Ohio state guide

Childcare centers in Ohio

Ohio has 8,707 childcare centers and homes in its state licensing records, across 853 cities. Ohio Department of Children and Youth handles licensing. This guide covers the rules that apply, how to check a license, how subsidy works, and how to find a center in your city.

Data updated November 5, 2026 · Source: Ohio Department of Children and Youth (opens in a new tab) public records · How we compile this →

Largest cities for childcare in Ohio

Ranked by centers and homes on file. Each city page lists every center in that city.
  1. Cincinnati1,158 centers and homes
  2. Columbus780 centers and homes
  3. Cleveland506 centers and homes
  4. Toledo347 centers and homes
  5. Dayton224 centers and homes
  6. Akron215 centers and homes
Show 6 more
  1. Youngstown126 centers and homes
  2. Canton106 centers and homes
  3. Lorain82 centers and homes
  4. Euclid74 centers and homes
  5. Westerville63 centers and homes
  6. Dublin62 centers and homes

Centers and homes listed per city, of 8,707 in Ohio.

All 853 Ohio cities

All 853 cities in Ohio, A to Z

Jump to a letter, or open a group below.

A · 34 cities

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B · 69 cities

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C · 86 cities

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D · 21 cities

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E · 20 cities

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F · 30 cities

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G · 41 cities

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H · 34 cities

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I · 3 cities

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J · 12 cities

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K · 12 cities

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L · 44 cities

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M · 93 cities

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N · 61 cities

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O · 20 cities

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P · 41 cities

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R · 27 cities

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S · 80 cities

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T · 17 cities

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U · 14 cities

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V · 10 cities

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W · 79 cities

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X · 1 city

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Y · 2 cities

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Z · 2 cities

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Ohio childcare centers by county

88 Ohio counties have licensed centers or homes on file, ranked here by how many. Hamilton County has the most, with 1,224 centers and homes.
  1. Hamilton County1,224 centers and homes
  2. Franklin County1,219 centers and homes
  3. Cuyahoga County1,169 centers and homes
  4. Lucas County428 centers and homes
  5. Montgomery County385 centers and homes
  6. Summit County366 centers and homes
  7. Stark County218 centers and homes
  8. Lorain County211 centers and homes
  9. Mahoning County208 centers and homes
  10. Butler County197 centers and homes
  11. Delaware County140 centers and homes
  12. Licking County115 centers and homes
  13. Trumbull County112 centers and homes
  14. Lake County108 centers and homes
  15. Warren County103 centers and homes
  16. Fairfield County96 centers and homes
  17. Clermont County92 centers and homes
  18. Medina County82 centers and homes
All 88 Ohio counties, A to Z

License types in Ohio

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

  • Child care center

    4,237 listings

    A place that is not the permanent residence of the licensee or administrator, where child care is provided for seven or more children at one time. Source: Ohio Revised Code §5104.01 (opens in a new tab)

  • Type B family child care home

    1,625 listings

    The provider's permanent residence, where care is provided for one to seven children at one time, with no more than three under age two. Source: Ohio Revised Code §5104.01 (opens in a new tab)

  • Preschool program

    1,494 listings

    A child care program for preschool children run by a school district or an eligible nonpublic school, or, for children age three or older, by a county board of developmental disabilities or a community school. Source: Ohio Revised Code §3301.52 (opens in a new tab)

  • Type A family child care home

    333 listings

    The administrator's permanent residence, where child care is provided for eight to fourteen children at one time (four to fourteen if four or more are under age two). Source: Ohio Revised Code §5104.01 (opens in a new tab)

  • School-age child care

    241 listings

    A child care program for school children (enrolled in or eligible for kindergarten or above, and under 15) run by a school district, community school or other school-based operator, or by an authorized private before- and after-school program. Source: Ohio Revised Code §3301.52 (opens in a new tab)

Ohio child care ratios

Ohio 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.
Ohio ratios by age
Maximum children per staff member in licensed child care centers, by age, under Ohio Admin. Code 5180:2-12-18, Appendix A
AgeStaff : childrenRule
0–11 months1:5Ohio Admin. Code 5180:2-12-18, Appendix A (opens in a new tab)
12–17 months1:6Ohio Admin. Code 5180:2-12-18, Appendix A (opens in a new tab)
18–29 months1:7Ohio Admin. Code 5180:2-12-18, Appendix A (opens in a new tab)
30–35 months1:8Ohio Admin. Code 5180:2-12-18, Appendix A (opens in a new tab)
3 years1:12Ohio Admin. Code 5180:2-12-18, Appendix A (opens in a new tab)
4 years1:14Ohio Admin. Code 5180:2-12-18, Appendix 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 Ohio

Every licensed center in Ohio has a public record with Ohio Department of Children and Youth. Here is how to read it.

  1. Search the state’s site

    Open Ohio Child Care 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.

  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 Ohio Child Care Search (opens in a new tab)

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

Paying for childcare in Ohio

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

Head Start and Early Head Start

Federal programs for families with low incomes, from pregnancy through age five.

99%accept Head Start159 of 160 centers reporting

99%accept Early Head Start76 of 77 centers reporting

Head Start locator (opens in a new tab)

Frequently asked questions about childcare in Ohio

Answers use the numbers on this page, as of November 5, 2026.
How many childcare centers are in Ohio?

Ohio has 8,707 childcare centers and homes in the state licensing records Clear Day reads, across 853 cities. Cincinnati has the most, with 1,158, followed by Columbus (780) and Cleveland (506).

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

For children 0–11 months in licensed child care centers, Ohio allows up to 5 children per staff member, a ratio of 1:5 under Ohio Admin. Code 5180:2-12-18, Appendix A. For 12–17 months it is 1:6. The full table is on this page.

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

Look the center up in Ohio Child Care 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.

Does Ohio help pay for childcare?

Yes. Ohio's child care subsidy program is Publicly Funded Child Care (PFCC). Public pre-K is a separate option: Ohio Preschool Program.

What is Step Up To Quality?

Step Up To Quality is Ohio's quality rating program for child care. The ratings are the state's. Clear Day does not rate or review centers.

Where does this data come from?

Center records come from Ohio Department of Children and Youth 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 5, 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 Ohio?

Tap Save on centers in any of Ohio’s 853 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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Before you tour: what to ask, and why

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Other state guides

Ohio 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 Ohio Department of Children and Youth public records. Every percentage on this page names the number of Ohio 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 5, 2026
Agency
Ohio Department of Children and Youth (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 Ohio Department of Children and Youth or contact the center directly. Clear Day does not rate, rank or endorse any center.

Data updated Nov 5, 2026 · Source: Ohio Department of Children and Youth public records · Ohio license lookup (opens in a new tab) · How we compile this →