Business Licensing

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As of September 15, 2022, late fees will be reinstated for license renewal applications filed after the expiration date of the current license. The license renewal late fee is 25% of the amount of the license fee, but in no event less than $25, per Municipal Code of CHICAGO 4-4-260.

The Small Business Center (SBC) issues business licenses and regulates the business activities of industries as diverse as retail, food and liquor establishments, entertainment venues and theaters, day care centers, manufacturing facilities and motor vehicle repair shops just to name a few. If you have not already registered your business with the appropriate county, state, and federal offices, please do so before applying for a business license.

How to Apply
To apply for a business license, you may APPLY ONLINE or visit the Chicago Small Business Center (SBC). For more information go to Visit Us.

Application Requirements
Standard application requirements and documentation may be found in our License Application Requirements Information page. License-specific requirements may be found by clicking on the business activity links in the Business License Guide below. Depending on your business activities, you may need more than one business license in order to be able to operate your business in Chicago. Please contact us, at 312-74-GOBIZ (744-6249), to help you determine which license(s) you need to obtain.

Business License Exemptions
There are business activities regulated by the State of Illinois that may be exempt from City licensing. Please review our Business License Exemptions page for a sample list of occupations/professions which do not require a Chicago Business License.

BUSINESS LICENSE GUIDE
A quick reference guide to specific licensing requirements: