A Home Daycare is a residence where at least one child comes to the home for care, and the owner of the home receives financial gain from supervising the children. For additional information, please contact the Community Development Department at 847-923-4430.

Getting Approval for your Home-Based Business

Application

To obtain Home-Based Business Approval, you must submit a Home Based Business Application on the OpenGov Portal.  

Business License

After inspection of the property has passed, you will receive your business license via the OpenGov portal.  Business licenses must be renewed every year. You will receive a renewal notice in the mail before the end of the year.

Written Permission

If the property is a rental unit and/or part of a homeowner's association, written approval from the owner and/or association/property management company is required. Written approval should be on letterhead from the association/property management company.

Application Review and Inspections

Your Home Daycare Application will be reviewed by the Community Development Department. If it meets all requirements, the village will contact you to schedule an inspection.

Periodic Inspections

The frequency that inspections are required depends on the type of business conducted. For a home daycare, a scheduled inspection is conducted as part of your approval with 3 Village Inspectors(Fire, Health and Building). Re-inspections may be necessary to insure that you comply with the Village guidelines before your Business License is issued. After you are approved, a member of the inspection team can conduct an unannounced inspection to insure your home daycare meets all regulations. Each daycare is inspected at least annually.

Requirements and Regulations (all home-based businesses)

The rules and regulations for home-based businesses can be found in Title 15, Section 154.65 of the Village Municipal Code.

Appearance

Signs, activities or displays that indicate the home is being used as a business are not permitted.

Structural alterations

Internal or external structural alterations or construction features to the dwelling or garage are not permitted. The installation of special equipment which changes the residential character of the dwelling or garage is not permitted. Any indoor storage, construction, alterations or electrical or mechanical equipment used cannot change the fire rating of the structure or the fire district in which the structure is located. A separate entrance for the sole use of the business cannot be added to the residence.

No outdoor storage

Home-based businesses and all related activities, including storage, must be conducted completely within the dwelling or garage.

Approved home day cares may have playground equipment outside.

Receipt or delivery of merchandise

The receipt or delivery of merchandise, goods or equipment is only allowed by vehicles with a plate classification not higher than "B" or by vehicles typically employed by parcel or letter carriers in residential deliveries. No deliveries by semi-tractor/trailer trucks are permitted.

Traffic

The home occupation and any related activity shall not create any traffic hazards or nuisances in the public streets. You can only use vehicle parking that exists on the residential drive or assigned parking spaces for the dwelling unit. The frequency of trips to and from the dwelling shall be limited to avoid the creation of traffic patterns other than are customary in a residential neighborhood.

Limited wholesale, retail and service

No article can be sold or offered for sale except as may be produced or assembled on the premises. All other sales or provision of goods or services must be conducted off-premises unless by telephone.

Employees

No person shall be employed in the home-based business other than a member of the household residing in the dwelling unit.

Performance standards

There shall be no noise, odor, dust, vibration, smoke, glare, television, radio or electrical interference, fire hazard or any other hazard emanating from the dwelling or garage that creates a nuisance other than that usually experienced in an average dwelling or garage under normal circumstances. No home occupation shall involve the use or production of noxious, toxic or harmful materials.

No manufacturing

Any production on the premises shall not involve the conduct of a manufacturing business typically only permitted in an M-1 or an M-P manufacturing district.

Gun sales prohibited

The sale of firearms and/or ammunition as a home-based business is hereby prohibited from single-family or multiple-family dwellings in all residential zoning districts.

Homeowner's associations

If you live in a development with a homeowner's association, you must obtain written permission from the home owner's association (on association letterhead) to operate the business from your home.

Requirements and Regulations (specific to home day cares)

Each home daycare is allowed to watch up to 8 children during all or part of the day (including the daycare provider's own children up to 12 years of age). You must comply with the Village’s regulations as listed in the Daycare Home Procedural Manual, which covers requirements from the Code Compliance, Building, Fire Prevention, and Planning Divisions.

You must also obtain approval from the Illinois Department of Children & Family Services (DCFS). DCFS regulates all daycare providers in Illinois. Specific home daycare requirements for DCFS can be found in their Summary of Licensing for Daycare Homes.