New York Daycare Inspection Checklist
By Jayesh Parayali, Founder, CareCam · 15+ years building daycare camera systems · checked against state sources 2026-10-19
What the New York State Office of Children and Family Services, Division of Child Care Services looks at when it inspects a licensed child care center, written as a walk-through you can do the day before. OCFS inspects licensed day care centers and group family day care homes at least once a year, often unannounced. In New York City, group child care centers are also inspected by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), usually one to three times a year (the Health Code calls for two comprehensive inspections a year), in addition to OCFS oversight.
New York at a glance
- Licensing agency
- New York State Office of Children and Family Services, Division of Child Care Services
- Inspections
- OCFS inspects licensed day care centers and group family day care homes at least once a year, often unannounced. In New York City, group child care centers are also inspected by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), usually one to three times a year (the Health Code calls for two comprehensive inspections a year), in addition to OCFS oversight. Source
- Ratio rule
- 18 NYCRR §418-1.8
- Public inspection reports
- State lookup
Ratios the inspector counts against
| Age group | Staff : children | Max group |
|---|---|---|
| Under 6 weeks (under 6 weeks old, only with OCFS approval) | 1:3 | 6 |
| Infants (6 weeks to 18 months) | 1:4 | 8 |
| Toddlers (18 months to 36 months) | 1:5 | 12 |
| 3-year-olds (3 years) | 1:7 | 18 |
| 4-year-olds (4 years) | 1:8 | 21 |
| 5-year-olds (5 years) | 1:9 | 24 |
| School-age (school-age through 9 years) | 1:10 | 20 |
| School-age (10 to 12) (10 to 12 years) | 1:15 | 30 |
Need the staffing number for the children in the building right now? Use the calculator on the New York daycare ratios page.
The walk-through
New York · New York State Office of Children and Family Services, Division of Child Care Services 0 of 48 checked
Posted where parents and the licensor can see them
The first thing a licensor does is look at the walls by the entrance. Everything here should be visible without asking.
Children's files
The licensor pulls a sample of files. One missing immunization record is the most common citation in most states.
Staff files
Every adult who counts toward the ratio needs a complete file. Volunteers and substitutes too.
Health and sanitation
Walk every room the way the licensor does: sinks, changing tables, kitchen, then the medicine cabinet.
Building, fire and outdoor safety
Most building citations are small and fixable in an hour. Check them the week before and the morning of.
Supervision, ratios and the daily routine
Ratios are checked at the moment the licensor walks into each room, which is why the arrival and the last hour matter most.
The question that follows a complaint
An inspection checks the room at one moment. A complaint asks what the room looked like at a different one. CareCam runs on the cameras a center already has, keeps the recording on your own recorder, and gives parents a live, video-only view of their own child's room during the hours you set, so most of those questions never get asked.
New York inspection FAQ
How often are daycare centers inspected in New York?
Where can I find a New York daycare's inspection reports?
What ratios does a New York inspector check?
Do I have to tell parents about cameras in New York?
See how CareCam fits your center
Run a New York center? See if your cameras can do double duty
Tell us your camera brand and we'll confirm whether the cameras you already have can give parents a secure, live, video-only view of their own child's room. We reply within one business day.