Oak Park, IL Home Business: Home Daycare (2026)

Village Code Chapter 8, Article 14 covers day and night care centers and homes. It defines a day care home as a family home that receives no more than eight children for regular ongoing care during the day, a cap that includes the operator's own natural or adopted children under age 16 along with any children in full-time care under the Illinois Child Care Act of 1969. That is a lighter regulatory track than a day care center, which is any facility taking more than eight children and covers nursery schools, kindergartens and similar operations.

Operating a day or night care center or facility without first obtaining a license is unlawful, but the article specifically directs that operators of day care homes must register with the office of the Village Clerk rather than go through the center licensing process, and pay an annual registration fee of $5, versus the larger annual license fee set in the Article 2 fee schedule for centers. The Village adopts the state's Child Care Act of 1969 and the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services' Licensing Standards for Day and Night Care Centers by reference, including the standards applicable to day care homes, with copies kept on file at the Village Clerk's office.

Day and night care centers face annual inspection by the Health Department, Fire Department and Department of Buildings, including any transport vehicle used for the children, and a license may be denied or revoked for violating the article or the adopted state licensing standards, with a hearing before the Board of Health whose decision is final.