Colorado has 4,636 childcare centers and homes in its state licensing records, across 322 cities, with about 186,000 licensed seats at the 3,500 centers that report capacity. Colorado Department of Early Childhood, Division of Early Learning Licensing and Administration handles licensing. This guide covers the rules that apply, how to check a license, quality ratings, how subsidy works, and how to find a center in your city.
Data updated October 24, 2026 · Source: Colorado Department of Early Childhood, Division of Early Learning Licensing and Administration (opens in a new tab) public records · How we compile this →
Centers and homes listed per city, of 4,636 in Colorado.
All 322 Colorado citiesJump to a letter, or open a group below.
A licensed center caring for five or more children, for less than 24 hours a day. Source: 8 CCR 1402-1, CO Department of Early Childhood (§2.203 and §2.204) (opens in a new tab)
A center for five or more children between 5 and 18 years old. It includes programs known as day camps, summer camps and before- and after-school programs. Source: 8 CCR 1402-1, CO Department of Early Childhood (§2.504) (opens in a new tab)
A family child care home licensed to care for up to twelve children from birth to age 18, with no more than two under 18 months. Source: 8 CCR 1402-1, CO Department of Early Childhood (§2.309) (opens in a new tab)
Care in a provider's home for up to six children from birth to age 18, with no more than two under 18 months, plus up to two additional school-age children. Source: 8 CCR 1402-1, CO Department of Early Childhood (§2.306) (opens in a new tab)
A family child care home license for experienced providers, allowing no more than nine children in age combinations set by the state. Source: 8 CCR 1402-1, CO Department of Early Childhood (§2.310) (opens in a new tab)
A child care program for five or more children between 2 1/2 and 7 years old. Source: 8 CCR 1402-1, CO Department of Early Childhood (§2.204) (opens in a new tab)
A family child care home licensed for up to six children from birth to age 18, with no more than three under 18 months and no more than two of those under 12 months. Source: 8 CCR 1402-1, CO Department of Early Childhood (§2.307) (opens in a new tab)
A family child care home license for children between birth and three years old. Source: 8 CCR 1402-1, CO Department of Early Childhood (§2.308) (opens in a new tab)
| Age | Staff : children | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| 0–17 months | 1:5 | 8 CCR 1402-1 §2.217(A)(14)-(15) (opens in a new tab) |
| 12–35 months | 1:5 | 8 CCR 1402-1 §2.217(A)(14)-(15) (opens in a new tab) |
| 2 years | 1:7 | 8 CCR 1402-1 §2.217(A)(14)-(15) (opens in a new tab) |
| 30–35 months | 1:8 | 8 CCR 1402-1 §2.217(A)(14)-(15) (opens in a new tab) |
| 3 years | 1:10 | 8 CCR 1402-1 §2.217(A)(14)-(15) (opens in a new tab) |
| 4 years | 1:12 | 8 CCR 1402-1 §2.217(A)(14)-(15) (opens in a new tab) |
| 5–17 years | 1:15 | 8 CCR 1402-1 §2.217(A)(14)-(15) (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.
Open Colorado Shines search (opens in a new tab) and look the center up by name and city. Confirm the license type and that its status is active.
Open the center’s record and read whatever inspection or compliance information the state posts for it.
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.
Each Clear Day center page in Coloradolinks to that center’s state record when the state publishes one, so step 3 starts one click from step 1.
Colorado Shines (opens in a new tab) is Colorado’s own quality rating program for child care. The level a center holds comes from the state.
This is the state’s rating, shown as the state’s. Clear Day does not rate or review centers.
Share of 3,501 Colorado centers in the directory, by Colorado Shines level.
Colorado child care subsidy. Administered by: CDEC, administered by county departments
52%are current subsidy providers1,807 of 3,501 centers reporting
About Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (opens in a new tab)
Colorado pre-K. Administered by: Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC)
Federal programs for families with low incomes, from pregnancy through age five.
100%accept Head Start14 of 14 centers reporting
100%accept Early Head Start15 of 15 centers reporting
Colorado has 4,636 childcare centers and homes in the state licensing records Clear Day reads, across 322 cities. Denver has the most, with 494, followed by Colorado Springs (470) and Aurora (336).
For children 0–17 months in licensed child care centers, Colorado allows up to 5 children per staff member, a ratio of 1:5 under 8 CCR 1402-1 §2.217(A)(14)-(15). Another row covers an overlapping age range, so check the cited rule for which one applies. The full table is on this page.
Look the center up in Colorado Shines search, 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.
Yes. Colorado's child care subsidy program is Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP). 1,807 of the 3,501 centers in our directory that report subsidy status (52%) are current providers. Public pre-K is a separate option: Colorado Universal Preschool.
Colorado Shines is Colorado's quality rating program for child care. 2,851 of 3,501 centers in the Clear Day directory carry a rating. The ratings are the state's. Clear Day does not rate or review centers.
Center records come from Colorado Department of Early Childhood, Division of Early Learning Licensing and Administration public records. Every share on the page names the number of centers it is counted over, and the methodology page explains how.
The state records on this page were last imported October 24, 2026. Each center page shows its own record date. See the methodology for details.
Your center is already listed here, built from state records. Claim it free and get a free enrollment website built from your listing.
Colorado is one of 36 states in the directory: 174,646 centers and homes across 14,123 cities. Each state has its own guide with its own rules, agency and license lookup.
Center records come from Colorado Department of Early Childhood, Division of Early Learning Licensing and Administration public records. Every percentage on this page names the number of Colorado centers it is counted over. This page is a guide, not legal advice. Clear Day does not rate, rank or review centers.
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 Colorado Department of Early Childhood, Division of Early Learning Licensing and Administration or contact the center directly. Clear Day does not rate, rank or endorse any center.
Data updated Oct 24, 2026 · Source: Colorado Department of Early Childhood, Division of Early Learning Licensing and Administration public records · Colorado license lookup (opens in a new tab) · How we compile this →
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