How to get a daycare license in Illinois: the complete guide

Last updated 2026-07-09

Who actually needs a daycare license in Illinois?

Care for more than 3 children who are not your own, accept any form of payment, and Illinois calls you a Child Care Facility that needs a license from the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). The threshold is low on purpose. A neighbor watching four kids for $50 a week is running a daycare under Illinois law, whether she thinks of it that way or not.

The Child Care Act of 1969 (225 ILCS 10/) is the governing statute. It defines a day care home as a facility in a private residence caring for up to 8 children, including the provider's own children under 12. A group day care home covers 9 to 16 children. A day care center covers 17 or more. Each type carries its own staffing, space, and inspection rules.^[1]

A few programs are exempt. That list includes programs run by school districts, programs operating fewer than 4 hours a day, and certain faith-based programs that do not accept child care assistance payments. Read Section 2.09 of the Child Care Act before you assume an exemption covers you. DCFS has gone after operators who believed they were exempt and were wrong.

Home-based providers who stay at or under the 3-unrelated-children limit are also exempt, though some counties layer on local ordinances worth checking.

The short version: if you are getting paid and you have four or more kids in your care who are not your own, get licensed.

What are the main daycare license types in Illinois?

Illinois issues four license types under the DCFS Child Care Licensing program. Here is how they break down.

License Type	Setting	Children Served	Governing Rule
Day Care Home	Private residence	Up to 8 (incl. provider's own under 12)	89 Ill. Admin. Code Part 402
Group Day Care Home	Private residence	9 to 16 children	89 Ill. Admin. Code Part 402
Day Care Center	Non-residential building	17+ children	89 Ill. Admin. Code Part 407
Day Care Center (school-age only)	Non-residential	School-age children	89 Ill. Admin. Code Part 407

The gap between a day care home and a group day care home matters a lot day to day. A group day care home needs an assistant caregiver on-site whenever more than 8 children are present, a larger dedicated space, and a deeper environmental inspection.^[2]

Day care centers carry the most detailed requirements: director qualifications, room-by-room space minimums (35 square feet per child indoors, 75 square feet per child outdoors), age-separated groupings, and health consultant oversight. If you are opening a center, budget extra time and a licensing consultant. The administrative code runs dozens of pages, and it does not read itself.

How much does an Illinois daycare license cost?

The DCFS application fee is set by statute and has stayed cheap for years. Day care home licenses cost $35 and center licenses cost $75. Those fees barely register against what getting licensed actually costs.^[3]

Here is where the money goes.

• Background checks through the Illinois State Police and FBI fingerprinting: roughly $60 to $80 per person, and every adult in a day care home household has to be checked.
• Health and fire inspections: usually no direct charge from the inspector, but deficiency fixes (fire extinguishers, smoke detector upgrades, handrail repairs) come out of your pocket. Budget $500 to $2,000 for a home, more for a center.
• First-aid and CPR certification: $50 to $120 per staff member depending on the training organization.
• Mandated reporter training (required under 89 Ill. Admin. Code Part 385): free through the DCFS online portal.
• Pre-service training: DCFS requires 15 hours of approved training before it issues a day care home license. Courses run from $0 (free DCFS webinars) to $200 (community college courses).

For a full picture that covers startup and ongoing expenses, see our separate daycare cost breakdown.

The licensing fee is a rounding error. The building fixes and personnel checks are the real bill.

What is the step-by-step process to get licensed?

This is not a quick online form. Plan for a multi-step process that runs 60 to 120 days from first contact to license in hand. Here is the honest sequence.

Step 1: Contact your regional DCFS licensing office. Illinois splits licensing across regional offices, and you find yours by county on the DCFS website. A licensing representative gets assigned to you and walks you through the local checklist. The call is free and genuinely useful. Make it before you sign a lease or commit to a building.

Step 2: Complete the application packet. The packet includes DCFS Form CFS 596 (Child Care Facility Application), proof of identity, and a written program description covering hours, ages served, and daily schedule.

Step 3: Run background checks for all required household or staff members. Everyone 13 and older who lives in a day care home submits to a CANTS (Child Abuse and Neglect Tracking System) check. All staff and household members 18 and older also need an Illinois State Police fingerprint-based criminal history check and, for new applicants, an FBI check.^[4] Start this the same week you apply. Background checks are usually the longest single delay.

