3 Simple Steps to Obtain a Business License
To prepare yourself before applying for a City of Chicago business license, you must first decide what type of business you are interested in starting. Prepare a business plan that will suit your short and long term goals.
We encourage you to visit BACP online for more information on business planning, connecting with resources and other important information to help you in being successful.
ABC's of BACP
ABC's of BACP - Learn about the Dept. of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection, the various industries we
regulate, consumer protection services we provide, licenses we issue, and MORE!
Business Licensing: What Do I Need?
BACP’S Small Business Center (SBC) is the city’s “one stop shop” for business licensing, public way use permitting, and connecting entrepreneurs to business resources.
Cable Operator Contact Information
For additional information, please refer to the company's website, or call the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection at 312-744-4052.
Chicago Small Business Week
Join us in celebrating Chicago Small Business Week by supporting our local businesses and/or starting your own! Starting on April 30th, through May 4th, we will be highlighting the following businesses: Monday - Restaurants and other Retail Food establishments; Tuesday - General Retail Stores; Wednesday - Home Improvement technicians; Thursday - Bars and Breweries; and Friday – Emerging Businesses. Please follow us on social media, with #ChiBizBlooms, on Facebook (/ChiSmallBiz) and Twitter (@ChiSmallBiz).
Filling Station Rules and Regulations
The Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) is pleased to present the draft of its newly updated Filling Station Rules and Regulations. This document consolidates and modernizes the three sets of rules that have been in effect over the past several decades.
Give Us Your Feedback
The City of Chicago’s Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection relies on feedback from our customers to improve services. We take customer satisfaction seriously and measure our performance based on your input.
Home Repair Tips For Consumers
The City of Chicago is offering consumers smart tips on how to choose the right contractor and how to detect red flags to avoid getting scammed by a rip off contractor.
Mobile Food Truck Licenses
Mayor Emanuel introduced an ordinance passed by the City Council to expand mobile food vehicle operations in neighborhoods across Chicago.
Pedicab
A pedicab is a human pedal-powered public passenger vehicle used to transport passengers for hire. A pedicab chauffeur is the person that drives or peddles and controls the direction and steering of the pedicab.
Pharmaceutical Representative Licensing
A “Pharmaceutical Representative” (MCC 4-6-310) – is a person who markets or promotes pharmaceuticals to health care professionals while both are within the City of Chicago for more than fifteen calendar days per year. Exemptions include: Medical Science Liaisons, Wholesale Distributors, and pharmaceutical representative managers or supervisors who do not interact directly with health care professionals while in the City of Chicago.
Private Booting Information
The Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection licenses and regulates private vehicle booting businesses in the city of Chicago
Retail Tobacco Dealer Requirements
Find information on Retail Tobacco Dealer. “Retail Tobacco dealer” means any person selling, offering for sale, exposing for sale or keeping with the intention of selling or exchanging at retail, tobacco products or tobacco accessories in the City of Chicago.
Ride Smart Chicago - Passenger Information
The consumer protection campaign is geared towards equipping the riding public with the important information they need when riding in one of the city’s licensed taxicab, pedicab, livery, rideshare, or horse-drawn carriage vehicles.
Sidewalk Café Current Permits
Listing of currently permitted sidewalk cafés in the City of Chicago. Sidewalk Café Permits are issued by the Public Way Use Unit of BACP at the Small Business Center (SBC) located in City Hall, 121 North LaSalle Street, Room 800. To obtain a public way use permit, please contact us at 312.744.6249 (744-6249).
Tobacco Regulations
BACP licenses the sale of tobacco products in Chicago. The rules for tobacco dealing in Chicago are in attached pages for your convenience.
What to Expect During A Tobacco Investigation
Find information on what to expect during a tobacco investigation including what an investigator checks to ensure that the business is in compliance with all the tobacco-related ordinances.
Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle Information
If you need to order a wheelchair accessible taxicab, one free phone call can put you in touch with every taxicab company that operates wheelchair accessible cabs.
Wholesale Tobacco Dealer Requirements
“Wholesale Tobacco dealer” means any person making, manufacturing or jobbing cigars, or selling, offering for sale, exposing for sale, or keeping with the intention of selling or exchanging or delivering at wholesale, any tobacco, snuff, cigars, cigarettes or cigarette papers, including leaf tobacco or any preparations containing tobacco.
