Free practical checklist

Daycare Launch Checklist for New York and New Jersey

Use this short sequence to identify the next agency, site, application, or inspection action as you prepare to open a daycare. Check each item after you confirm it for your program and address.

Free to download; no account required.

Start here

Shared launch actions

These prompts apply broadly. Confirm the details with the agencies responsible for your exact program and site before treating an item as complete.

Choose the program model and confirm the state and local jurisdiction for the proposed site.
Ask the local officials responsible for zoning, use, occupancy, fire, and health review how the proposed site should be evaluated.
Identify the licensing or registration authority and confirm which application path fits the program you plan to operate.
Gather the application, background-check, training, health, staffing, and program documents the authority says it requires.
Prepare the site and records for the inspections and visits required by the agencies reviewing the program.
Record opening tasks, agency follow-ups, and the renewal or ongoing-compliance dates you need to revisit.

Choose the right path

State-specific launch actions

New York State outside New York City, New York City, and New Jersey have different agency and site-review paths. Use the section that matches the proposed program. A source link is a place to begin, not proof of licensing, zoning, inspection, or approval.

New York State outside New York City

Confirm the OCFS and local path

Separate the State child-care requirements from local zoning, building, fire, and occupancy questions for the proposed address.

For a program outside New York City, confirm the applicable New York State OCFS program category and application path.
Review the current OCFS regulations and policies, then make a list of requirements to confirm for this care model.
Ask the local municipality how the New York State building and fire-code path, zoning, occupancy, and any local requirements apply to the site.

Official starting points

New York City

Confirm the NYC Health and Buildings path

Treat NYC Health operator guidance, Article 47, certificate-of-occupancy questions, and family or group family day-care guidance as distinct checks.

For a New York City program, start with NYC Health operator guidance and confirm whether the proposed model follows a center-based or home-based path.
Review NYC Health Code Article 47 and write down the current questions to bring to the city review process.
Confirm the certificate-of-occupancy questions for the proposed address with NYC Buildings before committing to the site.
If the plan is family or group family day care, review the NYC Health family and group family day-care guidance separately.

Official starting points

New Jersey

Separate DCF from local site approvals

Confirm the DCF licensing or family child-care registration path, then separately confirm local approvals and any DCA or DEP site review.

Confirm whether the plan follows the New Jersey DCF licensing path for a center or the separate registration path for family child care.
Review the current New Jersey DCF licensing guidance and laws and regulations, then confirm the application documents for the program.
Treat local zoning, occupancy, construction, fire, and health approvals as a separate site-review track and confirm them with the municipality.
Check the New Jersey DCA child-care-center requirements and ask whether the DEP child-care environmental review applies to the site.

Official starting points

Keep going

Use the checklist with the longer planning guides

The free checklist is a launch-action overview. For deeper site and room-use prompts, continue with the separate Daycare Design Guide or the New York and New Jersey ebook resources on the homepage.