Step 4: Complete required pre-service training. Day care home providers need 15 hours of DCFS-approved training before the license is granted. Day care center directors need a four-year degree in early childhood education or a related field, or a combination of education and experience spelled out in Part 407.100.

Step 5: Pass the health and fire inspections. DCFS coordinates with the local public health department and fire marshal. A center may also need a zoning certificate and certificate of occupancy from the municipality. These can add weeks.

Step 6: Host the site visit from your DCFS licensing representative. The rep walks the space against the checklist in the applicable code. Deficiencies get documented, and you get a set window to correct them.

Step 7: Get the license issued. Once every requirement is met and deficiencies are cleared, DCFS issues the license. Home and center licenses are both valid for two years.

One practical note: DCFS sometimes issues a provisional license when minor deficiencies remain, letting you open while you finish corrections. Ask about it if you are close but stuck on one small item.

What staff-to-child ratios does Illinois require?

Illinois sets ratios by age group and license type. These are the legal minimums in 89 Ill. Admin. Code Part 407 for day care centers.^[2]

Age Group	Max Children per Caregiver	Max Group Size
Infants (0 to 12 months)	4	8
Toddlers (13 to 24 months)	5	10
2-year-olds	8	16
3-year-olds	10	20
4 to 5-year-olds	10	20
School-age (6 to 12 years)	20	40

For day care homes, the overall cap is 8 children (including the provider's own under 12), with no more than 4 children under 18 months at any one time. Four infants means you can add only four more kids, whatever their ages. That rule trips up a lot of new home providers.

Group day care homes follow the same per-caregiver ratios as centers, cap out at 16 total children, and require an assistant once enrollment passes the home-only limits.

These numbers are a compliance floor, not a quality ceiling. NAEYC's national standards recommend tighter ratios, especially for infants. Staying at the legal minimum is legal, and plenty of small programs run right at it.

What background check requirements apply in Illinois?

This is the area that surprises providers most. Illinois checks more people, more thoroughly, than many of its neighbors.

For day care homes, every person age 13 and older who lives in the home completes a CANTS (Child Abuse and Neglect Tracking System) check, which searches the DCFS central register for indicated findings of child abuse or neglect. Every household member 18 and older also completes an Illinois State Police criminal history check. First-time applicants add an FBI fingerprint check through an approved livescan vendor.^[4]

For day care centers, the same rules cover every employee and volunteer with unsupervised contact with children. Contract staff like bus drivers and therapists count if they have direct, unsupervised access.

An indicated CANTS finding does not automatically bar someone from childcare work, but it triggers a review. Certain convictions do create automatic bars: crimes against children, sexual offenses, and a list of violent felonies are disqualifying. DCFS keeps the specific list at 89 Ill. Admin. Code Part 385.

Background checks renew every five years for existing staff, and any new hire gets checked before they have unsupervised contact with children. Do not let that slide. It is one of the most common violations inspectors write up at renewal.

What training is required to get and keep an Illinois daycare license?

Pre-service training comes before the license. Day care home providers complete 15 hours of DCFS-approved training covering child development, health and safety, nutrition, and behavior guidance. DCFS runs free online courses through its Child Care Training System, so you can finish the requirement at no cost if you can sit through the modules.^[5]

Ongoing training keeps the license alive. Day care home providers complete another 15 hours of approved training every two years. Center staff requirements depend on role.

• Lead teachers: 15 clock hours of in-service training per year.
• Assistants: 10 clock hours per year.
• Directors: continuing education in administration and child development, with specifics in Part 407.100.

First aid and CPR certification is a separate requirement: at least one certified staff member has to be on-site every hour children are present. A home provider working alone is that person. In a center, a certified staffer has to be in every room with children or immediately reachable.

Mandated reporter training comes from the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act (325 ILCS 5/). It is a one-time requirement at initial licensure and renews every five years. DCFS offers it free online, and inspectors check completion during visits. There is no reason to skip it.^[10]

Providers who want more than the minimum can work the Gateways to Opportunity credential system, managed by the Illinois Network of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (INCCRRA). It maps training credits toward formal credentials. It is not required for licensing, but it opens the door to higher Child Care Assistance Program reimbursement tiers and quality recognition.

What do inspectors actually look for during a daycare inspection?

DCFS licensing representatives work from a written checklist tied straight to the administrative code. The inspection covers physical space, records, staff qualifications, and what they see happening in the room. Inspections happen at initial licensure, at renewal every two years, and any time a complaint comes in.

