Chicago Department of Public Health phone, clinics, WIC, food safety, lead help and records routing
The Chicago Department of Public Health, also called CDPH, is the City of Chicago agency for public health programs, clinics, data, inspections, disease reporting, lead prevention, WIC routing, mental health centers and community health support.
CDPH is not the same as Illinois Department of Public Health, Cook County Department of Public Health, or the Cook County Clerk. Use this guide to choose the correct official route before calling, visiting, filing a complaint, checking records or looking for a clinic.
Choose the correct Chicago public health route
Select the task you need. This tool does not send information to CDPH or book appointments. It only helps you avoid the wrong agency.
Use 312-747-9884 for general CDPH routing. General email is healthychicago@cityofchicago.org. Do not email sensitive medical details unless an official secure process tells you to.
Chicago Department of Public Health quick answer
The main Chicago Department of Public Health phone number is 312-747-9884. The main CDPH contact address used in City systems is 333 S State St, Room 200, Chicago, IL 60604. For 24-hour city assistance, call 311, or 312-744-5000 from outside Chicago.
Use CDPH for Chicago public health clinics, immunization clinics, sexual health services, public mental health centers, WIC clinic information, food protection, restaurant inspection reports, lead poisoning prevention, communicable disease routing, health alerts and Chicago health data.
Use the Cook County Clerk for Chicago birth, death and marriage certificates. Use the Illinois Department of Public Health for state-level public health programs, state vital records, Vax Verify/I-CARE, statewide facility complaints and statewide health rules.
Official verification before using this Chicago guide
Updated for publication on June 26, 2026.
This refreshed guide uses official City of Chicago/CDPH pages, Chicago 311 resources, the Food Inspection Reporting System, CDPH clinic and program pages, and Cook County vital-record pages.
Chicago public health pages can change. Always verify clinic schedules, walk-in rules, appointment needs, food inspection instructions, complaint routing, lead-program steps, WIC locations and vital-record requirements on the official page before visiting or submitting information.
What this Chicago Department of Public Health guide covers
CDPH vs Illinois IDPH vs Cook County: use the correct office
Chicago residents often land on the wrong office because the names look similar. The distinction matters for records, clinics, inspections, complaints, public health data and statewide rules.
| Office | Use it for | Do not use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Department of Public Health | City of Chicago public health clinics, WIC information, food protection, lead prevention, Chicago health alerts, CDPH data and city public health programs. | Chicago birth certificates, state-level IDPH issues, suburban Cook County public health, or private medical records from hospitals. |
| Illinois Department of Public Health | State public health, Illinois vital records, Vax Verify, I-CARE, statewide health rules, facility complaints and state data. | Most City of Chicago clinic appointments or 311 city service complaints. |
| Cook County Clerk | Birth, death and marriage certificates for events in Chicago and suburban Cook County. | CDPH clinic appointments, food inspections, lead program routing or WIC clinic services. |
| Cook County Department of Public Health | Many suburban Cook County public health services outside the City of Chicago. | City of Chicago public health services handled by CDPH. |
For statewide help, see our Illinois Department of Public Health guide. For general office-finding help, use our health department near me guide.
Chicago Department of Public Health phone numbers, email and routing
Use the direct route when possible. A restaurant complaint, vaccine question, STI clinic request, lead hazard and birth certificate request should not all start with the same script.
| Need | Correct route | Use it this way |
|---|---|---|
| General CDPH help | 312-747-9884 | Ask which CDPH bureau or program handles your issue. Say your Chicago address or neighborhood if relevant. |
| General written inquiry | healthychicago@cityofchicago.org | Use for non-urgent general questions. Avoid sending private medical details in normal email. |
| Media inquiry | media.cdph@cityofchicago.org | For press or media questions, not clinic appointment requests. |
| Communicable disease, TB, immunization program routing | 312-746-5380 | Use for program routing related to communicable disease, tuberculosis and immunization programs. |
| Food Protection | 312-746-8030 cdphfood@cityofchicago.org | Use for food protection questions. 311 is usually preferred for resident/visitor complaints. |
| Lead poisoning prevention | 312-747-5323 | Use for lead hazard, child lead concerns and home lead investigation routing. |
| City service request or 24-hour assistance | 311 312-744-5000 from outside Chicago | Use for city service requests, complaint tracking and after-hours public health routing. |
| Employment verification | 312-747-9580 | Use for employment verification, not health services or clinic help. |
Chicago Department of Public Health office address and map
The general CDPH contact address is 333 S State St, Room 200, Chicago, IL 60604. This does not mean every service happens there. CDPH clinics, WIC sites, food protection operations, mental health centers and health hubs may use different locations.
