Licensed · State-verified

Licensed Daycare in Michigan

Find the right daycare in Michigan in under 5 minutes. 3,900 licensed centers — filter by age, cost, and subsidy. Verified weekly against Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) — Child Care Licensing. Free, no signup.

3,900
Licensed Centers
$970/mo
Avg Infant Care
$720/mo
Avg Preschool
1:4
Infant Ratio
Search 3,900 Michigan centers Estimate your monthly cost

Michigan Childcare Licensing

In Michigan, all child care centers serving children outside the family home are required to be licensed by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) — Child Care Licensing. Licensed centers undergo background checks, capacity inspections, and routine compliance reviews.

Minimum staff-to-child ratios are 1:4 for infants under 12 months, 1:4 for toddlers (12–35 months), and 1:10 for preschool (3–5 years). NAEYC-accredited centers typically operate below the state minimum.

Verify a license at Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) — Child Care Licensing

What's distinctive about Michigan: Michigan's ratio is the country's strictest for toddlers (1:4). CDC subsidies serve families up to 200% federal poverty level. Detroit metro hosts the densest cluster of providers.

Quick licensing facts

Regulator
Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) — Child Care Licensing
Infant ratio
1:4
Toddler ratio
1:4
Preschool ratio
1:10
Avg infant cost
$970/mo
Avg preschool cost
$720/mo

Top Cities for Daycare in Michigan

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Taylor
334 centers
Detroit
136 centers
Holland
69 centers
Grand Rapids
55 centers
Lansing
41 centers
Saginaw
35 centers
Ann Arbor
30 centers
Kalamazoo
29 centers
Muskegon
27 centers
Flint
26 centers
Livonia
24 centers
Battle Creek
21 centers
Financial help

Michigan Childcare Subsidies & Tax Credits

Michigan families can apply for Child Development and Care (CDC) 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: (866) 990-3227

Check Subsidy Eligibility Estimate Your Cost

Official Michigan & Federal Resources

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

License search
Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) — Child Care Licensing
Verify license & inspection history
Cost & quality data
ChildCare Aware Michigan
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 Michigan

Montessori
488 centers
Family Daycare
488 centers
Child Care Center
488 centers
Infant Care
488 centers
Preschool
487 centers
Licensed Group Child Care Home
487 centers

Recently Verified Centers

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A Group Care

Ann Arbor Discovery Preschool #97

Clinton

School Age (5+) Cap 51
A Preschool

Ann Arbor Stepping Stones #98

Concord

Preschool (2-5) Cap 106
F Head Start

First Steps Ann Arbor #99

Deerfield

2 years - 12 years Cap 45
A Before/After School

Ann Arbor Little Scholars #100

Grass Lake

School Age (5+) Cap 102
A Infant Care

Ann Arbor Creative Kids #101

Hanover

Preschool (2-5) Cap 63
A Montessori

ABC Academy Ann Arbor #102

Hillsdale

6 weeks - 12 years Cap 32
A Licensed Center

Ann Arbor Precious Moments #103

Homer

Infants & Toddlers Cap 104
A Family Daycare

Ann Arbor Golden Gate Daycare #104

Horton

School Age (5+) Cap 105
K Group Care

Kids R Us Ann Arbor #105

Hudson

School Age (5+) Cap 57
A Preschool

Ann Arbor Learning Tree #106

Jasper

Preschool (2-5) Cap 118
J Head Start

Jumping Jacks Ann Arbor #107

Jerome

2 years - 12 years Cap 49
A Before/After School

Ann Arbor Sunflower Daycare #108

Jonesville

School Age (5+) Cap 93

Daycare in Michigan — Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know a daycare in Michigan is licensed?
Every center listed here is verified against the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) — Child Care Licensing database. Look for the 'Licensed' badge on each profile. You can also confirm directly via the agency's lookup tool at https://www.michigan.gov/lara/bureau-list/cclb/look-for-childcare.
What is the staff-to-child ratio in Michigan?
State minimums in Michigan are roughly 1:4 infants, 1:4 toddlers, and 1:10 preschool. NAEYC-accredited centers typically operate below these ceilings.
How much does daycare cost in Michigan?
Full-time infant care averages about $970/month; preschool runs around $720/month. Costs vary by city — large metros like Michigan trend higher than rural areas.
Are subsidies available for childcare in Michigan?
Yes. The primary state program is Child Development and Care (CDC) Program, reachable at (866) 990-3227. 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 Michigan daycare?
File a complaint with the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) — Child Care Licensing via their website. Inspections are public record; severe violations result in license suspension.

Search 3,900 Licensed Michigan Centers

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