Quick answer: How do I start a daycare in Ohio?
To start a daycare in Ohio, you apply to the Ohio Department of Children and Youth (DCY) through the Ohio Child Licensing and Quality System (OCLQS). Ohio licenses child care centers (seven or more children) and Type A and Type B family child care homes, and registers child day camps. The application fee is $50 for a center and $25 for a home, and new programs begin with a provisional license.
In this guide
Ohio daycare licensing at a glance
| Requirement | Child care center | Type A home | Type B home |
|---|---|---|---|
| Children at one time | 7 or more | Up to 14, with no more than 3 under age two per staff member | Up to 7, with no more than 3 under age two |
| Who licenses | Ohio Department of Children and Youth (DCY) | ||
| How to apply | Online through OCLQS | ||
| Required pre-licensing training | Center Pre-Licensing Training in the Ohio Professional Registry (OPR) | Family Child Care Pre-Licensing training in the OPR | |
| Pre-licensing inspection by | DCY licensing specialist | County job and family services agency licensing specialist | |
| Application fee | $50 | $25 | |
| Minimum qualifications | Administrator with a high school education plus an approved education or training option | Age 18 or older, high school education, and approved training or education | |
Sources: DCY: Become a Provider, DCY center licensing guide (PDF), DCY family child care home licensing guide (PDF), Rule 5180:2-12-18 and Rule 5180:2-13-18. Child day camps are registered, not licensed (see below).
Do I need a childcare license in Ohio?
Yes, in most cases. Ohio licenses child care centers and Type A and Type B family child care homes, and requires child day camps to register. Which one you need depends on how many children you care for and where. Source: DCY.
Child care centers
A child care center cares for seven or more children at one time.
Type A and Type B family child care homes
A Type B home can care for up to seven children at one time, with no more than three under age two. A Type A home can care for up to 14 children at one time. Children under age six who live in the home, including your own, count toward the total.
Child day camps
A child day camp is a program for school-age children only, open no more than 12 hours a day, during school breaks or up to 15 weeks in the summer. Day camps register with DCY every year in OCLQS by March 15, for $25 per camp, up to $250 for all camps. Source: Rule 5180:2-18-02.
Childcare Licensing and Compliance Checklist
Download this free checklist to simplify the childcare licensing process.
What are the childcare licensing requirements in Ohio?
Requirements for family child care providers
- Be at least 18 years old and have completed a high school education or equivalent. Accepted proof includes a diploma, a GED, or an associate degree or higher.
- Meet one of the training or education options, such as 30 clock hours of early childhood training, two years of college with two child development courses, a current CDA credential or at least 12 months of experience caring for children age 12 or younger.
- Reside in the home where care is provided and avoid other employment during operating hours.
- Complete the Family Child Care Pre-Licensing training in the OPR within the five years before you apply.
- Hold current first aid and CPR certification appropriate for the ages of the children in care, plus training in communicable disease management and child abuse and neglect recognition and prevention, before licensure.
- Complete a DCY rules review course (within one year of being named on the license for providers named on or after July 1, 2026).
- Carry liability insurance of at least $100,000 per occurrence and $300,000 in the aggregate, unless you choose the rule's alternative option.
- Pass a background check through the OPR and Webcheck.
- For all homes, provide a detailed, labeled site plan with an indoor floor plan and an outdoor play space diagram. For Type A homes, also provide written zoning approval, documentation of building and fire inspections and articles of incorporation (if applicable).
Sources: Rule 5180:2-13-07, Rule 5180:2-13-10, Rule 5180:2-13-02 and the DCY home licensing guide.
Requirements for child care centers
- Name an administrator who has a high school education and meets one of the options in Appendix A to rule 5180:2-12-07, such as an associate degree in early childhood education or a related field, a prekindergarten associate license, two years of college with four child development courses, or a CDA credential plus two years of experience.
- Have the administrator complete DCY's rules review course within six months of being appointed.
- Complete the Center Pre-Licensing Training in the OPR within the five years before you apply.
- Keep every child care staff member trained in first aid and CPR appropriate for the children's ages, completed within 90 days of hire, plus training in child abuse and neglect recognition. At least one staff member trained in communicable disease management must be on site in each building during all hours.
- Submit a building inspection with a certificate of occupancy, fire inspection approval, a plan of operation, an emergency preparedness and response plan, food service documentation and written information for parents and employees.
- Pass background checks submitted through the OPR.
Sources: Rule 5180:2-12-07, Rule 5180:2-12-10 and the DCY center licensing guide.
Ohio center staff-to-child ratios
| Age of children | Staff : child ratio | Maximum group size |
|---|---|---|
| Birth to less than 12 months | 1:5 (or 2:12 in the same room) | 12 |
| 12 months to less than 18 months | 1:6 | 12 |
| 18 months to less than 2.5 years | 1:7 | 14 |
| 2.5 years to less than 3 years | 1:8 | 16 |
| 3 years to less than 4 years | 1:12 | 24 |
| 4 years and not yet in or eligible for kindergarten | 1:14 | 28 |
| Kindergarten or eligible, to less than 11 years | 1:18 | 36 |
| 11 years to less than 15 years | 1:20 | 40 |
Source: Appendix A to rule 5180:2-12-18 and the rule. At least one other employee or child care staff member must be at the center if seven or more children are in the building. When age groups are combined, the ratio for the youngest child applies. For a broader look, see brightwheel's guide to childcare staff-to-child ratios.
