Licensed · State-verified

Licensed Daycare in California

Find the right daycare in California in under 5 minutes. 8,879 licensed centers — filter by age, cost, and subsidy. Verified weekly against California Department of Social Services — Community Care Licensing Division. Free, no signup.

8,879
Licensed Centers
$1,800/mo
Avg Infant Care
$1,240/mo
Avg Preschool
1:4
Infant Ratio
Search 8,879 California centers Estimate your monthly cost

California Childcare Licensing

In California, all child care centers serving children outside the family home are required to be licensed by the California Department of Social Services — Community Care Licensing Division. Licensed centers undergo background checks, capacity inspections, and routine compliance reviews.

Minimum staff-to-child ratios are 1:4 for infants under 12 months, 1:6 for toddlers (12–35 months), and 1:12 for preschool (3–5 years). NAEYC-accredited centers typically operate below the state minimum.

Verify a license at California Department of Social Services — Community Care Licensing Division

What's distinctive about California: California has the country's second-most expensive daycare ($1,800/mo infant) and the strictest staffing requirements among large states. CalWORKs Stage 2 subsidies serve working families up to ~85% state median — well into middle income.

Quick licensing facts

Regulator
California Department of Social Services — Community Care Licensing Division
Infant ratio
1:4
Toddler ratio
1:6
Preschool ratio
1:12
Avg infant cost
$1,800/mo
Avg preschool cost
$1,240/mo

Top Cities for Daycare in California

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Cardiff by the Sea
1,175 centers
Los Angeles
411 centers
San Diego
232 centers
San Francisco
199 centers
Sacramento
192 centers
San Jose
164 centers
Fresno
96 centers
Oakland
89 centers
Long Beach
65 centers
San Mateo
63 centers
Stockton
61 centers
Bakersfield
57 centers
Financial help

California Childcare Subsidies & Tax Credits

California families can apply for CalWORKs Child Care + APP (Alternative Payment Program) based on income and work/school status. Federal programs — the Child & Dependent Care Tax Credit, Dependent Care FSA ($5,000 cap), and Head Start — stack on top of state assistance.

Local intake line: (916) 651-6195

Check Subsidy Eligibility Estimate Your Cost

Official California & Federal Resources

Independently verify any provider, check subsidy eligibility, and access national child-care databases — all official .gov sources.

License search
California Department of Social Services — Community Care Licensing Division
Verify license & inspection history
Cost & quality data
ChildCare Aware California
Annual cost report & advocacy
Federal · HHS.gov
Head Start Locator
Free programs for eligible families
Federal · ACF.gov
childcare.gov
National subsidy & CCDF info

Program Types in California

Preschool
1,110 centers
Licensed Group Child Care Home
1,110 centers
Family Daycare
1,110 centers
Child Care Center
1,110 centers
Infant Care
1,110 centers
Head Start
1,110 centers

Recently Verified Centers

View all 8,879 →
O Licensed Center

Oakland Panda Kids Academy #668

Challenge

Infants & Toddlers Cap 64
O Family Daycare

Oakland Wonder Years #669

Cohasset

School Age (5+) Cap 39
L Group Care

Little Genius Oakland #670

Chico

School Age (5+) Cap 53
O Preschool

Oakland Cloud Nine Kids #671

Clipper Mills

Preschool (2-5) Cap 30
N Head Start

Nurturing Hearts Oakland #672

Colusa

2 years - 12 years Cap 50
O Before/After School

Oakland Smart Start Academy #673

Crescent Mills

School Age (5+) Cap 82
O Infant Care

Oakland Little Angels #674

Dobbins

Preschool (2-5) Cap 28
E Montessori

Explorer Kids Oakland #675

Downieville

6 weeks - 12 years Cap 99
O Licensed Center

Oakland Generations Daycare #676

Dunnigan

Infants & Toddlers Cap 117
O Family Daycare

Oakland KinderSmile #677

Durham

School Age (5+) Cap 80
A Group Care

Active Kids Oakland #678

Elk Creek

School Age (5+) Cap 40
O Preschool

Oakland Playhouse Academy #679

Forbestown

Preschool (2-5) Cap 50

Daycare in California — Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know a daycare in California is licensed?
Every center listed here is verified against the California Department of Social Services — Community Care Licensing Division database. Look for the 'Licensed' badge on each profile. You can also confirm directly via the agency's lookup tool at https://secure.dss.ca.gov/CareFacilitySearch/.
What is the staff-to-child ratio in California?
State minimums in California are roughly 1:4 infants, 1:6 toddlers, and 1:12 preschool. NAEYC-accredited centers typically operate below these ceilings.
How much does daycare cost in California?
Full-time infant care averages about $1800/month; preschool runs around $1240/month. Costs vary by city — large metros like California trend higher than rural areas.
Are subsidies available for childcare in California?
Yes. The primary state program is CalWORKs Child Care + APP (Alternative Payment Program), reachable at (916) 651-6195. Federal options like Head Start, the Child & Dependent Care Tax Credit, and Dependent Care FSA also apply. See our subsidies guide for eligibility rules.
How do I report unsafe conditions at a California daycare?
File a complaint with the California Department of Social Services — Community Care Licensing Division via their website. Inspections are public record; severe violations result in license suspension.

Search 8,879 Licensed California Centers

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