New York camps

Summer camps in New York: state rules

New York doesn't publish a statewide camp list, so we have no camp listings here yet. This page explains the state's camp rule and links to the official sources.

New York camp rules

Day and overnight camps need a camp license or permit. Summer day camps, traveling summer day camps and overnight camps need a permit from the local health department and are inspected twice a year. A summer day camp, for this rule, serves children under 16 between June 1 and September 15 with organized activities, at least one of which is a non-passive recreational activity with significant risk of injury (10 NYCRR 7-2.2). Programs that do not meet the camp definition are not permitted as camps; summer programs may instead be run by OCFS-licensed child care programs.

Agency: New York State Department of Health (Subpart 7-2 of the State Sanitary Code); permits are issued and camps inspected by the local health department (the NYC Health Department in New York City)

Official sources: NYS DOH Children's Camps · 10 NYCRR 7-2.2 definitions (Cornell LII) · NYC Health Code Article 48 (camps)

All New York rules for child care and camps · Camp license rules in every state · Checked October 2026. General information, not legal advice.

More for New York families

3,272 school-age and after-school programs in New York, from state child care licensing data.
Child care and after-school programs in New York
Free summer meals for kids in New York: USDA meal sites. These are not camps.
Youth, sports and camp nonprofits in New York, from IRS data. Being listed there doesn't mean a camp is licensed.

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