New York Child Care Centers and Homes License: Requirements, Cost & How to Apply (2026)

New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS)

New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS)

license or registration by the office of children and family services

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

Open the official agency page

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/SOS/390-A

The office of children and family services shall promulgate regulations

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

30 hours

30

such providers shall be required to receive thirty hours of training every two years

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

Fifteen hours of training within the first six months of initial licensure, registration or employment; family and group-family operators also require health-and-safety training before issuance.

Fifteen hours of training within the first six months of initial licensure, registration or employment; family and group-family operators also require health-and-safety training before issuance.

Fifteen hours of such training must be received within the first six months of the initial licensure, registration or employment. Family day care home and group family day care home operators shall obtain training pertaining to protection of the health and safety of children, as required by regulation, prior to the issuance of a license or registration

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

Childhood development; Nutrition and health; Child day care program development; Safety and security; Business records and management; Child abuse and maltreatment identification and prevention; Child day care statutes and regulations; Child abuse and maltreatment statutes and regulations; Shaken baby syndrome; Adverse childhood experiences and resilience

Childhood development; Nutrition and health; Child day care program development; Safety and security; Business records and management; Child abuse and maltreatment identification and prevention; Child day care statutes and regulations; Child abuse and maltreatment statutes and regulations; Shaken baby syndrome; Adverse childhood experiences and resilience

principles of childhood development nutrition and health needs of infants and children; child day care program development; safety and security procedures; business record maintenance and management; child abuse and maltreatment identification and prevention; statutes and regulations pertaining to child day care; statutes and regulations pertaining to child abuse and maltreatment; education and information on the identification, diagnosis and prevention of shaken baby syndrome; adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), focused on understanding trauma and on nurturing resiliency.

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

The 30-hour training requirement is per two-year period and includes volunteers with potential regular and substantial contact with children.

The 30-hour training requirement is per two-year period and includes volunteers with potential regular and substantial contact with children.

thirty hours of training every two years Such training requirements shall also apply to any volunteer in such day care homes, programs or centers who has the potential for regular and substantial contact with children.

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

New York City's child day care centers are excluded from most of the state licensing statute; the city has its own center permit process.

New York City's child day care centers are excluded from most of the state licensing statute; the city has its own center permit process.

this section, except for subdivision fifteen of this section, shall not apply to child day care centers in the city of New York.

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

New York City center permit applications use the MyCity Provider Permitting Portal linked from the city's provider page.

New York City center permit applications use the MyCity Provider Permitting Portal linked from the city's provider page.

Applying for a new NYC Health Department child care center permit? Visit MyCity Provider Permitting Portal to submit an application.

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

Centers serving seven or more children and group family day care programs require OCFS licenses. The current statute authorizes initial and subsequent licenses for up to four years while substantially compliant; New York City centers have the separate statutory exception.

Centers serving seven or more children and group family day care programs require OCFS licenses. The current statute authorizes initial and subsequent licenses for up to four years while substantially compliant; New York City centers have the separate statutory exception.

Child day care centers caring for seven or more children and group family day care programs, as defined in subdivision one of this section, shall obtain a license from the office of children and family services Initial licenses and subsequent licenses shall be valid for a period of up to four years so long as the provider remains substantially in compliance with applicable law and regulations during such period.

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

"Family day care home" must mean a program caring for children for more than three hours per day per child in which child day care is provided in a family home for three to six children. A family day care provider may, however, care for seven or eight children at any one time if no more than six of the children are less than school age

Family day care generally covers care in a family home for three to six children for more than three hours per child daily; seven/eight-child care requires the statute's school-age conditions and inspection.

"Family day care home" shall mean a program caring for children for more than three hours per day per child in which child day care is provided in a family home for three to six children. A family day care provider may, however, care for seven or eight children at any one time if no more than six of the children are less than school age

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

Open the official agency page

https://www.nyc.gov/site/childcare/for-educators/start-a-program.page

You can also visit the New York State Office of Children and Families to learn more about starting your own child care program.

Last verified Oct 25, 2026