Licensed Daycare in Ohio
Find the right daycare in Ohio in under 5 minutes. 4,433 licensed centers — filter by age, cost, and subsidy. Verified weekly against Ohio Department of Children and Youth — Child Care Licensing. Free, no signup.
Ohio Childcare Licensing
In Ohio, all child care centers serving children outside the family home are required to be licensed by the Ohio Department of Children and Youth — Child Care Licensing. Licensed centers undergo background checks, capacity inspections, and routine compliance reviews.
Minimum staff-to-child ratios are 1:5 for infants under 12 months, 1:7 for toddlers (12–35 months), and 1:14 for preschool (3–5 years). NAEYC-accredited centers typically operate below the state minimum.
Verify a license at Ohio Department of Children and Youth — Child Care LicensingWhat's distinctive about Ohio: Ohio's Step Up to Quality requires star ratings for all CCDF-funded providers. Loose ratios (1:5 infants, 1:14 preschool) make accreditation important.
Quick licensing facts
- Regulator
- Ohio Department of Children and Youth — Child Care Licensing
- Infant ratio
- 1:5
- Toddler ratio
- 1:7
- Preschool ratio
- 1:14
- Avg infant cost
- $920/mo
- Avg preschool cost
- $700/mo
Ohio Childcare Subsidies & Tax Credits
Ohio families can apply for Publicly Funded Child Care (PFCC) based on income and work/school status. Federal programs — the Child & Dependent Care Tax Credit, Dependent Care FSA ($5,000 cap), and Head Start — stack on top of state assistance.
Local intake line: (866) 886-3537
Official Ohio & Federal Resources
Independently verify any provider, check subsidy eligibility, and access national child-care databases — all official .gov sources.
Recently Verified Centers
View all 4,433 →Tiny Tots of Lorain #275
Midland
Lorain Early Learning Center #276
Day Heights
Lorain ABC Childcare #277
Morrow
Lorain Bright Beginnings #278
Moscow
Growing Minds Lorain #279
Mount Orab
Lorain Children's Place #280
Mowrystown
Happy Days Lorain Daycare #281
Neville
Lorain KinderCare #282
New Richmond
Lorain Primrose School #283
New Vienna
La Petite Academy Lorain #284
Owensville
Lorain Discovery Preschool #285
Pleasant Plain
Lorain Stepping Stones #286
Port William
Daycare in Ohio — Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know a daycare in Ohio is licensed?
What is the staff-to-child ratio in Ohio?
How much does daycare cost in Ohio?
Are subsidies available for childcare in Ohio?
How do I report unsafe conditions at a Ohio daycare?
Search 4,433 Licensed Ohio Centers
Free, no signup, filter by age and subsidy acceptance.