Home Daycare: Oak Lawn vs Tinley Park
How do home daycare rules compare between Oak Lawn, IL and Tinley Park, IL?
Oak Lawn and Tinley Park have similar restriction levels.
Oak Lawn, IL
Cook County
Home-based daycare in Oak Lawn is regulated primarily by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) under 225 ILCS 10. A Family Child Care Home license permits up to 8 children (including the provider's own under age 12). Oak Lawn's zoning code generally permits licensed home daycares in residential districts subject to standard home occupation conditions.
View full Oak Lawn rules →Tinley Park, IL
Cook County
Home daycare in Tinley Park is primarily regulated by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) under 89 Ill. Adm. Code 406 (family child care homes) and 408 (group homes). Family child care homes may care for up to 8 children (no more than 3 under age 2); group homes up to 12 children with an assistant. Tinley Park zoning permits licensed home daycare as a home occupation with conditions.
View full Tinley Park rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Oak Lawn | Tinley Park |
|---|---|---|
| State License | DCFS required | DCFS required |
| Family Home Max | 8 children | - |
| Group Home Max | 12 children | - |
| Background Checks | All adults | - |
| Inspections | Annual | - |
| Family Home | - | Up to 8 children |
| Group Home | - | Up to 12 children |
| Background Check | - | All adults in household |
| Village Contact | - | (708) 444-5100 |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Oak Lawn FAQ
Can I run a daycare from my Oak Lawn home?
Yes, with DCFS licensing. A Family Child Care Home license allows up to 8 children. Oak Lawn's zoning code generally permits licensed family daycare as a home occupation.
How do I get a daycare license in Illinois?
Contact Illinois DCFS Licensing. The process includes application, background checks, home inspection, training requirements, and annual renewal.
Do I need approval from Oak Lawn in addition to DCFS?
Yes. Contact the Oak Lawn Community Development Department to confirm zoning compliance and obtain any required zoning verification letter for DCFS.
Tinley Park FAQ
Do I need a license to run a home daycare in Tinley Park?
Yes. Illinois DCFS requires a family child care home license for caring for more than 3 unrelated children. Tinley Park zoning permits licensed home daycare as a home occupation with conditions on traffic and outdoor play areas.
How many children can I care for?
A family child care home license permits up to 8 children (with limits on under-age-2 and under-age-6 counts). A group home license with an assistant permits up to 12 children.
What does Tinley Park require beyond state licensing?
Compliance with home occupation conditions including managed drop-off/pickup to avoid traffic issues, a properly-fenced outdoor play area, and notification to the Community Development Department.
Compare other topics
See how Oak Lawn and Tinley Park compare on other ordinance categories.
Want to add a third city?
Use our full comparison tool to compare up to three cities.
Open Comparison Tool