New York Launch Guide

How to Start a Daycare in New York (2026)

Last updated: June 2026

Researched by the TotReady Research Team

Opening a licensed daycare in New York means applying to the New York State Office of Children and Family Services, clearing fingerprint-based background checks, meeting facility and staff-to-child ratio rules, and passing a licensing inspection. This guide walks the process end to end, grounded in New York's licensing statutes.

New York Daycare Licensing: Fees & Key Numbers

The statute-cited figures that shape your New York launch budget and timeline.

Application fee
New York State OCFS charges no state application or registration fee for a child care license or registration; the prospective provider completes a free OCFS Child Day Care Orientation and submits a free application through the Facility Application and Management System (FAMS), and 18 NYCRR 417.2 contains no application-fee provision (18 NYCRR 417.2; ocfs.ny.gov/programs/childcare/providers). Note: New York City programs may owe a separate NYC permit fee, but the state imposes none.
Annual renewal fee
New York State OCFS charges no state renewal fee; a family day care registration is valid for two years initially and four years on renewal, with renewal materials due at least 60 days before the expiration date at no state cost (18 NYCRR 417.2).
Pre-service training
Before a family or group family day care registration is issued, the applicant must complete an OCFS-approved health and safety pre-service training course that meets federal minimum health-and-safety pre-service requirements (a 15-hour course for family and group family day care providers, completed pre-service or within three months) (18 NYCRR 417.14(b); NY OCFS Training Requirements).
Annual training
New York requires child care providers and staff to complete a minimum of 30 hours of OCFS-approved training every two years, with 15 of those hours obtained within the person's first six months at the program, covering the ten state-required training topic areas (including adverse childhood experiences) (18 NYCRR 417.14(c) and (f)).
License-exempt threshold
In New York, care for fewer than three children is not a regulated family day care home; a "family day care home" registration is required when child day care is provided to three to six children for more than three hours per day per child, and a "child day care center" license is required when care is provided on a regular basis to more than six children for more than three hours per day per child (18 NYCRR 413.2).
Family child care capacity
A New York family day care home may care for a maximum of six children younger than school age, or eight children when at least two of the eight are school-aged, and must have at least one caregiver present for every two children under age two (18 NYCRR 417.8(j)); a group family day care home may care for 7 to 12 children, or up to 16 children when up to 4 additional school-age children attend only when school is not in session and an assistant is present (18 NYCRR 413.2; 416.8).
Indoor square footage
For child day care centers, preschool and school-age children must be accommodated in rooms providing a minimum of 35 square feet of usable space per child, excluding areas used for large-motor activity, staff lounges, storage, halls, bathrooms, kitchens, and offices (18 NYCRR 418-1.3(q)(3)-(4)); family day care homes have only a qualitative "adequate indoor space" standard (18 NYCRR 417.3(j)), and outdoor space for both must be "adequate for active play" with no statewide per-child square-foot minimum (18 NYCRR 418-1.3(k); 417.3(k)).
Inspection schedule
Annual inspection plus unannounced visits; complaint-based inspections

The 8 Steps to Open a Daycare in New York

Follow these in order. Each step is grounded in New York's childcare licensing rules.

  1. Research your state's rules

    Confirm whether your program needs a license in New York. In New York, care for fewer than three children is not a regulated family day care home; a "family day care home" registration is required when child day care is provided to three to six children for more than three hours per day per child, and a "child day care center" license is required when care is provided on a regular basis to more than six children for more than three hours per day per child (18 NYCRR 413.2).

    Read the rule that defines license-exempt care before you do anything else — it determines whether you operate as a family child care home, a center, or an exempt arrangement.

  2. Complete pre-service training & CPR

    Finish the required pre-service training and certifications. Before a family or group family day care registration is issued, the applicant must complete an OCFS-approved health and safety pre-service training course that meets federal minimum health-and-safety pre-service requirements (a 15-hour course for family and group family day care providers, completed pre-service or within three months) (18 NYCRR 417.14(b); NY OCFS Training Requirements).

    Plan for ongoing training too: New York requires child care providers and staff to complete a minimum of 30 hours of OCFS-approved training every two years, with 15 of those hours obtained within the person's first six months at the program, covering the ten state-required training topic areas (including adverse childhood experiences) (18 NYCRR 417.14(c) and (f)).

  3. Pass background checks

    Submit fingerprint-based background checks for yourself and every staff member, volunteer, and (where applicable) household member before anyone has unsupervised access to children.

    Background-check clearance often takes the longest of any single step — start it early so it doesn't gate your opening date.

  4. Prepare your facility

    Set up a space that meets New York's facility standards. For child day care centers, preschool and school-age children must be accommodated in rooms providing a minimum of 35 square feet of usable space per child, excluding areas used for large-motor activity, staff lounges, storage, halls, bathrooms, kitchens, and offices (18 NYCRR 418-1.3(q)(3)-(4)); family day care homes have only a qualitative "adequate indoor space" standard (18 NYCRR 417.3(j)), and outdoor space for both must be "adequate for active play" with no statewide per-child square-foot minimum (18 NYCRR 418-1.3(k); 417.3(k)).

