How many licensed daycares are in Santa Barbara County?

There are 565 licensed daycare facilities in Santa Barbara County, California, including family child care homes and child care centers.

What types of daycare are available in Santa Barbara County?

Santa Barbara County has 400 Family Child Care Home, 111 Child Care Center, 28 Child Care - Infant Center, 13 Single Licensed Child Care Center, 13 School Age Child Care Center. Use the search filters to narrow by type.

How are daycares in Santa Barbara County rated?

Each facility is rated based on state inspection data, including Type A and Type B citations. 91% of facilities in Santa Barbara County have no citations on record.

How much does daycare cost in Santa Barbara County?

Based on typical county pricing data, licensed child care centers in Santa Barbara County charge approximately $1,959/month for infants, $1,338/month for toddlers, and $1,048/month for preschool-age children. Licensed family child care homes are typically 20–30% less, with infant care around $1,572/month. Exact pricing varies by facility.

Santa Barbara County

Browse and compare licensed childcare providers in Santa Barbara County

565 facilities

16 cities

Typical tuition

Average monthly cost in Santa Barbara County

2022 median

$1,959

/ month

infant

$1,338

/ month

toddler

$1,048

/ month

preschool

Median cost at licensed child care centers. Licensed family child care homes typically cost 20-30% less (infant care around $663/month).

565 facilities

16 cities

91% clean

23 avg cap.

Top Cities

Tips for Parents

📊 Well-served area

This area has more facilities than the county average — you have plenty of options to compare.

✅ Strong compliance record

91% of facilities here have no violations — well above the state average.

🏠 Home-based care options

400 of 565 facilities are home-based — great for parents who prefer smaller, more personal settings.

About This County

Daycares in Santa Barbara County

Santa Barbara County is home to 565 licensed daycare facilities across 16 cities, making it a mid-sized daycare market in California. The highest concentration of providers is in Santa Maria (317), followed by Santa Barbara (88) and Lompoc (70).

Across the county, an impressive 91% of facilities maintain a clean violation record, well above the state average. The average facility capacity is 23 children. Browse by city below to find licensed daycares, preschools, and family child care homes near you.

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