How to Look up Daycare Violations

When searching for childcare, parents often wonder how to make sure the programs they're considering are safe. One crucial step is to check the daycare's licensing information – including any violations, complaints, or citations on record. A childcare program's licensing history is public information, but it can be tricky to find because each state (and sometimes city) has a different agency and database for these records​. Many states license daycare through health and human services departments, while others use education departments or local social services.

The good news is Winnie compiles and display licensing details on each program's listing to save parents the hassle​. By scrolling to the bottom of a program's page on Winnie, you can find its license number and even click through to the state database. 

Follow the guide below for how to use this information to lookup daycare violations.

How do I find a program's licensing information?

Winnie takes the guesswork out of tracking down a program's licensing information by displaying it on their listings. If you scroll to the bottom of a program's listing, you'll see a little box where the license number and important licensing information can be found. 

From this page, you can click on the individual inspections and determine what, if any, violations were found as well as if the violations were resolved. 

Step-by-Step Guide: Checking a Daycare's Licensing Violations

1. Verify that the daycare is licensed. Not all childcare programs are required to be licensed (small home-based care or certain part-time programs might be license-exempt depending on state laws). Check your state's criteria to ensure the daycare should have a license. If it is required, ask the provider for their license number or confirm the exact name and address they use for licensing. Remember, licensed providers must undergo regular inspections (often annually) and those inspection reports are public record​. An unlicensed facility won't have an official violation history, so knowing the licensing status is key.

2. Find your state's child care licensing database. Each state maintains a database or website for child care licensing. We've compiled a state-by-state list in a later section of this guide, but you can also get to it directly from the daycare's Winnie listing. Locate your state in that list and click the link to the official licensing lookup. This is typically a portal run by a state department where you can search for child care providers.

3. Search for the daycare by name or license number. Once on your state's site, use the search function to find the specific daycare or preschool. Some databases allow search by facility name, address, or the license number. If you have the license number from Winnie, that can give the most direct match. Otherwise, enter the name (and city/ZIP if required) to locate the provider's licensing record. For example, California's database lets you search by name or location and will list matching child care facilities.

4. Access the facility's inspection or compliance reports. After finding the daycare in the results, click on its profile or record. You will usually see details like the license status (active, pending, etc.) and a history of inspections or visits. Look for sections titled “Inspections,” “Compliance History,” or “Violations.” Many state systems will list each inspection date along with any noted violations or citations. There may be options to view or download detailed inspection reports for each visit. On some sites, it might say “No violations found” if the daycare was in full compliance​. If violations were found, the report will summarize each violation.

5. Read and interpret the violation records. For each violation, note the date and type of inspection (routine annual check or investigation of a complaint). The record typically provides a description of what rule was violated and sometimes a code or category. It should also indicate the severity of the violation and whether it was corrected. For instance, a report might show a status like “Corrected on site” or “Correction verified on [date],” meaning the provider fixed the issue. If the issue is still unresolved, it may be labeled “Pending” or “Open”. Pay attention to whether the violation was a one-time incident or part of a pattern (repeated issues in multiple inspections).

6. (Optional) Contact the licensing office for more information. If the online record is confusing or if you see an open investigation noted, you can call your state or local licensing agency for clarification. They can explain any technical language or provide details on serious cases. In some states, older records (beyond a certain number of years, e.g. older than 3–5 years) might not be available online​, but you can request them from the agency's archives.

Following these steps will give you a clear view of a daycare's compliance history. Next, we'll discuss how to make sense of what you find – the different types of violations and what they mean for your child's safety.

My daycare program has violations! Should I panic?

You definitely don't need to panic if you find that your daycare has open violations or has had a past investigation. Depending on what the violation was, it could be something as small as having a trash can without a lid or not labeling a child's bottle correctly. There can also be violations given for improper filing of paperwork, which has little to no impact on the quality of the program from a parent's perspective. 

