Business License Types

The Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) determines your license type based on your business activities. This guide to most license types provides basic information on license requirements, steps, and cost.

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Food

Any sale, preparation, or storage of food

Liquor

Sale of liquor or consumption of liquor

Accommodations

Hotels, bed and breakfasts, shared housing units, and vacation rentals

Children Services

Day cares, play centers, and any other care or recreational service for children

General Merchandise

Brick and mortar stores, mobile sales, pop ups, and used merchandises

Home Based Businesses

Any business permitted to be operated out of a home

Vehicle Services

Parking lots, valets, vehicle rental and sales, vehicle repair, gas stations, booting, and tow trucks.s

Construction and Repair

Home repair, residential real estate development, and board-up services

Entertainment

Theaters, show and performance venues, music venues, pool halls, and raffles

Animal Care

Grooming, boarding, breeding, training, and pet shops

Personal Care Services

Massage, tattooing, piercing, tanning, salons, and barber shops

Tobacco

Sale of tobacco or electronic cigarettes and accessories

Other

Other business activities


For questions, call 312.74.GOBIZ (744-6249) or 312.44.1944 for TTY, or email businesslicense@cityofchicago.org.

Disclaimer: This information is provided to help the public better understand business and other licensing requirements and procedures in the City of Chicago. This information is general, may not apply to a particular set of facts, and is not legal advice. In the event of any conflict between (1) the Municipal Code or any other law, rule, or regulation (collectively, “applicable law”) and (2) the information and materials provided on this website, the applicable law shall govern.