New York Daycare Self-Inspection Checklist (Printable)

Recent and upcoming changes

Licenses and registrations will last up to six years L. 2026, ch. 122 (A.10539/S.9602); N.Y. Soc. Serv. Law § 390(2)(a), (2)(d)(ii)(A) Centers · Group child care homes · Family child care · School-age programs Signed June 5, 2026 and effective one year later, on June 5, 2027.
No infant walkers anywhere on the premises 18 NYCRR 416.7(z), 417.7(z), 418-1.7(aa), 418-2.7; N.Y. Soc. Serv. Law § 390-o Centers · Group child care homes · Family child care
Epinephrine: any device, not just auto-injectors Parts 414, 415, 416, 417, 418-1, 418-2 (I.D. No. CFS-26-26-00001-A); Pub. Health Law § 3000-c Centers · Group child care homes · Family child care · School-age programs Effective October 21, 2026, OCFS rules say "epinephrine device" instead of "epinephrine auto-injector" and "antihistamine" instead of "diphenhydramine," following a 2025 change to Public Health Law § 3000-c (L. 2025, ch…
Proposed: substitute pools and fewer repeat background checks Proposed, I.D. No. CFS-29-26-00002-P (NYS Register July 22, 2026); N.Y. Soc. Serv. Law § 390-n Centers · Group child care homes · Family child care · School-age programs Not yet adopted. A 2025 law (§ 390-n, effective May 9, 2026) lets OCFS certify Child Care Support Centers to place pre-cleared substitute caregivers in licensed and registered programs.
Proposed: more ways to qualify as a center or school-age director Proposed, I.D. No. CFS-44-26-00004-P (NYS Register Nov. 4, 2026) Centers · School-age programs Not yet adopted; comments are open for 60 days from November 4, 2026.
NYC: education director designee and five-day teacher absences NYC Health Code §§ 47.01, 47.11, 47.13, 47.23 (emergency rule Aug. 13, 2025; adopted Nov. 13, 2025) Centers New York City's Board of Health made permanent a 2025 emergency rule for group child care centers.
Written plan for a child whose parent cannot pick up (shared with families) N.Y. Soc. Serv. Law § 390(15) Centers · Group child care homes · Family child care · School-age programs

Who needs a license or registration, and from whom

Child day care center (outside NYC): 7 or more children, OCFS license 18 NYCRR 413.2; N.Y. Soc. Serv. Law § 390(1)(c), (2)(a) Centers A child day care center is a non-residential program caring for more than six children for more than three hours a day per child.
Small day care center (outside NYC): 3 to 6 children, OCFS registration 18 NYCRR 413.2; N.Y. Soc. Serv. Law § 390(2)(d) Centers Outside NYC, a small day care center is a non-residential program for three to six children for more than three hours a day.
Group family day care home: 7 to 12 children (plus up to 4 school-age), OCFS license 18 NYCRR 413.2; N.Y. Soc. Serv. Law § 390(1)(d) Group child care homes Care in a family home for 7 to 12 children of all ages, plus up to four more school-age children before and after school, at lunch, on school holidays and in vacations.
Family day care home: 3 to 6 children (up to 8 with school-age), OCFS registration 18 NYCRR 413.2; N.Y. Soc. Serv. Law § 390(1)(e) Family child care Care in a family home for three to six children for more than three hours a day.
School-age child care: 7 or more school-age children, OCFS registration 18 NYCRR 413.2; N.Y. Soc. Serv. Law § 390(1)(f) School-age programs A non-residential program for an enrolled group of seven or more children in kindergarten or above (or at least 6 years old) before or after school, at lunch, and on holidays and vacations, following the local school…
NYC group child care center: DOHMH permit NYC Health Code §§ 47.01(d), 47.03 Centers In NYC, a "child care program" is care for three or more children under 6 for five or more hours a week, more than 30 days a year, outside the state-regulated home and school-age categories.
Who is exempt N.Y. Soc. Serv. Law § 390(1)(a); 18 NYCRR 413.2 Centers · Group child care homes · Family child care · School-age programs Care by a parent, step-parent, guardian or a relative within the third degree (grandparents, aunts and uncles, siblings, first cousins and others listed) is not child day care.
Applying and renewing (centers) 18 NYCRR 418-1.2, 418-1.14(a); N.Y. Soc. Serv. Law § 390(2)(a) Centers · Family child care A new applicant must attend an OCFS pre-application orientation.

