How to start a daycare in New York.
New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) licenses child care centers in New York. These are the steps, each with the state's own page.
Steps checked on the state's own pages, November 3, 2026.
7,265
Licensed center programs
686,525 spots
224
New center programs
In the last twelve months
48
Licensed spots per 100 children under 5
Centers and home daycares
1,044,212
Children under 5
The Census Bureau's estimate
Opening a child care center in New York, step by step
Take the online orientation
Complete the state's online orientation. It explains the types of programs and their rules.
Source: Opening a Licensed/Registered Child Day Care Program (Pub. 5177)Request your application
Request an application with the link at the end of the orientation.
Source: Opening a Licensed/Registered Child Day Care Program (Pub. 5177)Complete the application
Fill in the forms and learn the rules. Your site may need inspections by other agencies.
Source: Opening a Licensed/Registered Child Day Care Program (Pub. 5177)Send in your application
Send in a complete application package. A complete package can speed up the process.
Source: Opening a Licensed/Registered Child Day Care Program (Pub. 5177)Get fingerprinted
Staff get fingerprinted only after your regulator emails that your application arrived.
Source: Starting a Child Care ProgramTake health and safety training
Your director takes a 15-hour health and safety class made for center directors.
Source: Training RequirementsPass the OCFS inspection
An OCFS representative inspects your program.
Source: Opening a Licensed/Registered Child Day Care Program (Pub. 5177)Get your license
If your program is approved, OCFS mails your license to you.
Source: Opening a Licensed/Registered Child Day Care Program (Pub. 5177)
At a glance
- Who licenses centers
- New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS). Licenses child day care centers that care for seven or more children.Source: Social Services Law (SSL) § 390. Child day care; license or registration required
- Required class
- Child Day Care OrientationSource: Starting a Child Care Program
- Centers with 7 or more children
- Need a license from OCFSSource: Social Services Law (SSL) § 390. Child day care; license or registration required
- Centers with 3 to 6 children
- Register instead of getting a licenseSource: Social Services Law (SSL) § 390. Child day care; license or registration required
- How long a license lasts
- Up to four years, while the program follows the rulesSource: Social Services Law (SSL) § 390. Child day care; license or registration required
Good to know
- The state's steps apply everywhere except day care centers in New York City.Source: Opening a Licensed/Registered Child Day Care Program (Pub. 5177)
- In New York City, child care centers are regulated by the city's Department of Health.Source: Parent's and Caregiver's Guide to Child Care Options
- A New York City center gets a Group Child Care permit and follows city Health Department rules.Source: Group Child Care Center-Based Permit
- For that permit, you first attend a Pre-Permit Orientation Session at your local borough office.Source: Group Child Care Center-Based Permit
Where New York has the fewest licensed spots per child
Licensed spots per 100 children under 5, lowest first, among counties with 20 or more center programs.
- Oswego County 28 licensed center programs 17 spots per 100 children under 5
- Jefferson County 43 licensed center programs 21 spots per 100 children under 5
- Sullivan County 21 licensed center programs 23 spots per 100 children under 5
- Cattaraugus County 22 licensed center programs 25 spots per 100 children under 5
- Rockland County 87 licensed center programs 26 spots per 100 children under 5
- Orange County 117 licensed center programs 29 spots per 100 children under 5
Run a program in New York? Bloomily handles enrollment, billing, check-in and family messages. See how it works
Plan your program
- How to start a home daycare in New York
The kinds of home daycare the state allows, and the steps.
- New York licensing guide
Ratios, trainings and the checklist the state asks for.
- Childcare in New York, by the numbers
Programs, spots and new centers in every county.
- 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 York?
The first step: Take the online orientation. All 8 steps are on this page, each with the state's own link.
Who licenses child care centers in New York?
New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS). Licenses child day care centers that care for seven or more children.
How many licensed daycares are in New York?
7,265 licensed center programs and 11,915 home daycares, as of November 3, 2026.
About this page
Steps checked on the state's own pages, November 3, 2026.
Every license count here comes from the state and city license files, read November 3, 2026. Children under 5 are the Census Bureau's estimates.
This page is a summary of the state's own pages. It is not legal advice, and rules change.
Questions about childcare in New York?
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