School-Based Child Care Certificate (Notice of Filing)

A School-Based Child Care (SBCC) program provides care for more than six children who are 3-5 years old. These programs are in a City school or are otherwise affiliated with a school.

SBCC programs are regulated by Article 43 of the New York City Health Code, New York State Education Law, and New York City Fire and Building Codes. The New York City Health Department inspects these sites every year to ensure they comply with the Health Code.

You must submit a Notice of Filing to the department when starting a new school that teaches and cares for children aged 3 through 5. After receiving the Notice of Filing, the Health Department will give you a Certificate of Filing.

You should read the documents here to understand the regulatory requirements of an SBCC program. If your program gets funding from the NYC Department of Education or the Administration of Children Services, there may be additional requirements.

• Review the procedures: Check the School-Based Child Care (SBCC) Certificate Filing Procedures. This will help you understand the application process.
  School-Based Child Care Certificate Filing Procedures (PDF)

• Check the site requirements: Make sure the site for your center meets the requirements. You will need to upload this document when you apply.
  SBCC Notice of Filing Application (PDF)

• Follow Health Department rules: You must follow the rules set by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH).
  Article 43 of NYC Health Code (PDF)

• Get a food permit: If your facility prepares food on-site, you need a valid Food Service Establishment Permit.
  Food Service Establishment Permit

• Food protection course: If you serve food, a supervising manager must pass a Food Protection Course and get a Food Protection Certificate. Register for the Food Protection Course before applying for a Group Child Care permit.
  Food Protection Certificate Course

• Check documentation: Look at the Requirements Checklist for the basic documentation and other requirements you need to apply, some of which depend on the type of business that will receive the permit.
  Requirements Checklist

• Pay outstanding fines: Pay any fines for Health Code Violations before applying for or renewing a permit issued by the DOHMH. You can pay in person or online.
  Pay Outstanding Fines Online
  NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP)
  Licensing Center
  42 Broadway, Lobby
  New York, NY 10004
  Email: onlineappsdocs@dcwp.nyc.gov

• Submit online: All applications and amendments for an SBCC Certificate must be submitted online. If you do not have internet access, you can use a public library.
  Find a Library in Your Borough

• Within 10 business days, someone from the Bureau of Child Care will contact you. They will help you finish the application process. They will guide you on what documents you need and what requirements you must meet to get a certificate.
• Before you get a certificate, you must meet all of the requirements for a School-Based Child Care certificate.
• Review operational requirements: Read the document "School-Based Child Care Providers: What You Need To Know" for an overview of the operational requirements. You can find it here.

After you get the Notice of Filing, the Health Department will issue you a Certificate of Filing.

You can ask to change this certificate online if there is:

• A change in contact information

• A change in the principal or education director

• An error in the original Certificate of Filing

All new applications for and amendments to a School-Based Child Care Certificate must be submitted online or by emailing childcareinfo@health.nyc.gov.

• Complete the application form: Fill out the SBCC Notice of Filing Application form. Upload this document when you apply. Do not use special characters when naming the file or the upload may fail.
  SBCC Notice of Filing Application (PDF)

• Prepare your documents: Make electronic copies of these documents:

  • Government ID

  • Certificate of Occupancy/Letter of No Objection

  • One of the following Department of Education documents:

    • NYC Department of Education Approval of Curriculum
    • NY State Board of Regents Registration
    • NYC/State Department of Education issued charter
    • NY State Department of Education Basic Education Data System (BEDS) number

• Create an online account: It is recommended businesses use a business email address to create an account. Share the login details with the business owner or manager.

  • Register for an account at the Permit and License Center.
  • NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Permit and License Center
  • Click "Apply New/Link PIN"
  • Click "Click here to Apply New or Link PIN"
  • Read and accept the terms and click "Continue"
  • Click on the "Child Care" drop-down arrow
  • Select "School-based Child Care (SBCC) Fee Exempt Permit Process"
  • Complete all required fields in Steps 1-4
  • When prompted in Step 5, click "upload document" to upload a copy of your government ID
  • Complete all of the remaining steps until the record is created

• Receive confirmation: After completing all of the steps, you will get a confirmation email. A new record with an eight-digit Record ID/Accela number will appear in your My Records tab.

  • Email your SBCC Notice of Filing Application, Certificate of Occupancy/Letter of No Objection, and a copy of your curriculum/charter/regents (if applicable) to childcareinfo@health.nyc.gov

• Online applications only: Applications for new School-Based Child Care certificates are only accepted online. If you do not have internet access, you may use a public library.
  Find a Public Library in Your Borough

• Online applications only: Applications for new School-Based Child Care certificates are only accepted online. If you do not have internet access, you may use a public library.
  Find a Public Library in Your Borough

• Before you amend: read the list of documents you need to upload. Make electronic copies of the documents. You can upload these types of documents:

  • PDF
  • JPG
  • GIF
  • PNG
  • XLS
  • XLSX
  • DOC
  • DOCX
  • VSD
  • TXT

• Save and upload each document separately. Select the name of the document and then upload it. Do not use special characters in your document names.

• If this is your first time using the online system, you need to register. You will need your PIN to link your existing records to one online account. You only need to use your PIN once to link each license record.

• If you do not have access to your PIN, you can get it by completing an online PIN Request Form here or by calling 311 and asking for "NYC Online Licensing Service - Assistance and PIN Request."