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Berwyn, IL Home Business: Home Daycare (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Districts
Permitted in R-1, R-2, R-3 and R-4
Permit type
By right (P), no special use permit
Capacity
Up to eight children, family's own included
Care period
Less than 24 hours per day
Design standard
Must keep residential character (§ 1244.03(M))
Parking
None required for a day care home

Summary

In the City of Berwyn, Illinois, a day care home is a permitted use, with no special use permit, in the R-1, R-2, R-3 and R-4 residential districts. It has to stay within a dwelling unit, care for up to eight children including the family's own, and keep the residential character of the neighborhood.

Commercial C-1 C-2 C-3 C-4 I P R-1 R-2 R-3 R-4 ... Day Care Center S S S S None Day Care Home P P P P See § 1244.03(H) ... (M) Day care home. (1) Residential character. The location and operation of a day care home shall not alter the residential character of the neighborhood, and the facility shall incorporate a residential design that is compatible with the surrounding neighborhood. (2) Minimize adverse impacts. The design of the facility shall minimize traffic congestion, pedestrian hazards, noise, and other adverse impacts on surrounding properties. ... DAY CARE HOME. ... A facility within a residential dwelling unit that provides care for up to eight children, including the family's natural or adopted children, or adults in a protective setting for less than 24 hours per day.

Full Breakdown

Table 1244.02-A in § 1244.02 of the Berwyn Zoning Code marks Day Care Home with a P in each of the four residential columns, R-1, R-2, R-3 and R-4. A P means allowed by right, so a home day care in those districts does not go through the special use process. Blank cells elsewhere mean the use is not allowed in the commercial, industrial or public districts.

The Code defines DAY CARE HOME as a facility within a residential dwelling unit that provides care for up to eight children, including the family's natural or adopted children, or adults in a protective setting for less than 24 hours per day. The family's own children count toward the eight, so a household with three children of its own is left with room for five others. Care for adults qualifies under the same definition.

Section 1244.03(M) sets two design standards. First, the location and operation of a day care home shall not alter the residential character of the neighborhood, and the facility has to incorporate a residential design compatible with the surrounding neighborhood. Second, the design has to minimize traffic congestion, pedestrian hazards, noise and other adverse impacts on surrounding properties.

A day care center is a different use. It is defined as an establishment providing care for more than three children or adults, for less than 24 hours per day, that is not located within a residential dwelling unit. The use table lists Day Care Center as an S in C-1 through C-4 only. The off-street parking schedule requires 1 space per 500 square feet of gross floor area for a day care center and lists None for a day care home.

Violations & Fines

The Zoning Administrator enforces the Zoning Code under § 1240.06 and can ask the City Attorney to enjoin, abate or stop a violation and the Police Department for help. Running a day care home that changes the residential character of the block, or a center-scale operation inside a house, is a violation. Each offense is fined under the Municipal Code, and every day counts as a separate offense.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a special use permit for a day care in my Berwyn house?
No. Table 1244.02-A marks Day Care Home with a P in R-1, R-2, R-3 and R-4, which means allowed by right. The facility still has to meet the residential design and impact standards in § 1244.03(M), and it has to fit the day care home definition.
How many children can a Berwyn day care home care for?
Up to eight children, and that count includes the family's natural or adopted children. The Code definition also covers care of adults in a protective setting. Care has to run less than 24 hours per day, and the facility has to be within a residential dwelling unit.
What is the difference between a day care home and a day care center in Berwyn?
A day care center provides care for more than three children or adults and is not located within a residential dwelling unit. It is an S use in C-1 through C-4 and needs 1 parking space per 500 square feet of gross floor area. A day care home sits inside a dwelling and needs none.
What standards apply to a Berwyn day care home?
Section 1244.03(M) says the location and operation cannot alter the residential character of the neighborhood, the facility has to use a residential design compatible with its surroundings, and the design has to minimize traffic congestion, pedestrian hazards, noise and other adverse impacts on surrounding properties.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Berwyn

All Berwyn rules

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