North Dakota state guide

Childcare centers in North Dakota

North Dakota has 1,077 childcare centers and homes in its state licensing records, across 134 cities. North Dakota Health and Human Services, Early Childhood Licensing 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 November 4, 2026 · Source: North Dakota Health and Human Services, Early Childhood Licensing (opens in a new tab) public records · How we compile this →

Largest cities for childcare in North Dakota

Ranked by centers and homes on file. Each city page lists every center in that city.
  1. Fargo206 centers and homes
  2. Bismarck101 centers and homes
  3. Minot88 centers and homes
  4. West Fargo83 centers and homes
  5. Grand Forks69 centers and homes
  6. Mandan43 centers and homes
Show 6 more
  1. Jamestown39 centers and homes
  2. Dickinson35 centers and homes
  3. Williston32 centers and homes
  4. Devils Lake25 centers and homes
  5. Wahpeton24 centers and homes
  6. Horace15 centers and homes

Centers and homes listed per city, of 1,077 in North Dakota.

All 134 North Dakota cities

All 134 cities in North Dakota, A to Z

Jump to a letter, or open a group below.

A · 4 cities

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B · 11 cities

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C · 9 cities

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D · 4 cities

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E · 5 cities

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F · 4 cities

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G · 8 cities

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H · 13 cities

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I · 1 city

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J · 1 city

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K · 4 cities

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L · 10 cities

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M · 17 cities

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N · 6 cities

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O · 1 city

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P · 4 cities

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R · 6 cities

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S · 7 cities

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T · 6 cities

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U · 1 city

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V · 2 cities

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W · 10 cities

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North Dakota childcare centers by county

51 North Dakota counties have licensed centers or homes on file, ranked here by how many. Cass County has the most, with 327 centers and homes.
  1. Cass County327 centers and homes
  2. Burleigh County110 centers and homes
  3. Ward County93 centers and homes
  4. Grand Forks County81 centers and homes
  5. Morton County48 centers and homes
  6. Stutsman County41 centers and homes
  7. Richland County39 centers and homes
  8. Williams County38 centers and homes
  9. Stark County37 centers and homes
  10. Ramsey County26 centers and homes
  11. Walsh County15 centers and homes
  12. Bottineau County13 centers and homes
  13. Traill County11 centers and homes
  14. Emmons County10 centers and homes
  15. Pierce County10 centers and homes
  16. Mercer County9 centers and homes
  17. Ransom County9 centers and homes
  18. Barnes County8 centers and homes
All 51 North Dakota counties, A to Z

License types in North Dakota

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

  • Group Child Care Home

    422 listings

  • Child Care Center

    163 listings

  • Group Child Care Facility

    162 listings

  • Family Child Care

    148 listings

  • Multiple License

    93 listings

  • School Age Child Care

    34 listings

  • Preschool

    25 listings

North Dakota child care ratios

North Dakota 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.
North Dakota ratios by age
Maximum children per staff member in licensed child care centers, by age, with the rule cited on each row
AgeStaff : childrenRule
0–17 months1:4N.D. Admin. Code 75-03-10-08(2)(a)(1) (opens in a new tab)
18–35 months1:5N.D. Admin. Code 75-03-10-08(2)(a)(2) (opens in a new tab)
3 years1:7N.D. Admin. Code 75-03-10-08(2)(a)(3) (opens in a new tab)
4 years1:10N.D. Admin. Code 75-03-10-08(2)(a)(4) (opens in a new tab)
5 years1:12N.D. Admin. Code 75-03-10-08(2)(a)(5) (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 North Dakota

Every licensed center in North Dakota has a public record with North Dakota Health and Human Services, Early Childhood Licensing. Here is how to read it.

  1. Search the state’s site

    Open North Dakota HHS childcare search tool (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 North Dakota HHS childcare search tool (opens in a new tab)

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

Bright & Early ND quality ratings

Bright & Early ND (opens in a new tab) is North Dakota’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.

817 of 1,047 North Dakota centers have a Bright & Early ND rating

Share of 1,047 North Dakota centers in the directory, by Bright & Early ND level.

  • Step 1 52%544 centers
  • Step 2 17%178 centers
  • Step 3 6%61 centers
  • Step 4 3%34 centers
  • No rating on file 22%230 centers

Paying for childcare in North Dakota

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

ND Best in Class

A competitive North Dakota grant that funds pre-K seats at participating programs, not a universal program. Administered by: North Dakota Health and Human Services

About ND Best in Class (opens in a new tab)

Frequently asked questions about childcare in North Dakota

Answers use the numbers on this page, as of November 4, 2026.
How many childcare centers are in North Dakota?

North Dakota has 1,077 childcare centers and homes in the state licensing records Clear Day reads, across 134 cities. Fargo has the most, with 206, followed by Bismarck (101) and Minot (88).

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

For children 0–17 months in licensed child care centers, North Dakota allows up to 4 children per staff member, a ratio of 1:4 under N.D. Admin. Code 75-03-10-08(2)(a)(1). For 18–35 months it is 1:5. The full table is on this page.

How do I check if a daycare is licensed in North Dakota?

Look the center up in North Dakota HHS childcare search tool, 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.

Does North Dakota help pay for childcare?

Yes. North Dakota's child care subsidy program is Child Care Assistance Program. North Dakota funds some pre-K seats through ND Best in Class, a competitive state grant, rather than a universal program.

What is Bright & Early ND?

Bright & Early ND is North Dakota's quality rating program for child care. 817 of 1,047 centers in the Clear Day directory carry a rating. The ratings are the state's. Clear Day does not rate or review centers.

Where does this data come from?

Center records come from North Dakota Health and Human Services, Early Childhood Licensing 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 November 4, 2026. Each center page shows its own record date. See the methodology for details.

How we compile the data →

Clear Day Family

Making a shortlist in North Dakota?

Tap Save on centers in any of North Dakota’s 134 city lists as you go.A free Clear Day Family account keeps that shortlist on every device, with tour notes for each center, so the one you saw Tuesday doesn’t blur into Thursday’s.

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Free. Sign in with a code we email you. On the web now, iPhone and Android apps coming soon.

Before you tour: what to ask, and why

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Other state guides

North Dakota is one of 36 states in the directory: 174,936 centers and homes across 14,123 cities. Each state has its own guide with its own rules, agency and license lookup.

Where this data comes from

Center records come from North Dakota Health and Human Services, Early Childhood Licensing public records. Every percentage on this page names the number of North Dakota 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
November 4, 2026
Agency
North Dakota Health and Human Services, Early Childhood Licensing (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 North Dakota Health and Human Services, Early Childhood Licensing or contact the center directly. Clear Day does not rate, rank or endorse any center.

Data updated Nov 4, 2026 · Source: North Dakota Health and Human Services, Early Childhood Licensing public records · North Dakota license lookup (opens in a new tab) · How we compile this →