist the state asks for.
- 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 Jersey?
The first step: Read the Manual of Requirements. All 8 steps are on this page, each with the state's own link.
Who licenses child care centers in New Jersey?
New Jersey Department of Children and Families, Office of Licensing (OOL). Licenses child care centers that serve 6 or more children under age 13.
About this page
Steps checked on the state's own pages, November 3, 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 Jersey?
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