California state guide

Childcare centers in California

California has 13,334 childcare centers and homes in its state licensing records, across 909 cities, with about 645,000 licensed seats at the 11,597 centers that report capacity. California Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing Division handles licensing. This guide covers the rules that apply, how to check a license, and how to find a center in your city.

Data updated October 1, 2026 · Source: California Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing Division (opens in a new tab) public records · How we compile this →

Largest cities for childcare in California

Ranked by centers and homes on file. Each city page lists every center in that city.
  1. Los Angeles696 centers and homes
  2. San Francisco397 centers and homes
  3. San Diego392 centers and homes
  4. Sacramento311 centers and homes
  5. San Jose289 centers and homes
  6. Fresno219 centers and homes
Show 6 more
  1. Oakland172 centers and homes
  2. Long Beach151 centers and homes
  3. Bakersfield148 centers and homes
  4. Irvine118 centers and homes
  5. Stockton118 centers and homes
  6. Riverside112 centers and homes

Centers and homes listed per city, of 13,334 in California.

All 909 California cities

All 909 cities in California, A to Z

Jump to a letter, or open a group below.

A · 45 cities

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B · 51 cities

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C · 93 cities

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D · 27 cities

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E · 28 cities

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F · 29 cities

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G · 23 cities

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H · 31 cities

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I · 12 cities

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J · 7 cities

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K · 9 cities

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L · 79 cities

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M · 61 cities

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N · 26 cities

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O · 20 cities

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P · 64 cities

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Q · 4 cities

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R · 61 cities

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S · 132 cities

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T · 31 cities

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U · 5 cities

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V · 17 cities

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W · 49 cities

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Y · 5 cities

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California childcare centers by county

58 California counties have licensed centers or homes on file, ranked here by how many. Los Angeles County has the most, with 3,165 centers and homes.
  1. Los Angeles County3,165 centers and homes
  2. San Diego County1,092 centers and homes
  3. Orange County1,077 centers and homes
  4. Santa Clara County723 centers and homes
  5. Alameda County690 centers and homes
  6. Sacramento County609 centers and homes
  7. San Bernardino County543 centers and homes
  8. Riverside County537 centers and homes
  9. Contra Costa County508 centers and homes
  10. San Francisco County401 centers and homes
  11. San Mateo County398 centers and homes
  12. Fresno County366 centers and homes
  13. Ventura County268 centers and homes
  14. San Joaquin County243 centers and homes
  15. Kern County221 centers and homes
  16. Placer County187 centers and homes
  17. Santa Barbara County164 centers and homes
  18. Sonoma County156 centers and homes
All 58 California counties, A to Z

License types in California

California’s licensing records use these categories. Each listing shows which one applies.

  • Child Care Center

    7,179 listings

  • Infant Center

    1,701 listings

  • Single Child Care Center

    1,372 listings

  • School-Age Center

    1,345 listings

California child care ratios

California sets a maximum number of children per staff member for each age in licensed child care centers. Each row cites the regulation it comes from.
California ratios by age
Maximum children per staff member in licensed child care centers, by age, under CCR Title 22 §101416.5(b); CDSS PIN 24-02-CCP, §101804(b)(2); CCR Title 22 §101216.3(a). Some age bands overlap, so each row is listed with its own rule.
AgeStaff : childrenRule
0–23 months1:4CCR Title 22 §101416.5(b) (opens in a new tab)
18–35 months1:6CDSS PIN 24-02-CCP, §101804(b)(2) (opens in a new tab)
3–5 years1:12CCR Title 22 §101216.3(a) (opens in a new tab)

These are the state’s minimums for licensed child care centers, and a center can staff richer. Read the linked rule text before relying on a figure: regulations change.

How to check a daycare license in California

Every licensed center in California has a public record with California Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing Division. Here is how to read it.

  1. Search the state’s site

    Open Child Care Transparency Website (opens in a new tab) and look the center up by name and city. Confirm the license type and that its status is active.

  2. Read the inspection information

    Open the center’s record and read whatever inspection or compliance information the state posts for it.

  3. Compare with Clear Day’s center page

    Our page shows the license type and capacity next to the hours and programs the center lists, so you can weigh the state’s record beside what the center offers.

Open Child Care Transparency Website (opens in a new tab)

Each Clear Day center page in Californialinks to that center’s state record when the state publishes one, so step 3 starts one click from step 1.

Paying for childcare in California

These programs help California families pay for care. Which one fits depends on income, your child’s age and where you live.

Frequently asked questions about childcare in California

Answers use the numbers on this page, as of October 1, 2026.
How many childcare centers are in California?

California has 13,334 childcare centers and homes in the state licensing records Clear Day reads, across 909 cities. Los Angeles has the most, with 696, followed by San Francisco (397) and San Diego (392).

What is the child-to-staff ratio for infants in California?

For children 0–23 months in licensed child care centers, California allows up to 4 children per staff member, a ratio of 1:4 under CCR Title 22 §101416.5(b). Another row covers an overlapping age range, so check the cited rule for which one applies. The full table is on this page.

How do I check if a daycare is licensed in California?

Look the center up in Child Care Transparency Website, the state's public license lookup. Confirm the license is active, then read whatever inspection or compliance information the state posts for that center. Clear Day center pages link to the state's record for that center when the state publishes one.

Where does this data come from?

Center records come from California Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing Division public records. Every share on the page names the number of centers it is counted over, and the methodology page explains how.

When was this data last updated?

The state records on this page were last imported October 1, 2026. Each center page shows its own record date. See the methodology for details.

How we compile the data →

For center directors

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Other state guides

California is one of 35 states in the directory: 173,052 centers and homes across 13,877 cities. Each state has its own guide with its own rules, agency and license lookup.

Where this data comes from

Center records come from California Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing Division public records. Every percentage on this page names the number of California centers it is counted over. This page is a guide, not legal advice. Clear Day does not rate, rank or review centers.

Read the full methodology →

Last updated
October 1, 2026
Agency
California Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing Division (opens in a new tab)

This information is sourced from public records and may be incomplete or out of date. For the most current and accurate details, please verify directly with California Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing Division or contact the center directly. Clear Day does not rate, rank or endorse any center.

Data updated Oct 1, 2026 · Source: California Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing Division public records · California license lookup (opens in a new tab) · How we compile this →