Restaurant licenses
in Chicago, Illinois
Start with the main licenses and permits below. For a checklist based on your own business, tell us what you’re opening and how it will operate.
Researched Sep 2026
About this example
This business is a dine-in and takeout restaurant operating from a commercial physical premises in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, with W-2 employees and taxable food sales. It is governed primarily by municipal licensing and health regulations through the City of Chicago, tax and employment mandates from the State of Illinois and IRS, and location-specific taxes. BOI reporting depends on formation country; U.S.-formed entities are exempt.
Requirement labels below refer to this setup. Conditional items depend on additional details.
Authorities researched
- County
- Cook County
- Special district
- Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (MPEA)
Details to confirm before you apply
- What legal entity structure will be used (LLC, corporation, or sole proprietorship), and will the business operate under a DBA?
- What is the exact physical street address of the restaurant to confirm zoning suitability and whether it falls inside the MPEA food & beverage taxing district?
- Will the commercial space require tenant build-outs, alterations, or plumbing/ventilation modifications that trigger Department of Buildings construction permits and plan reviews?
- What is the total square footage of the commercial space (needed to calculate the exact biennial Retail Food Establishment license fee)?
- Will the restaurant install exterior signage, projecting blade signs, awnings, or sidewalk patio seating extending onto the public right-of-way?
- Will the restaurant sell sealed single-use bottled water or provide disposable carryout checkout bags subject to Chicago municipal excise taxes?
- Where was or will the business entity be formed, and if formed under foreign-country law, what U.S. registration and BOI exemptions apply?
- Confirm with the responsible agencies whether additional requirements apply in these areas: Federal employer obligations; Food-handler training rules; City business license or tax registration; Business personal-property filing or exemption; Construction permits for the commercial premises. These areas remain unresolved in this guide.
The main licenses and permits
6 of 28- 01Chicago Retail Food Establishment LicenseChicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) & CDPH · Chicago
Required for any commercial location in Chicago that prepares, stores, handles, or sells food directly to consumers.
RequiredBiennial - 02CDPH Food Service Sanitation Manager Certificate (Person In Charge)Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) · Chicago
A certified manager must be on-site at all times when time/temperature control for safety (TCS) food is prepared or served.
RequiredEvery 5 years - 03City of Chicago Business License Zoning ReviewChicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) / Department of Planning and Development · Chicago
Every commercial business license application requires zoning review to verify that restaurant use is permitted at the specific address.
RequiredNone (one-time) - 04Certificate of Registration — Retailers' Occupation Tax (ROT)Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR) · Illinois
The restaurant sells prepared meals and tangible personal property at retail in Illinois.
RequiredNone (one-time) - 05Illinois Income Tax Withholding RegistrationIllinois Department of Revenue (IDOR) · Illinois
The restaurant pays wages to W-2 employees in Illinois and must withhold state income tax.
RequiredNone (one-time) - 06Cook County Retailers' Occupation TaxCook County Department of Revenue · County
County-wide tax imposed on all persons engaged in the business of selling tangible personal property at retail in Cook County.
RequiredNone (one-time)
This example includes 22 other potential requirements. A report based on your business explains which apply, how to file, published fees and timing, and what to complete first.
Make the checklist yours
Your location, activities, and business structure can change the list. Get a free preview for your business, then decide whether to unlock the full report for $49.
Not required for this example
- Cook County Retail Food Establishment License — Evaluated for county health jurisdiction over retail food establishments.
- Illinois State-Level Retail Food License — Evaluated for state-level restaurant licensing authority.
- Illinois State & City Liquor License — Evaluated for alcohol service licensing.
- Cook County General Business License — Cook County’s general business-license program applies to qualifying business premises, property, or inventory in unincorporated Cook County. The stated restaurant is within incorporated Chicago.
Questions people ask
What city business licenses or registrations should a restaurant in Chicago check?
This guide does not establish whether Chicago requires a stand-alone general business license or registration. Confirm that question with the city, in addition to reviewing the industry permits and registrations below.
How much do licenses and permits cost for a restaurant in Chicago?
About $45 in published fixed fees, plus variable fees. Several items have fees that depend on your entity type, square footage, or payroll, so the full report lists each fee as the agency publishes it.
What should I do first?
Review LLC Articles of Organization (if applicable) (Illinois Secretary of State, Department of Business Services), then LLC Assumed Name (DBA) Registration (if applicable) (Illinois Secretary of State, Department of Business Services), then Cook County Assumed Business Name Registration (if applicable) (Cook County Clerk, Bureau of Vital Records). Confirm each item's applicability and prerequisites before applying; the report provides a suggested order for the full checklist.
Is this legal advice?
No. It is a research summary of public requirements published by government agencies, each linked to its official page. Confirm with the issuing agency before filing.
Related guides
Researched from official government sources on September 2, 2026 for a typical restaurant. Requirements change and depend on your facts; this page is not legal advice. Confirm with the issuing agency before filing.