For a day care home, inspectors commonly flag:

• Firearms or ammunition not locked in a separate, child-inaccessible location.
• Medications not stored in a locked cabinet.
• Smoke detectors missing or dead (one required on every level, basement included).
• Pools or water features without a four-sided fence and self-latching gate.
• Cleaning products stored within a child's reach.
• Missing emergency contact documentation for enrolled children.

Centers add fire drill records (required monthly), ratios observed at the moment of the visit, food service permits, required postings (license, emergency procedures, menu), and a health record for each enrolled child.

Inspectors can issue deficiency notices, set a correction deadline, or, for serious violations, start a suspension or revocation. Repeat violations get less patience each time.

Here is a habit worth keeping: run a quarterly self-audit against the DCFS licensing checklist, which is published on the DCFS website. Most violations found during official inspections are things the provider already knew about and let slide. For the cleaning and sanitation standards inspectors also check, see our guide to daycare cleaning.

ChildCareComp's compliance toolkit includes a printable self-inspection checklist formatted against the Illinois administrative code, which heads off surprises before the official visit.

How does Illinois's Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) connect to licensing?

A license is your entry ticket to CCAP, Illinois's subsidized childcare program funded through the federal Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF). Want to serve families getting state assistance? You have to be licensed. You cannot join CCAP as an unlicensed provider caring for more than 3 unrelated children.^[6]

CCAP pays a rate that shifts by child age, license type, and region. As of state fiscal year 2024, Illinois had raised CCAP provider payment rates under its CCDF plan commitments, and licensed providers earn more than license-exempt relatives. A licensed infant slot in the Chicago metro pays meaningfully more than the same slot in rural downstate Illinois, tracking regional cost differences.

The federal CCDF program, run nationally by the Office of Child Care within HHS, requires each state to spend at least 9 percent of its CCDF funds on quality improvement. Illinois puts part of that money into the ExceleRate Illinois quality rating and improvement system, which ties back to licensing status.^[7]

If you are opening a daycare partly to serve CCAP families, know that the provider application runs through the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), not DCFS. You get the DCFS license first, then apply to IDHS to become an approved provider site. Two agencies, two processes. Plan for both.

What are the space and environment requirements for Illinois daycare programs?

Space requirements depend on license type. Day care centers must provide at least 35 square feet of usable indoor space per child in activity rooms. That does not count hallways, bathrooms, kitchens, or storage. It is 35 square feet of actual play and learning space.^[2]

Outdoor play space must run at least 75 square feet per child for the number of children using it at one time. Centers without their own outdoor space need an approved alternative, like a park within safe walking distance backed by a written usage plan, and DCFS has to sign off on it.

For day care homes, the space rules are less prescriptive but still real. The home needs a designated sleeping area, a bathroom children can reach without walking through an adult bedroom, and a safely fenced outdoor play area.

A few specifics catch providers off guard.

• Diaper changing surfaces must be non-porous and sanitized between each use. Paper covers are required.
• Cribs must meet CPSC federal safety standards (16 C.F.R. Parts 1219 and 1220). Soft bedding, bumpers, and positioners are prohibited.^[8]
• Tap water reachable by children must not exceed 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Pets must be vaccinated and kept out of food prep and eating areas and out of rooms where children sleep.

If your facility serves infants, read the safe sleep rules in Part 407.250 closely. DCFS strengthened its safe sleep requirements to match federal Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act updates, and inspectors check crib compliance at every visit.

How do you renew an Illinois daycare license?

Illinois daycare licenses are valid for two years. DCFS sends a renewal notice roughly 90 days before expiration, but do not wait for the mail. Put the expiration date on your calendar the day the license arrives.

Renewal requires:

• A completed renewal application.
• Documentation of 15 hours of completed in-service training for home providers (per the two-year cycle).
• Current CPR and first aid certification.
• Proof that every background check is current (within the five-year window).
• An on-site renewal inspection.
• An updated health or fire inspection if conditions changed or the prior one has lapsed.

Operating on an expired license violates the Child Care Act and can bring enforcement. If you submit the renewal application before the expiration date and DCFS has not finished processing it, you can generally keep operating under the existing license while the renewal is pending. The catch: you had to file before it expired, not after.

One thing that catches providers off guard at renewal: added a household member or hired staff since the last inspection? Their background checks have to be in the file. DCFS will ask.

