A Retail Food Establishment license is required any time food is prepared, served, stored, sold, or distributed from a building or other fixed establishment such as a restaurant, café, nightclub, grocery store, food markets, bakeries, or concession stand. 

A Shared Kitchen license is required for a facility where multiple businesses use the same space for food related purposes including preparation, temporary extra production capacity, menu planning, training, taste testing, product development, or food packaging. The operator of the shared kitchen facility must obtain a Shared Kitchen Operator license, and any business utilizing the facility must obtain a Shared Kitchen User license.

A Mobile Food license is required to prepare, sell, or distribute food from a vehicle or cart. 

Urban growing is the practice of growing produce in Chicago on urban farms or in community gardens. Urban growers raising and selling produce in Chicago may be required to obtain one or more City business licenses depending on their business activities.