If you do find something in the inspection history that raises a red flag for you, don't be afraid to bring it up with the provider. You can ask the daycare director about what happened and what changes they made. A reliable, transparent provider will appreciate the chance to explain and will be happy to discuss improvements they implemented. For example, if there was a violation for unsafe sleep practices, a good provider will have taken steps to train staff and ensure it never happens again – hearing that directly from them can give you peace of mind. Use the information as a conversation starter and gauge the provider's honesty and responsiveness.

A past violation that's been resolved shouldn't on its own disqualify a daycare – in fact, it can show the center took corrective action. However, if you see a pattern of serious violations or a defensive attitude from the provider when asked, you might consider looking at other options.

What does it mean if there is an ongoing investigation?

An investigation typically occurs after a parent or employee called the program's licensing agency and filed a complaint. The licensing agency will send out an inspector who will speak to the Director, teachers, parents, and anyone else who would have information relevant to the investigation. Finding out there is an investigation isn't necessarily a reason to worry, as complaints can be filed by anyone and occasionally they may be unfounded. You can also contact your program's licensing agency and ask questions about investigations or complaints that have been filed.  

How can I find more information about my state's licensing requirements?

Every state and city has its own regulations that daycare and preschools have to follow. If you want to find out more information about licensing requirements in your state, you can head to your state's resource page. 

Alabama – Use Alabama’s Daycare License Search (Alabama DHR) to search for licensed child care facilities by name, county, or license number. Inspection reports and any violations are available under each facility’s details.

Alaska – Visit the Alaska Child Care Provider Search and input the provider’s name or license ID. You can view their licensing status, inspection dates, and any noted violations or enforcement actions.

Arizona – Check Arizona’s Child Care Licensing Search (AZ Department of Health). Search by provider name to find inspection reports. Violations are listed with dates and whether they’ve been corrected.

Arkansas – Use the Arkansas DHS Facility Search for child care. Enter the program name or city to view its licensing record and compliance report history (including any violations or complaints).

California – Search California’s Child Care Licensing Facility Search (Department of Social Services). You can search by facility name, address, or license number. The site will show the facility profile with a link to “View Inspection Report” for each visit; clicking that reveals citations (Type A or B) and correction status.

Colorado – Go to the Colorado Licensed Child Care Lookup (Colorado Office of Early Childhood). Search for the provider and click on their name to see license info, including compliance reports and any violations or corrective actions.

Connecticut – Use the Connecticut License Lookup and select “Child Care” licenses. You can find a daycare by name or license number and view its status and enforcement history. Detailed inspection info may require contacting the Office of Early Childhood if not fully shown online.

Delaware – Delaware provides an Office of Child Care Licensing Search (an interactive map interface). Search or zoom to find the child care facility, then click the location pin to see license status and inspection results (violations are noted in the details if any).

Florida – Use Florida’s Child Care Provider Search. You can search by facility or center name. The results will show the license info and a history of inspections. Click on a specific inspection date to see any class violations (Florida categorizes by Class I, II, III for severity) and whether they were corrected.

Georgia – Visit Georgia’s DECAL Child Care Search. After finding the program, click “Inspection Details” to view any compliance violations, along with descriptions and corrective actions. Georgia labels serious violations clearly in reports.

Hawaii – Hawaii’s licensing information is available via the Hawaii DHS Child Care Licensing page. (At the time of writing, Hawaii does not have a convenient online lookup for violations; parents may need to contact the licensing office or check if the state has published inspection reports separately on that site.)

Idaho – Use the Idaho Child Care Check tool. Search by provider name to see their license status, inspection dates, and any violations (Idaho’s site will show compliance history and whether issues were corrected).

Illinois – Search the Illinois Sunshine Portal for Day Care Licensing. Enter the facility name or license number to view monitoring reports. Any substantiated violations or corrective plans will be listed in those reports.

Indiana – Use Indiana’s Child Care Search. After locating the provider, click “Inspection Reports” to see any non-compliance citations and actions taken. Indiana’s site shows each inspection with any rule violations noted.

Iowa – Visit the Iowa DHS Child Care Compliance and Complaint Search. Search for the facility to view its compliance report, which includes licensing visits and any complaints or violations in the past several years.