What happens if you operate a daycare without a license in Illinois?

Running without a required license is a Class A misdemeanor under the Child Care Act of 1969 (225 ILCS 10/11). That carries fines up to $2,500 and up to a year in jail, though a first offense usually draws a cease and desist order, fines, and required closure rather than criminal charges.

DCFS investigates unlicensed operation complaints, and anyone can file one: a neighbor, a parent, a competing provider, or a DCFS worker who stumbles onto the situation during another investigation. The DCFS 24-hour hotline (1-800-25-ABUSE, or 1-800-252-2873) takes childcare complaints alongside abuse and neglect reports.

The legal penalty is only part of it. Operating unlicensed creates liability that no insurance policy covers. If a child is hurt in an unlicensed facility, the provider is on the hook personally with zero professional coverage. On that note, if you are weighing home daycare insurance or daycare liability insurance, licensed status is usually a prerequisite for any professional childcare policy.

The risk is not hypothetical. DCFS enforcement actions against unlicensed operators are public record and land in local news regularly. Getting licensed costs $35. No math turns skipping it into a smart move.

Where can you find Illinois-specific daycare licensing resources?

The resources you need are all official, and they are free.

The DCFS Child Care Licensing page at dcfs.illinois.gov holds the licensing application, regional office contacts, and links to the administrative code. The code itself (89 Ill. Admin. Code Parts 377, 402, 406, and 407) sits in the Illinois Administrative Code on the ILGA website (ilga.gov).^[1][2]

The Illinois Network of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (INCCRRA) runs Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) agencies in every region. Your local CCR&R helps you understand licensing steps, find training, and apply for CCAP provider status, all at no cost to you. Find your regional agency at inccrra.org.

Child Care Aware of America publishes an annual state fact sheet on childcare licensing and market data, Illinois included.^[9] Use it to benchmark your rates and see how Illinois stacks up nationally on workforce and subsidy policy.

For federal CCDF context, the Office of Child Care at HHS (childcare.gov) is the authoritative source. The 2022 CCDF final rule clarified health and safety standards that Illinois folded into its licensing requirements.^[7]

If you want the Illinois checklist items in a trackable format, the compliance toolkit at ChildCareComp is built around state-specific code sections and is worth a look before your first official inspection.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to get a daycare license in Illinois?

Most applicants finish in 60 to 120 days, from first contact with the regional DCFS licensing office to license in hand. The common delays are background checks (the FBI fingerprint portion can take 4 to 8 weeks) and scheduling the health and fire inspections. Starting background checks the same week you submit your application shaves weeks off the timeline.

Can I run a daycare out of my home in Illinois without a license?

Yes, if you care for 3 or fewer children who are not related to you. At 4 unrelated children, a license is legally required under the Child Care Act of 1969 (225 ILCS 10/). Accepting payment is what typically triggers the definition. The threshold still applies to unpaid informal care, but enforcement in practice targets paid providers.

What disqualifies someone from getting an Illinois daycare license?

Convictions for crimes against children, sexual offenses, and certain violent felonies are disqualifying. An indicated finding on the CANTS child abuse register triggers a review but is not automatically disqualifying. DCFS weighs the nature of the finding and how much time has passed. The full list of disqualifying offenses is in 89 Ill. Admin. Code Part 385. Applicants with prior findings can request a waiver review.

What is the staff-to-child ratio for infants in Illinois daycare centers?

Illinois requires 1 caregiver for every 4 infants (children under 12 months) in licensed day care centers, with a maximum group size of 8. That is one of the tighter ratios in the age range. Day care home providers cannot have more than 4 children under 18 months in care at one time, no matter the total enrollment.

Do I need a separate license to run a school-age-only daycare in Illinois?

No separate license type. You get a standard day care center license and apply under the school-age provisions of 89 Ill. Admin. Code Part 407. The ratios are more permissive (1:20 with a group maximum of 40), and space requirements can differ. You still need the same background checks, training documentation, and inspections as any other center.

How much can I charge for daycare in Illinois?

There is no state cap on what licensed providers charge private-pay families. CCAP reimbursement rates are set by IDHS and vary by child age, license type, and county. As of 2024, Illinois has committed under its CCDF plan to move provider rates toward the 75th percentile of market rates. What you charge private families is up to you and what your local market supports.

Is CPR certification required for Illinois daycare providers?