Staff-to-child ratios

Ratios: <6 wk 1:3 (6); 6 wk-18 mo 1:4 (8); 18-36 mo 1:5 (12); 3 yr 1:7 (18); 4 yr 1:8 (21); 5 yr 1:9 (24); SA to 9 1:10 (20); 10-12 1:15 (30) 18 NYCRR 418-1.8(k) Centers
Mixing ages in centers 18 NYCRR 418-1.8(l) Centers Infants may never be mixed with other ages except in an OCFS-approved continuity-of-care classroom.
NYC ratios: <12 mo 1:4 or 1:3 (8); 12-24 mo 1:5 (10); 2 yr 1:6 (12); 3 yr 1:10 (15); 4 yr 1:12 (20); 5 yr 1:15 (25) NYC Health Code § 47.23(f) Centers
NYC: who supervises a classroom NYC Health Code § 47.23(a) Centers A qualified group teacher or education director must supervise each classroom at all times, with direct line-of-sight supervision.
Group family day care staffing 18 NYCRR 416.8(j), 413.2 Group child care homes One caregiver may care for up to six children under school age, or eight if at least two are school-age.
Home: max 6 under school age (8 with 2+ school-age); 1 caregiver per 2 under age 2 18 NYCRR 417.8(j), 413.2 Family child care
School-age: through 9 yrs 1:10 (20); 10-12 yrs 1:15 (30) 18 NYCRR 414.8(k) School-age programs

Group size and capacity

Groups stay separate in shared spaces 18 NYCRR 418-1.8(l)(1)-(3) Centers Group size limits apply in common areas too.
NYC: permit capacity counts every child on site NYC Health Code § 47.05 Centers The permit lists the most children allowed on the premises at once, counting every child present whether enrolled or not.
Multiple homes in one residence 18 NYCRR 416.15, 417.15 Group child care homes · Family child care Where more than one family or group family day care home was located in the same residence before March 1, 2002, all of them together may not exceed 20 children, including part-day school-age children.

Director and staff qualifications

Center director (outside NYC) 18 NYCRR 418-1.13(g)(1) Centers One of: a bachelor's degree with 12 credits in early childhood or a related field; or a NYS Children's Program Administrator Credential; each with one year of full-time teaching and one year supervising staff.
Center teachers (outside NYC) 18 NYCRR 418-1.13(g)(2)-(5) Centers Preschool group teacher: an associate's degree in early childhood or a related field; or a CDA plus one year of experience; or 9 college credits with a plan of study plus two years.
Family and group family providers 18 NYCRR 416.13, 417.13 Group child care homes · Family child care The provider must be at least 18 and have two years' experience caring for children under 6, or one year plus six hours of training in early childhood development.
NYC education director NYC Health Code § 47.13(c) Centers Every NYC group child care center needs an education director with a bachelor's degree in early childhood education (or an approved related field), two years as a group teacher of children under 6, and State Education…
NYC group teachers and assistant teachers NYC Health Code §§ 47.13(d), (f), 47.15 Centers A preschool group teacher needs a bachelor's in early childhood education plus State certification, or a bachelor's plus two years' supervised experience, or an approved study plan to finish within seven years.

Background checks

Comprehensive background check (OCFS programs) 18 NYCRR 413.4(a)-(c) Centers · Group child care homes · Family child care · School-age programs Required for every operator, director, employee and volunteer, and every person 18 or older living in a family or group family day care home: a NYS criminal history check (DCJS), an FBI fingerprint check, the NYS Sex…
No unsupervised contact until all background checks clear; re-check every 5 years 18 NYCRR 413.4(d)(5)-(8) Centers · Group child care homes · Family child care · School-age programs
Who is disqualified 18 NYCRR 413.4(e)-(f) Centers · Group child care homes · Family child care · School-age programs Anyone who refuses consent, lies on the forms, is on a sex offender registry, or was convicted of certain felonies (murder, child abuse or neglect, crimes against children, spousal abuse, rape or sexual assault,…
NYC center screening NYC Health Code § 47.19 Centers Before anyone with possible unsupervised contact with children starts work, the permittee must arrange fingerprinting and review criminal records and an SCR report, unless the person is continuously supervised by…

Training, CPR and first aid

Training: health and safety within 3 months; 30 hrs every 2 yrs (15 in first 6 months; 5 hrs every year) 18 NYCRR 418-1.14(b)-(d), 416.14, 417.14 Centers · Group child care homes · Family child care · School-age programs
One CPR/first aid certified person on site at all times 18 NYCRR 418-1.14(k)-(m), 416.14(m), 417.14(m) Centers · Group child care homes · Family child care · School-age programs
NYC center training NYC Health Code § 47.37(b) Centers All staff: 2 hours of child abuse training every 24 months from an OCFS-certified trainer (new staff within three months).
NYC: CPR and first aid on site NYC Health Code § 47.23(e) Centers At least one staff member certified in CPR and first aid must be on the premises whenever children are present; for new permits and renewals, certifications must be pediatric and include hands-on skills tests.