Family child care and day camp ratios
In a family child care home, each staff member may care for no more than seven children at one time, and no more than three of them may be under age two. All children under six count, including your own, and so do unrelated children ages six through fourteen. Source: Rule 5180:2-13-18. Approved child day camps must keep one staff member for every 18 children ages five to eleven and one for every 20 children ages eleven to eighteen. Source: Rule 5180:2-18-09.
How do I apply for a childcare license in Ohio?
Ohio uses one online system for licensing. Contact DCY's Family and Customer Support Center at 844-234-KIDS (5437), option 3, if you have questions about opening a program.
- Create an OPR profile. The Ohio Professional Registry tracks your education, credentials and training. Create it through the Ohio Professional Registry, run by the Ohio Child Care Resource and Referral Association (OCCRRA).
- Complete pre-licensing training. Take the Center Pre-Licensing Training or the Family Child Care Pre-Licensing training in the OPR within the five years before you submit your application.
- Apply in OCLQS. Create an account in OCLQS, then submit your application and the application fee ($50 for a center, $25 for a home). Upload your required documents.
- Request a background check. Submit the request in the OPR and visit a Webcheck location for fingerprints. See DCY's background check page.
- Prepare for the pre-licensing inspection. A DCY licensing specialist inspects centers. For homes, a county job and family services agency licensing specialist conducts the inspection.
- Receive a provisional license. Once required trainings are verified and the specialist recommends approval, you receive a provisional license and an email notification.
Your center or home must be ready to be licensed within twelve months of your application date, or the application is deleted and the fee forfeited. Source: Rule 5180:2-12-02 and Rule 5180:2-13-02. For homes, the county agency begins reviewing documents within ten business days, completes the pre-licensing inspection within ten business days after the application is complete and recommends approval or denial to DCY within ninety days of a completed application. DCY does not publish a standard processing time for centers.
Want to compare other states? See brightwheel's childcare licensing requirements by state, plus guides for Ohio childcare centers, large family child care homes and small family child care homes.
How much does a daycare license cost in Ohio?
| Program | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Child care center | $50 | Application fee, nonrefundable |
| Type A or Type B family child care home | $25 | Application fee, nonrefundable |
| Child day camp | $25 per camp, up to $250 for all camps | Annual registration due by March 15 |
Sources: Rule 5180:2-12-02, Rule 5180:2-13-02 and Rule 5180:2-18-02. The application is deleted after 120 days if the fee is not received. Fees can change, so check the rule before you pay.
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How do I stay compliant after I'm licensed?
- Move from provisional to continuous. DCY or the county agency completes at least two inspections in your first twelve months. A continuous license is issued once you are in compliance, have compensated children enrolled and, for centers, have a qualified administrator.
- Expect annual inspections. Ohio law requires DCY to inspect centers and Type A and licensed Type B homes at least once every twelve months, and inspections can be unannounced. Centers with a continuous license get at least one full unannounced inspection each state fiscal year.
- Know how violations are scored. Serious risk non-compliances are worth six points and moderate risk non-compliances three points, and enough points trigger additional inspections.
- Keep first aid and CPR current. Providers and staff must stay certified.
- Register day camps every year by March 15.
Sources: DCY inspection protocol, Ohio Revised Code 5104.04 and Rule 5180:2-12-10. After you open, choosing a memorable name helps families find you, so see brightwheel's guide to daycare names.
Are there grants for childcare providers in Ohio?
Yes. Grants do not need to be repaid and can fund facility upgrades, equipment or staff development. Availability varies, so research the current grants for childcare providers in Ohio to find the best fit. Programs that serve publicly funded child care families and join Step Up To Quality, Ohio's quality rating system, can also earn higher payment rates. Source: DCY.
Frequently asked questions
What is the OCLQS?
The Ohio Child Licensing and Quality System (OCLQS) is the online portal where you submit your license application and fee, update program details and manage licensing compliance with the Ohio Department of Children and Youth (DCY).
How much does it cost to get a childcare license in Ohio?
Ohio charges a $50 application fee for a child care center and a $25 application fee for a family child care home, Type A or Type B. Application fees are nonrefundable. Child day camps register every year for $25 per camp, up to $250 for all of a camp operator's camps.
Can I open a daycare in Ohio without a high school diploma?
Generally, no. Family child care providers must have a high school education or equivalent, and child care center administrators must have completed a high school education plus an approved education or training option, with limited exceptions for someone promoted from within a center.
How many children can I watch in my home in Ohio?
A Type B home may care for up to seven children at one time, with no more than three under age two. A Type A home may care for up to 14 children at one time, with no more than three under age two per staff member. Your own children under age six count toward the total.
What is the difference between a provisional and a continuous license in Ohio?
New centers and homes start with a provisional license. DCY or the county agency completes at least two inspections in the first twelve months. A continuous license is issued at the end of the provisional period once you are in compliance with the licensing rules and have children enrolled for whom you receive compensation. Centers also need a qualified administrator.
What are the staff-to-child ratios for Ohio child care centers?
Ohio centers must keep one staff member for every 5 children under 12 months (or 2 staff for 12 children in the same room), 6 children ages 12 to 17 months, 7 children ages 18 months to under 2.5 years, 8 children ages 2.5 to under 3, 12 children age 3, 14 children age 4 and older who are not yet kindergarten age, 18 school-age children under 11, and 20 children ages 11 to under 15. Each age group also has a maximum group size.
Final thoughts
Securing a childcare license is a critical first step in launching a program in Ohio. Designed with new childcare programs in mind, brightwheel's software streamlines operations, improves communication and supports your program's growth from day one, and you can begin setting it up before you open.