Kansas – Use the Kansas Child Care Licensing Facility Search. You can search by name, address, or license type. The results will show compliance history, including any notices of violation or enforcement actions.

Kentucky – Go to Kentucky’s Child Care Provider Search. Search by provider name or location, then view the facility’s details and inspection reports. Violations (if any) will be listed under each inspection with status (e.g., corrected, pending).

Louisiana – Louisiana uses the School and Center Finder (which includes early childhood programs). Search for the daycare name and click on the result to see its profile. Licensing inspections and any deficiencies are listed under the “Quality & Licensing” section of the profile.

Maine – Use Maine’s Child Care Choices provider search. This tool lets you find licensed child cares and view their licensing reports. Any violations or conditions on the license are noted in the program’s details.

Maryland – Visit CheckCCMD.org, Maryland’s licensing lookup. Enter the provider name or license number to see their compliance record. Inspection results will show any violations, which Maryland typically calls “citations,” along with whether they've been corrected.

Massachusetts – Use the Massachusetts EEC Child Care Search. After finding the program, you can view its Inspection History which lists any violations of regulations and the corrective actions. Massachusetts’ Department of Early Education and Care posts detailed compliance reports online.

Michigan – Go to Michigan’s Child Care Licensing Bureau Search. Search by name or county to find the facility, then click “Inspections” on the profile to see recent inspection reports. Any rule violations will be listed with descriptions and correction status.

Minnesota – Use the Minnesota Licensing Lookup (DHS Licensing Information Lookup). Enter the provider’s name or license ID to view their license record. Click “View Actions/Decisions” to see a history of licensing actions, including correction orders or violations. Minnesota’s site will show if a provider was “in compliance” or list the rule violations with a plain-language summary​.

Mississippi – Visit the Mississippi Child Care Search (MS Department of Health). You can search by facility name and then view compliance reports. Violations are noted as deficiencies in the inspection results, with details on any corrective plans.

Missouri – Use Missouri’s Child Care Provider Search. After finding the provider, check the Inspection Reports which will detail any violations of state standards and whether they have been resolved.

Montana – Montana’s licensing info can be found via the MT DPHHS Child Care Licensing page. (Look for a link to search for licensed providers or contact the regional office; Montana may list reports or require inquiry to get violation details.)

Nebraska – Use the Nebraska Licensed Child Care Provider Search. Search by name to view the provider’s profile, then see Inspection History for any non-compliance findings or complaints.

Nevada – Use the Nevada's Child Care Licensing Search (search by name to see inspections and violations).

New Hampshire – Visit the NH Child Care License Verification. Select “Child Care” and search for the program name. You can view the license status and any citations or enforcement actions recorded by the state.

New Jersey – Use the NJ Child Care Explorer. This portal allows you to search for child care centers and family daycares. Click on the provider’s name to see their Inspections/Complaints tab, which lists any violations (with inspection reports available for download).

New Mexico – New Mexico’s CYFD Child Care Portal has licensing information. (You may also use the New Mexico Child Care Finder to locate providers). Once you find the facility, you can view inspection “surveys” for the last three years, which include any violations and corrective actions. For older records, the site notes you can request them from the ECECD​.

New York – Use the New York State OCFS Child Care Search. Enter the program name or location to find it, then click “View Details” to see the program’s compliance history. Inspection and complaint results are listed, and you can click to read specifics of any violations. (Note: In New York City, daycare centers are regulated by the NYC Department of Health separately. NYC parents should use the Child Care Connect portal to search inspection records for programs within the five boroughs.)

North Carolina – Visit the NC Division of Child Development and Early Education search. Search for the provider, then view their Compliance History. North Carolina’s reports will show any violations, which are called “administrative actions” or abuse/neglect findings, along with a description of the issue.

North Dakota – North Dakota’s licensing info is available on the ND Child Care Provider Information site. This site provides links and contact info for regional licensing. (ND currently lists licensed providers and compliance data via reports or upon request, rather than a centralized public search portal. Parents may need to contact the licensing worker for detailed violation history if not listed online.)

