Daycare Licensing in New Jersey: Violations, Inspections & License Lookup
How child care licensing works in New Jersey: who regulates it, the rules providers answer to, how often they are inspected, and the exact steps to look up a daycare's violations and verify its license. Sourced from Department of Children and Families, Office of Licensing.
Last verified 2026-08-03
How do I look up daycare violations in New Jersey?
- Open the New Jersey Child Care Explorer at https://childcareexplorer.njccis.com/portal/.
- Search by center name, town, or ZIP code.
- Select the provider from the results to open its record.
- Open the Inspections/Complaints tab.
- Download the inspection report PDFs to read the specific requirements the center did not meet.
State portal: New Jersey child care search
How do I verify a New Jerseydaycare's license?
- Open the same Child Care Explorer portal and search by name or town.
- Select the provider to open its record.
- Confirm the current license status, license number, approved age groups, and licensed capacity.
- A licensed center must also display its license on site.
State portal: New Jersey license search
Who regulates daycares in New Jersey?
Child care licensing in New Jersey is administered by the Department of Children and Families, Office of Licensing, under N.J.A.C. 3A:52. It licenses providers, inspects them, and records the violations found.
How often are New Jersey daycares inspected?
The Department of Children and Families, Office of Licensing inspects every licensed child care center at least once a year to enforce the Manual of Requirements for Child Care Centers (N.J.A.C. 3A:52). Complaints and reported incidents can trigger additional, often unannounced, visits. Family child care homes are registered and monitored through sponsoring agencies rather than inspected on the same center schedule.
New Jersey rates violations by severity. Worst first:
- Class I
- Class II
What our New Jerseydata covers, and what it doesn't
We track New Jersey's licensed providers from the state's public records: license number, status, and capacity. For a provider's full inspection and violation history, follow the steps above at the state's own source.
| New Jersey child care data | On record |
|---|---|
| Licensed providers tracked | 4,094 |
| Independently scorable (Confidence Index) | Not yet scorable |
| Inspection history on this site | Roster only, use state source |
Browse every provider on record: Licensed daycares in New Jersey.
New Jersey daycare licensing: common questions
- How do I look up daycare violations in New Jersey?
- Use the New Jersey Child Care Explorer at childcareexplorer.njccis.com/portal/. Search for the center, open its record, and view the Inspections/Complaints tab. Each inspection report lists the specific requirements the center did not meet. Centers must also share inspection and complaint records with parents on request.
- How often does New Jersey inspect licensed daycares?
- The Office of Licensing inspects every licensed child care center at least once a year. Inspectors check compliance with the Manual of Requirements for Child Care Centers, N.J.A.C. 3A:52. Complaints or reported incidents can bring extra, unannounced visits.
- How do I verify a New Jersey daycare's license?
- Search the same Child Care Explorer portal by name or town. Open the provider to see its current license status, license number, approved age groups, and capacity. A licensed center should also have its license posted on site.
- How do I report a problem at a New Jersey child care center?
- Call the Office of Licensing at 1-877-667-9845 or file a complaint with the state. Serious health or safety concerns can prompt an unannounced inspection. Complaint outcomes are recorded in the center's inspection history.
This page republishes the public licensing record and labels every absent field plainly. Primary source: https://www.childcarenj.gov. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.