Required by any person who regularly provides day care in the family home for any number of children who are not the family's natural, foster or adopted children.

VERY IMPORTANT: If you care for more than 3 children under the age of 12 (the number "3" includes your own natural or adopted children under the age of 12), you must apply for and receive a license from the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) before the Evanston permit can be issued. If any time the DCFS license expires or is revoked or suspended, the Evanston permit becomes invalid and you must cease operating as a home day care until both licenses are brought into good standing.

TERM: 2 years from date issued.

FEE: Criminal background check. $10 per person.  There may be an additional fee for fingerprinting for new applications.

RENEWABLE: Yes. The applicant must submit a new application and complete the entire review process before the current permit expires.

TRANSFERABLE: No. Once the location or permit holder changes, the current permit becomes invalid.

CONTACT: Ellyn Golden  egolden@cityofevanston.org or 847-859-7676.

APPLICATION: APPLY ONLINE: Child Home Day Care Permit Application
The following documents must be included with your application (if you are unable to upload to the application, please email to egolden@cityofevanston.org)

Checklist Child Home Day Care Permit Application
Medical Report Form - required of the applicant/caregiver and all persons thirteen (13) and over who will come into contact with the children in the child day care home 
Day Care Client Record - Log Form

NOTE: In order to receive a Home Day Care permit, applicants must:

• Obtain a license from DCFS
• Submit Child Home Day Care Permit Application
• Complete general information, medical and criminal background forms  
  To register and pay for criminal background check online (after receiving an account number)
  go to:  Pay Health Department
• Pass property inspections conducted by the Health Department,  Fire Department & Property Standards Division 
   Child Home Daycare Inspection Guidelines
• Clear the Police Department's investigation of the number of calls, if any, made to that address. 

Evanston Licensed Home Daycare Operators (11/1/2025)

Evanston City Code

• CHAPTER_15___CHILD_DAYCARE_HOMES

State of Illinois

• DCFS Day Care Information Hotline: (877) 746-0829

HELPFUL SITES:

• Child Care Network of Evanston (847) 475-2661 - Resource & referral information including day care center options for your child
• Illinois Department of Children and Family Services Sunshine Website
• IDPH Becoming a Child Care Provider