The Bureau of Day Care is the regulatory agency for child care services (public and private) operating within New York City. The Bureau regulates Group Childcare, as provided for in the New York City Health Code, Article 47, and provides licensing and registration services for Group Family Child Care, Family Day Care and School-Age Care, as regulated under New York State Department of Social Services Regulations. The Bureau is committed to ensuring a safe and healthy environment for all children in child care.
For information on Group Childcare centers in New York City, please visit the "Group Childcare Facilities” or click on “Research Group Childcare Facilities” on the right side of this page. You will be able to obtain identifying information, permitting status and a summary of inspection results since April 1, 2005 for Group Childcare centers.
To check information on other types of child care services - family day care, group family day care and school-age child care - please visit the New York State Office of Children and Family Services, or click on "Research Family, Group Family School Age Care" on the right side of this page. You will be able to obtain information on permitting, licensing or registration status, and get recent inspection history and violations.
If you would like to register a complaint about any type of child care service in New York City, call 311: after regular business hours your call will be transferred to a voice messaging system where you may leave your name, phone number and a brief message as to the nature of your call. A Bureau of Day Care representative will respond to your inquiry on the next business day.
If you would like assistance in identifying or selecting a day care service, you may contact the New York City Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) Consortium at (888) 469-5999. Their services include resources and referrals to help parents to access quality child care, training, technical assistance, fingerprinting, and support to help child care programs build, enhance, and maintain successful quality programs that help children to reach their full potential. The consortium, which is funded by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services, is composed of five culturally diverse child care resource and referral agencies from the NYC area:
Child Care Inc.
322 Eighth Avenue, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10001
212.929.7604
212.929.5785 (Fax)
Child Development Support Corporation
352-358 Classon Ave, 2nd Fl
Brooklyn, NY 11238
718.230.0056
718.398.6182 (Fax)
Chinese-American Planning Council
365 Broadway, Ground Floor
New York, NY 10013
212.941.0030
212.343-9567 (Fax)
Committee for Hispanic Children and Families
140 West 22nd Street , 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10011
212.206.1090
212.206.8093 (Fax)
Day Care Council of New York, Inc.
12 West 21st Street , 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10010
212.206.7818
212.206.7836 (Fax)
In accordance with the Health Code and Social Services regulations, the mission of the Bureau of Day Care is:
- • to assure that all child care services in the
City operate in full compliance with the Health Code and Social Service
regulations and are licensed or certified as required,
- • to locate and assess all unlicensed services
and assist these operators in becoming licensed or close them,
- • to reduce the health and safety risks by
inspecting all Group Childcare centers and group family day care programs
annually, and family day care and school age programs every two years, and
- • to provide orientation sessions to providers seeking certification.
Specific Types of Sites Monitored
- • Group Childcare facilities: Child care centers of
7 or more children which are located in an institutional setting. Regulated
under the New York City Health Code.
- • Group family day care: Child care homes of 6-12
children in the home of an unrelated family. Regulated under the New York
State Department of Social Services.
- • Family day care: Child care homes of not more
than 3-6 children in the home of an unrelated family. Regulated under the New
York State Department of Social Services.
- • School-age program: School-age child care means care provided on a regular basis to seven or more school-age children under 13 years of age. Regulated under the New York State Department of Social Services.
Related Publications
Child Care Provider Information on Lead Poison Prevention
For more information, call 311.
