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Independent guide, not a government website. Verify licensing with the state: official search by state.

Licensed child care in Illinois

How child care licensing works in Illinois, where to verify a license and the cities we cover with the state's official data.

8,428programs in the data
2,828centers and programs
5,600family homes
2cities with pages

Who licenses child care

Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), Day Care Licensing.

Illinois publishes the ages served, day and night capacity and languages spoken for each licensed provider.

DCFS Sunshine Day Care Provider Lookup

License types in the data

Type (as named by the state)Programs
Day Care Home4,876
Day Care Center2,828
Group Day Care Home724

Source: DCFS Sunshine Day Care Provider Lookup export, data of November 6, 2026.

Illinois cities

Chicago2335Aurora91

Cities with the most programs in the state data: Chicago, Waukegan, Rockford, Champaign, Springfield, Aurora, Cicero, Belleville.

Help paying

Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP). See child care assistance by state and daycare costs.

Questions

Who licenses child care in Illinois?

Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), Day Care Licensing. Its official search is "DCFS Sunshine Day Care Provider Lookup".

How many licensed child care programs are in Illinois?

The state data we use (November 6, 2026) lists 2,828 centers and programs and 5,600 family child care homes with an active license.

Is there help paying for child care in Illinois?

Yes. The main program is Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP). Eligibility depends on income, family size and work or school hours.