Supervision, health and safety

Competent supervision and no personal devices 18 NYCRR 418-1.8(a), (n) Centers · Group child care homes · Family child care Children may never be left without competent supervision: every child within a teacher's range of vision and the teacher close enough to step in.
Report serious incidents immediately 18 NYCRR 418-1.15(b)(14) Centers Programs must notify the parent and OCFS immediately on learning of a death, serious incident, serious injury or condition, communicable illness or hospital transport of a child in care.
Health care plan and daily health checks 18 NYCRR 418-1.11(c)-(d) Centers Each program has an OCFS-approved health care plan covering a documented daily health check of each child, records of illnesses and injuries, emergency care, and who may give medications.
Mandated reporting of abuse 18 NYCRR 418-1.10 Centers Staff are mandated reporters and must report suspected abuse or maltreatment of a child in care to the Statewide Central Register immediately.
NYC: daily health checks and staff health NYC Health Code §§ 47.27, 47.33 Centers A trained staff member inspects each child daily for signs of illness.

Facility, furniture, equipment and hazards

NYC: tall furniture and TVs anchored to wall or floor NYC Health Code § 47.55(a)(2) Centers
Chemicals and medicines locked away; outlet covers; blind cords secured; no-firearms sign posted 18 NYCRR 418-1.5(a), (v)-(aa) Centers
Heaters, windows, stairs, play equipment 18 NYCRR 418-1.5(c)-(f), (n)-(q), (u) Centers No portable heaters. Radiators and pipes in children's rooms are covered.
Home safety, including firearms and water 18 NYCRR 417.5, 416.5 Group child care homes · Family child care Homes need barriers to pools, ponds and other water; firearms must be unloaded with a trigger lock or kept in a safe storage depository; and blind cords and other strangulation hazards must be secured.
NYC: walls, floors and maintenance NYC Health Code §§ 47.41(j), 47.49(a) Centers Walls, ceilings and floors must have non-toxic finishes and be kept in good repair, and the facility must be kept clean and maintained (no dry sweeping where children are).

Emergency plans, drills and fire safety

Emergency plan reviewed with staff and parents; 2 shelter-in-place drills/yr; evacuation cribs 18 NYCRR 418-1.5(b) Centers
Evacuation drill every month (vary routes; each shift); drill log kept 18 NYCRR 418-1.4(b), (h); 414.4, 416.4, 417.4(b) Centers · Group child care homes · Family child care · School-age programs
Smoke detectors in homes 18 NYCRR 417.4(c)-(e) Family child care A working smoke detector on every floor and in or next to rooms where children nap (inside the room if it has a door), with battery backup for hard-wired detectors.
NYC: fire safety and the written safety plan NYC Health Code §§ 47.59, 47.11 Centers Monthly logged fire drills; lit exit signs; inspected extinguishers; an approved fire alarm for permits over 30 children; sprinklers for new infant/toddler permits; no space heaters.

Medication

Only MAT-trained staff give medication; written permission and dose log for each child 18 NYCRR 418-1.11(c), (e)-(f); 414.11, 416.11, 417.11 Centers · Group child care homes · Family child care · School-age programs
NYC: medication policy and health care consultant NYC Health Code § 47.31 Centers Every NYC center states in its safety plan whether it gives medication (it may have to for a child with a disability under the ADA).

Immunizations and health records

Child medical statement and immunizations (OCFS programs) 18 NYCRR 418-1.11(a); 416.11, 417.11 Centers · Group child care homes · Family child care Before enrolling, each child not yet in kindergarten needs a health care provider's statement, dated within the last 12 months, that the child can take part in care.
Staff medical statements and TB test 18 NYCRR 418-1.11(b) Centers Staff and volunteers submit a medical statement dated within 12 months before they start, with a Mantoux or other approved TB test from the last 12 months, and a new one if their fitness comes into question.
NYC: flu shot documented by Dec. 31 for children 6-59 months NYC Health Code § 47.25 Centers

Food and nutrition

Meals, beverages and menus (OCFS centers) 18 NYCRR 418-1.12 Centers Children in care over 4 hours get a nutritious meal, and over 10 hours at least two.
NYC: food protection and beverage limits NYC Health Code § 47.61 Centers A staff member with a NYC food protection certificate supervises food handling.