Yes. At least one staff member with current CPR and first aid certification has to be on-site every hour children are in care. A solo home provider is that person. Certification must come from an approved organization (American Red Cross and American Heart Association are the most common) and stay current on the issuer's schedule, usually every two years.

What are the safe sleep rules for Illinois licensed daycare programs?

Infants go down on their backs, in a crib that meets current federal CPSC safety standards (16 C.F.R. Parts 1219 and 1220). Soft bedding, bumpers, positioners, and sleep wedges are prohibited. Cribs need a firm, flat mattress with a fitted sheet only. DCFS inspectors check crib compliance at every visit, and violations here are treated as serious.

Does Illinois require a food service permit for daycare centers?

If your center prepares and serves food on-site, you typically need a food service sanitation permit from the local health department under the Illinois Food Handling Regulation Enforcement Act. Day care homes serving snacks and meals to enrolled children operate under a different standard but still follow the food safety provisions in 89 Ill. Admin. Code Part 402. Check with your local health department, since requirements vary by county.

What is ExceleRate Illinois and does it affect my license?

ExceleRate Illinois is the state's quality rating and improvement system (QRIS), managed through INCCRRA. Participation is voluntary for licensed providers but affects CCAP reimbursement. Higher circles (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum) earn higher subsidy payments. Every licensed program automatically gets a Licensed Circle, the entry level. Moving up means meeting quality standards beyond the licensing minimums.

Can a licensed Illinois daycare lose its license for a single violation?

It depends on the violation. Licensing law lets DCFS pursue immediate suspension or revocation for violations that present an immediate danger to children, such as a serious safe sleep violation or a staff member with a disqualifying background check result. Most first-time violations draw a deficiency notice and a correction timeline. Repeat violations or a pattern of noncompliance escalate toward formal enforcement.

Do I need to notify DCFS if I stop operating my Illinois daycare?

Yes. You are expected to notify your regional DCFS licensing office and return your license when you close voluntarily. Stop operating without notice and without formally surrendering the license, and DCFS may open an administrative proceeding. It can also complicate any future application. Formal voluntary closure is a one-page notification that takes about five minutes.

Sources

1. Illinois General Assembly, Child Care Act of 1969 (225 ILCS 10/): Defines Child Care Facility license types, the threshold of more than 3 unrelated children, and unlicensed operation as a Class A misdemeanor under Section 11.
2. Illinois Administrative Code, 89 Ill. Admin. Code Parts 402 and 407 (DCFS Child Care Licensing Rules): Sets staff-to-child ratios by age group, indoor space minimums (35 sq ft per child), outdoor space minimums (75 sq ft per child), and group size limits for all Illinois daycare license types.
3. Illinois DCFS, Child Care Licensing Program information: Day care home license fee is $35; day care center license fee is $75.
4. Illinois DCFS, Background Check requirements (89 Ill. Admin. Code Part 385): All household members age 13+ must complete a CANTS check; all household members and staff age 18+ must complete an Illinois State Police criminal history check; new applicants require an FBI fingerprint check.
5. Illinois DCFS / INCCRRA, Child Care Training System (Gateways to Opportunity): DCFS requires 15 hours of approved pre-service training for day care home licensure; free online training is available through the DCFS Child Care Training System.
6. Illinois Department of Human Services, Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP): A DCFS license is required to participate in CCAP as a provider serving more than 3 unrelated children; application to become an approved CCAP provider goes through IDHS separately from DCFS licensing.
7. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Child Care, CCDF Final Rule 2022: Federal CCDF rules require states to meet health and safety standards in licensing and to use at least 9 percent of CCDF funds for quality activities; Illinois incorporated these standards into its licensing requirements.
8. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Federal Safety Standards for Full-Size and Non-Full-Size Baby Cribs (16 C.F.R. Parts 1219 and 1220): Illinois 89 Ill. Admin. Code Part 407.250 requires that infant cribs in licensed daycare programs meet federal CPSC crib safety standards; soft bedding and bumpers are prohibited.
9. Child Care Aware of America, Demanding Change: Repairing Our Child Care System (annual state fact sheet data): Child Care Aware of America publishes annual state-level data on childcare licensing ratios, costs, and workforce for benchmarking, including Illinois-specific figures.
10. Illinois General Assembly, Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act (325 ILCS 5/): Mandated reporter training is required for all licensed childcare providers in Illinois and must be renewed every five years under 325 ILCS 5/.