How to Check a Daycare License and Violations in Illinois

You can check any licensed Illinois daycare's license status and inspection history for free on the state's Sunshine website. Search by the center's name, city or ZIP code, then open its monitoring reports to see visit dates, any violations and how the center fixed them.

It takes about five minutes, and it is one of the most useful things you can do before you tour. Here is how to do it and how to make sense of the results.

Who licenses daycares in Illinois now?

For decades, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) licensed child care. Since July 1, 2026, the new Illinois Department of Early Childhood (IDEC) is the lead agency for child care licensing. IDEC staff make unannounced visits to every licensed program each year.

The family search tools still live on the Sunshine website, which keeps its old DCFS web address. You will see both names during the transition.

Step 1: confirm the daycare is licensed

1. Open the Sunshine provider lookup.
2. Enter the provider's name, city, county or ZIP code. Fewer filters often work better, since names may be listed differently than on the sign.
3. Check the facility type: day care center, day care home or group day care home.
4. Note the address and capacity, and make sure they match the place you are visiting.

Only currently licensed providers appear. If a daycare does not show up, ask why. It may operate under a different legal name, or it may be legally license-exempt, such as some school-based or church programs. A provider that should be licensed and is not is a serious red flag.

You can also call the Day Care Information Line at 1-877-746-0829 to ask about a specific provider.

Step 2: read the monitoring reports

Open the monitoring report search and look up the same provider. For a center, search the center name. For a home provider, search the last name followed by the first name.

The reports show:

• The license status and when it expires
• Dates of monitoring visits and complaint investigations
• Any licensing standards the program did not meet
• The corrective action the program took

How to read what you find

A long list of reports does not automatically mean a bad center. Large centers that have been open for many years will have many visits on file. What matters is the pattern and how serious each finding was.

Findings that are usually minor

• Paperwork, such as a missing signature or an expired form in a staff file
• A small facility issue, like a scuffed wall or a cabinet latch, fixed quickly
• A health form that was late but then turned in

Findings that deserve questions

• Staff-to-child ratios not met, or children left unsupervised
• Unsafe sleep practices in the infant room
• Background checks not completed
• The same violation repeated over several visits
• Substantiated complaints about how children were treated

If you see something that worries you, ask the director about it on your tour. A good director will explain what happened and what changed. Defensiveness or vague answers tell you something too.

Other ways to check a daycare

• Ask to see the license. Licensed centers must post it.
• Ask about staff background checks and training. Illinois requires background checks for staff in licensed programs.
• Talk to current parents. Ask the center if you can speak with a family, or chat with parents at pickup.
• Read online reviews with care. Look for patterns across several reviews, not one angry or glowing post.
• Check quality ratings. Some programs take part in ExceleRate Illinois, the state's quality rating system.

How to report a concern

• Licensing concern (ratios, safety, supervision): talk to the director, then contact IDEC licensing if it is not resolved.
• Suspected abuse or neglect: call the Illinois child abuse hotline at 1-800-25-ABUSE (1-800-252-2873) or report online at childabuse.illinois.gov. If a child is in immediate danger, call 911.

Frequently asked questions

How do I look up daycare violations in Illinois?

Use the monitoring report search on the state Sunshine website. Search by the center's name to see visit dates, violations and corrective actions.

Does DCFS still license daycares?

Not since July 1, 2026. The Illinois Department of Early Childhood now leads child care licensing, though the family search site still uses the DCFS address.

Why can't I find a daycare on the Sunshine site?

Only currently licensed providers appear. Try fewer search terms or the legal business name, and call the Day Care Information Line if you still cannot find it.

Should I avoid a daycare with any violations?

Not necessarily. Most centers have some findings over the years. Look at how serious they were, whether they repeat, and how the center fixed them.

Visit Children's Land

Children's Land has cared for Chicagoland families since 2005. Our staff pass background checks through local and state agencies, are CPR and first aid certified, and attend required training every year. Every classroom has cameras, and monitors at the entrance let parents see inside. Learn more on our Why Children's Land page, then find a location and bring your questions to a tour.

Related reading: Daycare Tour Questions to Ask: A Parent Checklist and Illinois Daycare Ratios by Age: 2026 Licensing Rules Explained.