Ocean County family child care homes licensed by NJ DCF Office of Licensing under Family Child Care Registration Act (N.J.S.A. 30:5B-16). Up to 5 children. Local zoning cannot prohibit registered home daycare.
New Jersey regulates home-based child care under the Family Child Care Registration Act (N.J.S.A. 30:5B-16 et seq.). Ocean County home providers register with the NJ Department of Children and Families (DCF) Office of Licensing through a Sponsoring Organization — typically Ocean, Inc. or other local community action agencies. Registration allows care for up to 5 children under 13 (including the provider's own children under 5). Larger group sizes (6+) require a Child Care Center license with substantial additional compliance (commercial building code, fire inspection, director qualifications). N.J.S.A. 40:55D-66.5b explicitly prohibits local zoning from treating a registered family day care home as anything other than a single-family residential use — Ocean County towns (Toms River, Brick, Lakewood, Jackson, Berkeley, Stafford) cannot require conditional use permits, HOA-style special approvals, or extra parking beyond what the residence already needs. Requirements include CPR/first aid certification, criminal background checks (all household members 14+), home inspections, immunization records, and liability insurance recommendations. NJ's child care subsidy (NJ Cares for Kids) accepts registered family providers.
Operating without DCF registration: cease-and-desist, referral to Division of Child Protection. Safety violations: registration suspended or revoked. Caring for more than 5 children without a center license: closure plus potential criminal charges for unlicensed child care.
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