CDPH clinical services and health hubs
CDPH clinical services are not one single clinic. The official clinical services route can point residents to immunization clinics, sexual health clinics, mental health centers, WIC clinics and other health hub services.
Always start from the exact service page. Vaccine clinics, sexual health clinics, mental health centers and WIC clinics can have different locations, eligibility rules, appointment methods and hours.
CDPH immunization clinics: child vaccines, school forms and records
CDPH immunization clinics are especially relevant for children from birth through age 18 whose parents or guardians are unable to pay. Clinic schedules and locations can change, so verify the official clinic page before relying on an old search result.
Check the official clinic page
Confirm current location, hours, walk-in rules, eligibility and vaccine availability.
Bring every record
Bring vaccine cards, school letters, child identification if available and parent/guardian information.
Start before the school deadline
Some vaccines need multiple doses or spacing between doses. Clinics can be busy before school starts.
CDPH sexual health services: STI, HIV, mpox, PrEP and confidential clinic help
CDPH sexual health services can include STI/HIV testing, STI treatment, linkage to HIV care, PrEP routing, Doxy PEP information, mpox vaccine availability and confidential sexual health questions depending on clinic and availability.
CDPH mental health centers and behavioral health support
CDPH mental health centers may help Chicago residents with emotional, traumatic or behavioral difficulties. Use the official mental health centers page to confirm current locations, hours, intake instructions and service availability.
Chicago WIC clinics and nutrition support for families
WIC supports eligible pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding people, infants and children. In Chicago, WIC clinic locations and appointment rules can vary, so use the official WIC clinic page before visiting.
| WIC task | Best route | What to prepare |
|---|---|---|
| Find a WIC clinic | Official CDPH WIC Clinics page | Neighborhood, transit access, preferred clinic, appointment availability and contact information. |
| Apply for WIC | WIC and Nutrition for Families page | Identity, residency, income or benefit proof, pregnancy/child details and clinic instructions. |
| Breastfeeding or infant feeding support | Listed WIC clinic or CDPH routing | Baby age, feeding concern, appointment times and provider instructions if available. |
Chicago food safety, restaurant inspections, complaints and food business licensing
Food safety is one of the highest-intent CDPH topics. Residents usually need complaint routing, while business owners need licensing, sanitation, inspection and food-protection guidance.
| Need | Official route | Practical warning |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurant complaint | Use 311 first, or Food Protection at 312-746-8030 | Prepare business name, address, date, time, food eaten and symptoms if illness is involved. |
| Food inspection report | Chicago Food Inspection Reporting System | Reports reflect inspection findings. Do not rely only on reviews or map snippets. |
| Food Protection Division | 2133 W. Lexington, Chicago, IL 60612; 312-746-8030; cdphfood@cityofchicago.org | Do not visit in person without confirming process, forms and hours. |
| Food business license or cottage food | City licensing plus CDPH Food Protection rules | A business may need both licensing and health-code compliance before operating. |
How to make a stronger restaurant complaint
- Write the exact business name and address.
- Write the visit date and time.
- Describe the public health concern, such as pests, unsafe food temperature, sewage, illness after eating, poor handwashing or contamination.
- Keep receipts or photos if you have them, but do not put yourself at risk.
- Use 311 or Food Protection. If symptoms are severe, seek medical care.
Lead poisoning prevention in Chicago
Lead poisoning prevention matters for families with young children, older housing, peeling paint, renovation dust, tenant concerns, property-owner questions and elevated blood lead results.
For lead poisoning prevention, use 312-747-5323. Chicago 311 also routes lead-inspection concerns.
