Apply
Before you submit your application
Review the School-Based Child Care Certificate Filing Procedures at a Glance which will guide you through the application process.
School-Based Child Care Certificate Filing Procedures (PDF )
Review the SBCC Notice of Filing Application to ensure the site you have chosen for your center will meet the requirements. You will upload this document when you apply.
School-Based Child Care Certificate holders must operate in accordance with the requirements set by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
School-Based Child Care facilities that prepare food onsite must maintain a valid Food Service Establishment Permit.
All child care services serving food to children must have a supervising manager who has passed a Food Protection Course and received a Food Protection Certificate. To obtain a Food Protection Certificate, register for the Food Protection Course prior to submitting the application for a Group Child Care permit.
Refer to the Requirements Checklist for basic documentation and other requirements needed to apply for any permit from the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), some of which depend on the type of business that will be given the permit.
All outstanding fines imposed for Health Code Violations must be paid before you can apply for or renew a permit issued by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Fines may be paid in person at the NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) Citywide Licensing Center or Online.
NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP)
Licensing Center
42 Broadway, Lobby
New York NY 10004
All applications and amendments for a SBCC certificate must be submitted online. If you do not have access to the internet, you can search for a public library in your borough. All public libraries have computers with internet access.
Ready to Apply?
Steps to apply online:
Make electronic versions of each required document: Government ID, your site's Certificate of Occupancy/Letter of No Objection and one of the following four Department of Education documents:
Important Tip for Creating an Online Permit Account: For businesses, it is recommended that you should not use a personal email account. Please create an online account using a business email address and share the log-in email address and password with the business owner and/or other business management so they will have continuous access to the online account
First register for an account online at the Permit and License Center by clicking Apply Online below (unless you already have an account). Once you've registered, follow the steps below:
- Login to your account at 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 to (in Step 5), then click "upload document" to upload a copy of your government ID.
- Complete all the remaining steps until record is created.
Ready to Apply?
After completing all the steps online, you will receive a confirmation email. A new record with an 8-digit Record ID/Accela number will appear in your My Records tab. E-mail 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.
Complete the SBCC Notice of Filing Application form. You will upload this document when you apply. Do not use any special characters when naming this file or the upload may fail.
Steps to apply by mail:
Applications for new School-Based Child Care certificates are only accepted online. See Apply Online. If you do not have access to the internet, you may search for a library in your neighborhood. All public libraries have computers with internet access.
Steps to apply in person:
Applications for new School-Based Child Care certificates are only accepted online. See Apply Online. If you do not have access to the internet, you may search for a library in your neighborhood. All public libraries have computers with internet access.