McLean County, IL Building Safety: Childcare Center Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- State license required
- Illinois DCFS, Child Care Act of 1969
- Drop-off lane
- 1 space per 10 children
- Applies to
- Unincorporated McLean County only
- Enforced by
- Director of Building and Zoning
- Penalty
- Up to $500 per week, § 350-22
Summary
In unincorporated McLean County, a day-care center must hold an Illinois DCFS license under the Child Care Act of 1969 and meet County and State Health Department facility requirements. Zoning also forces a dedicated drop-off lane: one off-street space per 10 children cared for, on top of required parking.
Day-care center. (a) State licensing. Each day-care center shall be licensed by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services under the Illinois Child Care Act of 1969 (225 ILCS 10/1 et seq.) and shall meet all County and State Health Department requirements pertaining to facilities, equipment, and other features. (b) Vehicle drop-off area. An off-street loading zone capable of holding one car per 10 individuals cared for shall be provided, in addition to the required parking area, in order to provide for the safe pickup and discharge of passengers.
Full Breakdown
M(1)) and are allowed only in the zoning districts the table lists for that entry, subject to the standards below. ) and satisfy every County and State Health Department requirement covering facilities, equipment and other features before the Director of Building and Zoning will issue an occupancy permit. Second, traffic and safety: the site must provide an off-street loading zone sized for one car per 10 children cared for, in addition to the parking spaces the use table otherwise requires, so families can pick up and drop off without blocking the road.
Both standards apply on top of whatever special use or site plan review the center's district calls for in the use table at § 350-42; the Director of Building and Zoning administers permits and inspections under § 350-16, and the seven-member Zoning Board of Appeals hears appeals of enforcement decisions and variance requests under § 350-17. This chapter reaches only the unincorporated county under § 350-4; a day-care center inside Bloomington or Normal answers to that city's own zoning code instead, not this county chapter.
Violations & Fines
Operating a day-care center without the required DCFS license, without the mandated drop-off lane, or otherwise outside the § 350-43.M(1) standards is a zoning violation under the chapter's general penalty, § 350-22: a petty offense punishable by a fine up to $500, with each week the violation remains uncorrected counted as a separate offense. The County can also withhold permits, sue in Circuit Court to stop the unlawful use, or block occupancy until the site complies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does McLean County zoning require a day-care center to be licensed by the state?
How much drop-off parking does a McLean County day-care center need?
Does this rule apply to day-care centers in Bloomington or Normal?
What happens if a day-care center ignores these standards?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in McLean County
Compare McLean County to another location·View the Illinois building safety overview
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