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New York checks your insurance at the door: the day care center application itself must include proof of general liability coverage. Under 18 NYCRR 418-1.15(c)(28), a center files a certificate of insurance showing the intent to provide general liability insurance upon licensure — and a copy of the policy itself after licensure. In New York City’s market, the building’s COI demands then take over where the regulation stops.
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What New York Actually Requires
| Coverage | New York requirement |
|---|---|
| General liability (centers) | Required — certificate of insurance with the application, policy copy on file after licensure (18 NYCRR 418-1.15(c)(28)) |
| Minimum amount | The regulation names no dollar figure — the mandate is proof of coverage, at application and after |
| Workers’ comp + DBL | New York separately requires workers’ compensation AND disability benefits (DBL/PFL) coverage from essentially the first hire |
Proof at Application, Policy on File After
The two-step structure is the New York detail worth knowing: OCFS wants evidence of intent to be insured before it licenses you, and the actual policy in the file once you are. There’s no window to open uninsured and “sort it later” — the sequence runs insurance first, licence second.
Then the Building Takes Over
A New York daycare’s practical insurance floor is set by its lease. Commercial landlords in the five boroughs and the suburbs demand certificates at $1M/$2M with additional-insured wording as standard, and the state’s two mandatory employment coverages — workers’ comp and the separate disability-benefits policy — arrive with the first hire. Budget all three before the first enrollment packet goes out.
The Coverages Every Daycare Carries Regardless
- General liability with abuse & molestation coverage. The playground injury and the allegation are different claims; a daycare policy without A&M cover is missing the exposure the business is actually judged on.
- Commercial auto if you transport children — a personal policy excludes business use.
- Workers’ compensation once you employ staff (in New York, from the first hire, with separate DBL/PFL coverage alongside).
- Property and contents for the build-out, equipment and food stock.
Parents ask if you’re insured. So do licensors.
A certificate of insurance answers both in one page. Quotes are free and don’t require a phone call.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is liability insurance required for a New York daycare?
For day care centers, yes — 18 NYCRR 418-1.15(c)(28) requires the licence application to include a certificate of insurance showing intent to provide general liability coverage, with a copy of the issued policy kept after licensure. The regulation sets no minimum dollar amount.
What insurance does a New York daycare need beyond general liability?
Workers’ compensation from essentially the first hire, plus New York’s separate disability benefits (DBL) coverage with Paid Family Leave — both statutory. Commercial leases typically add $1M/$2M general liability with additional-insured wording as a contract condition.
Comparing states? See daycare insurance requirements in every state, or the full guide to starting a daycare in New York.
Sources
| Source | What it confirms |
|---|---|
| 18 NYCRR 418-1.15(c)(28) | The certificate-plus-policy requirement for day care centers |
| NY OCFS — child care regulations | The licensing agency and current rule set |