    Match your enrollment plan to capacity limits: A New York family day care home may care for a maximum of six children younger than school age, or eight children when at least two of the eight are school-aged, and must have at least one caregiver present for every two children under age two (18 NYCRR 417.8(j)); a group family day care home may care for 7 to 12 children, or up to 16 children when up to 4 additional school-age children attend only when school is not in session and an assistant is present (18 NYCRR 413.2; 416.8).

  5. Submit your license application & fee

    File your application with the New York State Office of Children and Family Services and pay the licensing fee. New York State OCFS charges no state application or registration fee for a child care license or registration; the prospective provider completes a free OCFS Child Day Care Orientation and submits a free application through the Facility Application and Management System (FAMS), and 18 NYCRR 417.2 contains no application-fee provision (18 NYCRR 417.2; ocfs.ny.gov/programs/childcare/providers). Note: New York City programs may owe a separate NYC permit fee, but the state imposes none.

    Include your parent handbook, staff policies, enrollment forms, and operations manual — inspectors ask for these at the initial visit.

  6. Pass the licensing inspection

    Schedule and pass your pre-licensing inspection. Annual inspection plus unannounced visits; complaint-based inspections

    The inspector checks ratios, square footage, sanitation, emergency preparedness, and your written policies against the regulations.

  7. Open your doors

    Once your license is issued, you can legally begin caring for children under New York rules. Maintain the staff-to-child ratios at all times: Infant (6 weeks-18 months) 1:4, Toddler (18-36 months) 1:5, Preschool (3-4 years) 1:7, Preschool (4-5 years) 1:8, School Age (5-6 years) 1:10

    Keep certifications current and your handbook updated — these are the items most often cited at renewal.

  8. Enroll families

    Use your compliant enrollment paperwork to bring in families. A complete, New York-specific parent handbook signals professionalism and keeps you inspection-ready from day one.

    Required enrollment and admission forms must be signed before a child's first day — have them ready before you advertise open spots.

What You Need to Apply in New York

New York licensing requires these documents and forms at the initial application and inspection.

  • Enrollment Agreement
  • Child Health Examination Report (OCFS-6010)
  • Emergency Contact and Medical Authorization
  • Immunization Record
  • Medication Administration Authorization
  • Sunscreen/Insect Repellent Authorization
  • Parent Handbook Acknowledgment

Staff-to-child ratios you must maintain

New York requires these maximum staff-to-child ratios, enforced by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services: Infant (6 weeks-18 months) 1:4, Toddler (18-36 months) 1:5, Preschool (3-4 years) 1:7, Preschool (4-5 years) 1:8, School Age (5-6 years) 1:10.

Skip the 80-hour paperwork grind

Get your New York licensing kit

The inspector asks for a parent handbook, staff policies, enrollment forms, and an operations manual — all New York-specific. The TotReady Startup Bundle gives you every document you need to apply, ready to customize in about 30 minutes.

See the Startup Bundle →

One-time purchase · New York-specific documents

Starting a Daycare in New York: FAQs

Do I need a license to start a daycare in New York?
In New York, care for fewer than three children is not a regulated family day care home; a "family day care home" registration is required when child day care is provided to three to six children for more than three hours per day per child, and a "child day care center" license is required when care is provided on a regular basis to more than six children for more than three hours per day per child (18 NYCRR 413.2).
How much does it cost to get a daycare license in New York?
New York State OCFS charges no state application or registration fee for a child care license or registration; the prospective provider completes a free OCFS Child Day Care Orientation and submits a free application through the Facility Application and Management System (FAMS), and 18 NYCRR 417.2 contains no application-fee provision (18 NYCRR 417.2; ocfs.ny.gov/programs/childcare/providers). Note: New York City programs may owe a separate NYC permit fee, but the state imposes none. Renewal: New York State OCFS charges no state renewal fee; a family day care registration is valid for two years initially and four years on renewal, with renewal materials due at least 60 days before the expiration date at no state cost (18 NYCRR 417.2).
Who issues daycare licenses in New York?
Childcare licensing in New York is handled by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services. You apply to this agency, pay the licensing fee, and schedule your inspection through them.
What training do I need before opening a daycare in New York?
Before a family or group family day care registration is issued, the applicant must complete an OCFS-approved health and safety pre-service training course that meets federal minimum health-and-safety pre-service requirements (a 15-hour course for family and group family day care providers, completed pre-service or within three months) (18 NYCRR 417.14(b); NY OCFS Training Requirements).

Keep researching New York

New York Licensing Requirements

Full handbook sections, ratios, immunization rules, and penalties for New York.

Read more →

How to Start a Daycare: Complete Guide

The cross-state playbook, from choosing a program type to opening day.

Read more →

License-Exemption Thresholds by State

Compare when a license is required across all 50 states.

Read more →

Licensing Fees by State

Application and renewal fee data for every state we track.

Read more →

Licensing rules change. The figures above are compiled from New York statutes and agency materials and are provided for informational purposes only — always verify current requirements with the New York State Office of Children and Family Services before applying. TotReady provides information and document templates, not legal advice.