Chicago birth, death and marriage certificates are not handled by CDPH
This is one of the biggest Chicago public health search mistakes. If you need a Chicago birth certificate, death certificate or marriage certificate, the correct office is the Cook County Clerk, not the Chicago Department of Public Health.
| Record need | Wrong route | Correct route |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago birth certificate | CDPH main office | Cook County Clerk birth certificate page. |
| Chicago death certificate | CDPH clinic or main phone | Cook County vital records / death certificate route. |
| Marriage certificate or marriage license | CDPH clinics | Cook County Clerk marriage records and license route. |
| CDPH clinic medical record | Cook County Clerk | CDPH medical-record request route, if the record is from a CDPH clinic. |
Urgent public health issues and after-hours reporting
For life-threatening emergencies, call 911. For city service requests or 24-hour city assistance, call 311. From outside Chicago, call 312-744-5000.
For urgent after-hours communicable disease concerns, Chicago public health instructions can route callers through 311 or 312-744-5000 from outside the city and ask for the medical director or communicable disease physician on call.
Health data, Healthy Chicago, dashboards and public reports
CDPH also publishes public health data, dashboards, health reports and Healthy Chicago resources. These pages are useful for researchers, residents, community groups, students, journalists, nonprofits and grant-writing teams.
Do not use dashboards as a substitute for medical care. Dashboards show population-level trends. Personal health decisions belong with a healthcare provider or the correct clinic.
Before you call, visit or submit a Chicago public health request
What to do if your Chicago public health service is not found
Official Chicago Department of Public Health links
Use these official links for final decisions, appointments, complaints, records routing, inspection lookup and live program details.
Chicago Department of Public Health official websiteMain CDPH page for City of Chicago public health programs, services and agency contact. CDPH immunization clinicsOfficial clinic route for child immunization services and current clinic information. CDPH sexual health servicesOfficial route for STI/HIV testing, STI treatment, PrEP-related routing and mpox-related clinic details. CDPH mental health centersOfficial route for public mental health center access and behavioral health service information. CDPH WIC clinicsOfficial WIC clinic location and nutrition-support route for Chicago families. Food Inspection Reporting SystemOfficial Food Protection feedback and inspection system route, including Food Protection contact details. Chicago lead inspections through 311Official city route for lead inspection concerns and lead-program contact help. Cook County vital recordsCorrect route for Chicago birth, death and marriage certificate records.Chicago Department of Public Health FAQ
What is the Chicago Department of Public Health phone number?
The main Chicago Department of Public Health phone number is 312-747-9884. Use it for general CDPH routing when you are not sure which city public health program handles your issue.
Where is the Chicago Department of Public Health office?
The general CDPH contact address is 333 S State St, Room 200, Chicago, IL 60604. This is not the location for every clinic service, so confirm the exact service page before visiting.
Is CDPH the same as Illinois Department of Public Health?
No. CDPH is the City of Chicago public health agency. Illinois Department of Public Health is the statewide public health agency.
Does CDPH issue Chicago birth certificates?
No. Chicago birth certificates are handled by the Cook County Clerk, not CDPH. Use Cook County vital-record pages for birth, death and marriage certificates.
How do I report a Chicago restaurant complaint?
Use 311 for most resident and visitor restaurant complaints. You may also contact CDPH Food Protection at 312-746-8030 for food protection questions.
How do I find Chicago food inspection reports?
Use the City of Chicago Food Inspection Reporting System or official CDPH Food Safety pages. Do not rely only on restaurant reviews or map snippets.
Does CDPH provide child immunization clinics?
Yes. CDPH immunization clinics provide vaccine services for children from birth through age 18 whose parents or guardians are unable to pay. Check the official clinic page for current rules.
Where can I find Chicago WIC clinics?
Use the official CDPH WIC Clinics page. WIC clinic schedules, appointment rules and available services can vary by location.
What phone number should I use for lead poisoning prevention in Chicago?
Use 312-747-5323 for CDPH lead poisoning prevention help. Chicago 311 also routes lead inspection concerns.
What should I do for an urgent public health issue after hours?
For life-threatening emergencies, call 911. For city service requests or public health after-hours routing, call 311, or 312-744-5000 from outside Chicago.