Licensed Daycare in New York
Find the right daycare in New York in under 5 minutes. 19,218 licensed centers — filter by age, cost, and subsidy. Verified weekly against NY Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) — Division of Child Care Services. Free, no signup.
New York Childcare Licensing
In New York, all child care centers serving children outside the family home are required to be licensed by the NY Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) — Division of Child Care Services. Licensed centers undergo background checks, capacity inspections, and routine compliance reviews.
Minimum staff-to-child ratios are 1:4 for infants under 12 months, 1:5 for toddlers (12–35 months), and 1:9 for preschool (3–5 years). NAEYC-accredited centers typically operate below the state minimum.
Verify a license at NY Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) — Division of Child Care ServicesWhat's distinctive about New York: New York City alone hosts ~25% of state daycare seats. Universal Pre-K (3K + 4K) is free for all NYC children. Outside NYC, CCAP serves families up to 85% state median.
Quick licensing facts
- Regulator
- NY Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) — Division of Child Care Services
- Infant ratio
- 1:4
- Toddler ratio
- 1:5
- Preschool ratio
- 1:9
- Avg infant cost
- $2,050/mo
- Avg preschool cost
- $1,430/mo
Top Cities for Daycare in New York
View all cities →New York Childcare Subsidies & Tax Credits
New York families can apply for NY Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) 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: (800) 345-5437
Official New York & Federal Resources
Independently verify any provider, check subsidy eligibility, and access national child-care databases — all official .gov sources.
Recently Verified Centers
View all 19,218 →THE BLUE APPLE PRESCHOOL
Queens
GAN at BEIT RABBAN DAY SCHOOL
Manhattan
Teeny Tiny Toes, LLC
Queens
KREATIVE KARE DAY CARE CENTER, INC.
Brooklyn
EAST HARLEM SCHOLARS ACADEMY PRESCHOOL
Manhattan
S.T.E.P. Day Camp Inc.
Queens
NATLY ESNARD CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER OF MMCC
Bronx
BROOKLYN CHINESE-AMERICAN ASSOCIATION, INC.
Brooklyn
SHOLOM SHOLOM, INC.
Queens
STEPPING STONES
Brooklyn
JAMAICA YMCA DAY CAMP
Queens
SCHOOL BASED CHILD CARE
Brooklyn
Daycare in New York — Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know a daycare in New York is licensed?
What is the staff-to-child ratio in New York?
How much does daycare cost in New York?
Are subsidies available for childcare in New York?
How do I report unsafe conditions at a New York daycare?
Search 19,218 Licensed New York Centers
Free, no signup, filter by age and subsidy acceptance.