How to start a home daycare in New York.

New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) oversees home daycares in New York. These are the kinds it allows and the steps, each with the state's own page.

Steps checked on the state's own pages, November 3, 2026.

  • 11,915

    Home daycares

    167,915 spots

  • 7,265

    Licensed center programs

    686,525 spots

  • 48

    Licensed spots per 100 children under 5

    Centers and home daycares

  • 1,044,212

    Children under 5

    The Census Bureau's estimate

The kinds of home daycare New York allows

Starting a home daycare in New York, step by step

  1. Take the orientation

    Complete the OCFS-approved orientation before you apply.

    Source: Facility Application and Management System (FAMS)

  2. Request your application

    Request an application at the end of the orientation. An email link sets it up in FAMS.

    Source: Facility Application and Management System (FAMS)

  3. Take health and safety training

    Take the 15-hour health and safety class for family and group family day care providers.

    Source: Training Requirements

  4. Complete the application

    Fill in the forms and learn the rules. Your home may need inspections by other agencies.

    Source: Opening a Licensed/Registered Child Day Care Program (Pub. 5177)

  5. Get fingerprinted

    Fingerprinting waits until your regulator emails that your application arrived.

    Source: Starting a Child Care Program

  6. Pass the inspection

    Your home is inspected. Who does it depends on your program type and location.

    Source: Opening a Licensed/Registered Child Day Care Program (Pub. 5177)

  7. Get your registration or license

    If your program is approved, OCFS mails your registration or license to you.

    Source: Opening a Licensed/Registered Child Day Care Program (Pub. 5177)

At a glance

Who oversees home daycares
New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS). Licenses or registers home child care in every county, New York City included.Source: Training Requirements
Group family day care home
Needs a license from OCFSSource: Social Services Law (SSL) § 390. Child day care; license or registration required
Experience
Prior experience caring for childrenSource: Parent's and Caregiver's Guide to Child Care Options
Ongoing training
30 hours every two yearsSource: Training Requirements

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.

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Questions, answered

How do I start a home daycare in New York?

The first step: Take the orientation. All 7 steps are on this page, each with the state's own link.

Who oversees home daycares in New York?

New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS). Licenses or registers home child care in every county, New York City included.

How many children can a home daycare in New York care for?

Family day care home: 3 to 6 children, plus 1 or 2 school-age children. Group family day care home: 7 to 12 children, plus up to 4 school-age 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.

Home daycares are family day care and group family day care homes.

This page is a summary of the state's own pages. It is not legal advice, and rules change.

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