Home Daycare: New Rochelle vs Yonkers
How do home daycare rules compare between New Rochelle, NY and Yonkers, NY?
New Rochelle and Yonkers have similar restriction levels.
New Rochelle, NY
Westchester County
Family and group family daycare in New Rochelle is licensed by NYS OCFS. Under NY Social Services Law, municipalities cannot prohibit licensed home daycare in residential zones, but standard home occupation rules on appearance still apply.
View full New Rochelle rules →Yonkers, NY
Westchester County
Home-based childcare in Yonkers is licensed by NY Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS). Family Day Care (up to 6 children) and Group Family Day Care (up to 12) are treated as permitted residential uses under state law.
View full Yonkers rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | New Rochelle | Yonkers |
|---|---|---|
| Licensing | NYS OCFS | NY OCFS required |
| Family DC | Up to 8 kids | - |
| Group Family | Up to 16 kids | Up to 12 with assistant |
| Zoning | Permitted by state law | Residential accessory use |
| Family Day Care | - | Up to 6 children |
| Preemption | - | NY SSL §390 |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
New Rochelle FAQ
Can I open a daycare in my New Rochelle home?
Yes, with an NYS OCFS license. State law makes licensed family and group family daycare a permitted residential use; the city cannot ban it.
How many children can I watch in a New Rochelle home daycare?
Up to 8 under a family daycare license, or up to 16 under a group family daycare license, per NYS OCFS rules. Both types are permitted in residential zones by state law.
Can my HOA or co-op stop me from running a home daycare in New Rochelle?
Generally no. NY Social Services Law §390 protects licensed home daycare as a permitted use, though reasonable co-op rules about building impact may still apply.
Yonkers FAQ
Can I open a home daycare in a residential Yonkers neighborhood?
Yes. NY state law treats OCFS-registered home daycares as residential uses, so Yonkers cannot prohibit them in residential zones.
How many children can a Yonkers home daycare watch?
Family Day Care homes can care for up to 6 children with OCFS registration. Group Family Day Care homes can handle 7-12 children with an assistant and full OCFS licensing under NY Social Services Law §390.
Do Yonkers home daycares still need building code inspections?
Yes. While state law preempts zoning restrictions, the Yonkers Building Department may still require smoke/CO detector compliance and egress verification for safety.
Compare other topics
See how New Rochelle and Yonkers compare on other ordinance categories.
Want to add a third city?
Use our full comparison tool to compare up to three cities.
Open Comparison Tool