📋 Data Source
Inspection data for Chicago is sourced directly from the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH).
Records are pulled from the Chicago Data Portal open data portal. All information is public record.
🔍 Inspection Types
Not all inspections are routine. Here are the types included in Chicago's data:
- Canvass
- Complaint
- License Re-Inspection
- Consultation
Pre-opening inspections are conducted before a restaurant opens and are not included in pass/fail totals. Complaint-driven inspections are triggered by public reports.
📊 How to Read Results
Chicago uses a Pass / Pass with Conditions / Fail system. Violations are numbered (critical) or lettered (less critical). Critical violations pose a direct risk to public health; conditions violations are less severe but still require correction.
🐀 What Rat Radar Adds
- →Pest citation tracking
We extract and categorize violations mentioning rodents, cockroaches, flies, and other pests so you can quickly see a restaurant's pest history.
- →Nearby context
We cross-reference 311 rodent reports from city services to show real-world pest activity near each restaurant.
- →Rat Score
A composite score (0–100) weighing pest citations, failure history, and recent inspection trends — so you can compare restaurants at a glance.
⚠️ Limitations & Disclaimers
- •Data may be delayed by up to 24–48 hours from the official source.
- •Inspections that have not yet been published by the health department will not appear here.
- •Rat Radar is an independent service and is not affiliated with Chicago or any government agency.
- •Always verify critical information directly with the official CDPH portal before making decisions.
🐛 Something Look Wrong?
If you spot a data error — a missing inspection, wrong address, or stale result — let us know and we'll look into it.
📧 Report a data issue