By Nahila Bonfiglio

Denver is in a "childcare crisis," according to representatives from the city's Office of Children's Affairs (OCA). At a Wednesday, June 17, meeting with Denver City Council's Health and Safety Committee, the organization argued for eliminating obstacles that stand in the way of the city's childcare providers.

Finding childcare is vital for parents across the state, but in Denver in particular, significant hurdles prevent some parents from finding adequate care. The average cost of infant care in the city hovers around $20,000 annually, according to data presented at the meeting, which accounts for 18-25% of Denver family incomes. The rate of inflation has ballooned since the COVID-19 pandemic, increasing by 29% between 2020 and 2024.

Denver is currently the seventh-most-expensive state in the U.S. for childcare, and as a result, parents across the city are struggling to manage. The issue of childcare becomes more pressing during the summer months, when kids are out of school, and parents are forced to scramble to find supervision during working hours.

The OCA is proposing a change to current licensing requirements that would remove unnecessary steps in providers' paths across Denver. Its mission is to "identify opportunities to reduce barriers and streamline the process to open a childcare business." Currently, there are broad redundancies in the process, according to the OCA, which make opening or obtaining a new childcare facility both challenging and expensive. As a result, childcare options in Denver are limited, and that scarcity drives up costs for families.

The OCA sought to eliminate unnecessary steps, but was adamant that doing so would not compromise the health and safety of Denver children. Many of the current requirements are duplicated at the state and local levels, according to Nicol Caldwell of Denver's Department of Public Health & Environment. By eliminating areas where requirements overlap, interested providers will have an easier path to establishing new childcare options.

The language surrounding childcare establishments is also outdated, according to Cauldwell, and includes restrictions on things like wooden structures. In the 1980s, these restrictions were necessary, but in 2026, they are no longer relevant. Instead, they serve only to erect barriers to childcare facilities.

If the requested changes are approved, they would "remove a significant step in the process" of opening a childcare facility, while also reducing costs and updating local processes. It would not solve the childcare supply challenge in a single move, but the proposed repeal of outdated provisions is a vital first step. The OCA is hopeful it will signal a continued commitment to making the process of running a childcare establishment easier.

If the organization is successful, it could transform Denver into a leader in childcare development.

Denver's Office of Children's Affairs Seeks to Eliminate Hurdles in the Path of Childcare Providers