Ohio – Use Ohio’s Child Care Search. After finding the program, click “View Inspection Details” to see a list of inspections. Each inspection will show any rule violations, the severity level, and if they’ve been corrected.

Oklahoma – Visit the Oklahoma Child Care Locator. Search for the provider and then open their compliance file. Oklahoma displays a summary of monitoring visits; if non-compliances were found, they are listed with the date and resolution (for instance, “non-compliance corrected during visit”).

Oregon – Use the Oregon Child Care Safety Portal. Search by facility name to view the Safety Record which includes inspections, any recorded rule violations, and outcomes. Oregon’s portal provides plain language descriptions of violations and the steps taken to correct them.

Pennsylvania – Go to the Pennsylvania Child Care Provider Search. Find the daycare and then click “View Inspection Summary” on its profile. You’ll see a list of inspections with compliance notes. Violations are listed as non-compliances with a description of each and whether it’s been corrected.

Rhode Island – Use the Rhode Island Early Learning Programs Search. Enter the program name to find its listing. The profile will show the program’s licensing status and a history of compliance. Any recent inspection or enforcement actions (violations, probationary licenses, etc.) are noted in the details. (You may also find information on the RI DHS site under child care licensing, or by contacting RI’s Office of Child Care if details aren’t fully online.)

South Carolina – Visit SC Child Care Lookup (SC Department of Social Services). Use the search to find the facility, then click “Compliance Violations” on the result. South Carolina displays a detailed list of any violations, including dates and how the issue was resolved, as well as any enforcement actions taken.

South Dakota – Use the South Dakota Child Care Licensing Search. Search by provider name to see their profile, which includes inspection results. Any citations for non-compliance will be listed with the regulation number and a brief description on the inspection reports.

Tennessee – Go to the Tennessee Child Care Report Card and Star Quality Program. You can search for the child care agency by name or location. The site provides a Report Card (a quality rating) and also compliance history. Click the program’s name to see inspection findings; violations are noted as separate “non-compliance issues” with status.

Texas – Use the Texas Child Care Search (Texas DFPS). After searching for the center, click on its name to see the licensing details. Then check the “Inspections” and “Violations” tabs which list any deficiencies found (Texas labels serious issues as “High” concern). You can read each inspection’s notes to see what problems were identified and if corrections were made.

Utah – Visit the Utah Child Care Licensing Lookup. Search for the provider, then view their inspections. Utah’s site will show compliance results for each inspection; click the inspection date to expand details, where any rule violations are listed along with corrective action deadlines.

Vermont – Use Vermont’s Bright Futures Child Care Information System. Search for the program and open its license info. Under “History” you can find licensing visit reports. Violations (regulatory deficiencies) will be listed in those reports with notes on correction. (The Vermont online system can be a bit complex; you may need to navigate through the provider’s record to find the compliance report section.)

Virginia – Search Virginia’s Child Care Provider Search. Find the daycare by name, then view its Inspections and Complaints history. Violations are documented in inspection reports with descriptions of each violation and whether it was corrected.

Washington – Use the Washington State Child Care Check tool. Search for the provider and open their record to see the Inspection Reports. Washington’s reports will list any violations of licensing requirements and the corrective actions or fines imposed.

West Virginia – Visit the WV Child Care Locator. Search by name or location to find the facility, then view the details for any compliance or complaint issues. West Virginia may show a summary of whether the provider has had violations; detailed info might require contacting the licensing office.

Wisconsin – Use Wisconsin’s Child Care Finder. After finding the program, click “View Monitoring Summary”. This will show any violations (Wisconsin calls them non-compliance statements) from inspections in the past two years, including how and when they were corrected. You can also click to view the full inspection report PDF for more details.

Wyoming – Go to FindChildCareWY.org. Search for the child care facility by name or location on the map. Click the program’s pin to see its licensing information; any correction orders or past substantiated complaints should be listed as part of the public record on the facility.

Washington, D.C. – Use the DC Child Care Connections Provider Search. Find the daycare by name, then view its profile which includes licensing inspection reports. Any violations of DC’s childcare regulations will be noted in those inspection details, along with any enforcement actions or sanctions if applicable.