Safe sleep

Infants on back in bare crib; no sleeping in car seats or swings; cots 2 ft apart 18 NYCRR 418-1.7(m), (o)-(v) Centers
Napping out of sight in homes: 15-minute checks 18 NYCRR 417.8(b), 416.8(b) Group child care homes · Family child care With written parent permission, children may nap in a room without an awake caregiver if doors are open, the caregiver stays on the same floor and an electronic monitor is on.
NYC: safe sleep environment NYC Health Code §§ 47.67(f), 47.55(b) Centers Each infant gets a CPSC-approved crib or bassinet with a firm, tightly sheeted mattress and nothing else in it; crib bumpers are banned unless medically necessary.

Discipline and behavior management

Behavior management plan and prohibited practices 18 NYCRR 418-1.9 Centers Programs follow a written behavior management plan given to staff and parents.
NYC: behavior policy NYC Health Code § 47.67(a), (c) Centers Corporal punishment, humiliating or frightening methods, and using food, rest or isolation as punishment are banned.

Records and postings

Center records and what to post 18 NYCRR 418-1.15(b)(22), (b)(28), (c) Centers Centers keep records for the current and previous licensing period, including attendance, staff schedules with arrival and departure times, clearance results, medical statements, and fire alarm and boiler inspections.
NYC: required postings NYC Health Code § 47.73 Centers At the front entrance, NYC centers post their permit, a DOHMH sign saying the latest inspection summary is on DOHMH's website or through 311 and that complaints go to 311, and their inspection performance summary card.

Attendance, sign-in and release of children

Attendance recorded at arrival and departure, with times 18 NYCRR 418-1.15(c)(5), 417.15 Centers · Group child care homes · Family child care · School-age programs
Release only to authorized people; visitor log 18 NYCRR 418-1.8(p)-(q) Centers A child may be released only to a parent, someone the parent designated in writing, or someone authorized by law.
NYC: attendance and authorized escorts NYC Health Code §§ 47.27(a), 47.57(h) Centers A daily attendance record lists each child's name and arrival and departure times.

Transportation and field trips

Transport rules (OCFS centers) 18 NYCRR 418-1.6 Centers Written parent consent and an agreed transportation plan; never leave a child alone in a vehicle, with procedures to confirm every child is off; car seats or belts as the Vehicle and Traffic Law requires; drivers 18 or…
Swimming and field trips 18 NYCRR 418-1.5(g), (j)-(k) Centers No water activities without a certified lifeguard, and a CPR/first aid holder at any activity near water.
NYC: transport consent and name-to-face transfers NYC Health Code § 47.65 Centers Written consent for every trip, including walks to a park.

Inspections and enforcement

Annual and complaint inspections (OCFS) N.Y. Soc. Serv. Law § 390(3)-(4) Centers · Group child care homes · Family child care · School-age programs OCFS must inspect all child day care programs every year.
Fines 18 NYCRR 413.3(e)-(f); N.Y. Soc. Serv. Law § 390(11) Centers · Group child care homes · Family child care · School-age programs After a hearing, OCFS may fine a provider up to $500 a day for violations, and anyone operating without a license or registration up to $500 a day.
Suspension, revocation and other actions 18 NYCRR 413.3(a), (c)-(d) Centers · Group child care homes · Family child care · School-age programs OCFS can require corrective action plans, deny, limit, suspend, revoke or terminate a license or registration, order a program to cease and desist, and ask the Attorney General or district attorney to act.
NYC: inspections, closure orders and penalties NYC Health Code §§ 47.03(d), 47.77 Centers DOHMH inspects each permitted center at least once a year.

Hearings, appeals and waivers

Requesting a hearing (OCFS) 18 NYCRR 413.3(c)-(d), 413.5 Centers · Group child care homes · Family child care · School-age programs Before a license or registration is revoked or denied, or a fine imposed, the provider is entitled to a hearing.
Waivers 18 NYCRR 413.6 Centers · Group child care homes · Family child care · School-age programs OCFS may waive a non-statutory rule in writing if the program shows how children's health and safety will still be protected.

New York daycare self-inspection checklist

Recent and upcoming changes

Who needs a license or registration, and from whom

Staff-to-child ratios

Group size and capacity

Director and staff qualifications

Background checks

Training, CPR and first aid

Supervision, health and safety

Facility, furniture, equipment and hazards

Emergency plans, drills and fire safety

Medication

Immunizations and health records

Food and nutrition

Safe sleep

Discipline and behavior management

Records and postings

Attendance, sign-in and release of children

Transportation and field trips

Inspections and enforcement

Hearings, appeals and waivers

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