Licensed child care in New York
How child care licensing works in New York, where to verify a license and the cities we cover with the state's official data.
Who licenses child care
New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS).
In New York City, group child care centers are permitted by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene rather than OCFS, so the OCFS data for the five boroughs covers school-age child care and family and group family day care. Programs marked "address omitted" by OCFS are treated as homes.
Find child care providers in New York StateLicense types in the data
| Type (as named by the state) | Programs |
|---|---|
| Group Family Day Care | 9,698 |
| School Age Child Care | 2,807 |
| Family Day Care | 2,173 |
| Day Care Center | 2,009 |
| Small Day Care Center | 2 |
Source: OCFS Child Care Regulated Programs, data.ny.gov, data of November 5, 2026.
New York cities
Help paying
Child Care Assistance Program, OCFS and local social services districts. See child care assistance by state and daycare costs.
Questions
Who licenses child care in New York?
New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS). Its official search is "Find child care providers in New York State".
How many licensed child care programs are in New York?
The state data we use (November 5, 2026) lists 4,818 centers and programs and 11,871 family child care homes with an active license.
Is there help paying for child care in New York?
Yes. The main program is Child Care Assistance Program, OCFS and local social services districts. Eligibility depends on income, family size and work or school hours.