Download the booklet - 10 Things Every Consumer Should Know About Credit

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 - 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!

The City of Chicago Department of Business Affairs & Consumer Protection (BACP) cautions consumers about home repair con artists and other types of scammers who prey on residents who have suffered water damage to their homes or properties as a result of severe weather.

Tax payers in Chicago will now have recourse against unscrupulous tax preparers after the City Council passed Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s Tax Preparer Ordinance

The Chicago Energy Benchmarking Ordinance was adopted in September, 2013 and seeks to raise awareness of energy performance through information and transparency.

Business Affairs and Consumer Protection - Other Office Locations

Business License Forms

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.

For additional information, please refer to the company's website, or call the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection at 312-744-4052.

All devices used for weighing or measuring, where products are directly sold to consumers, must be certified by the City of Chicago.

Chicago Building Energy Benchmarking Ordinance

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).

City-County Collaboration on Cigarette Investigations

Find information on the Clean Indoor Air Ordinance including where smoking is prohibited.

The City of Chicago Department of Business Affairs & Consumer Protection (BACP) provides consumers with information about recalled merchandise and ensures that recalled products are removed from store shelves.

The Application for Energy Disclosure is used to request gas or electric disclosures on a particular address and / or unit number.

The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is a state law that provides citizens with access to public records.

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.

FOIA Requests

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.

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.

Affiliation License Manager Broker Application / Information

Information and tips to know before you send your kid back to school.

Mayor Emanuel introduced an ordinance passed by the City Council to expand mobile food vehicle operations in neighborhoods across Chicago.

Foreclosure Rescue and Loan Modification Scams

Neighborhood Business Development Centers (NBDC) program Request for Proposal (RFP) "Attachments", i.e. RFP Details, Instructions, Forms, etc.

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.

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.

The Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection licenses and regulates private vehicle booting businesses in the city of Chicago

Taxi Industry Notices

Before buying a mattress, there are certain things every consumer should know.

The High Cost of “Instant Refunds” or Refund Anticipation Loans. Important tips for Consumers during Tax Season.

Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for Initial Microlender Trainee Candidates

Requirements for Conceal and Carry Signage

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.

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.

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).

Tax Preparation businesses are required to prepare and submit a Disclosure Form pursuant to Municipal Code 4-44-030[1].

Avoid any so-called "contractors" that knock on your door, tell you they're working in the neighborhood, and ask if you need assistance. More Tips below.

BACP licenses the sale of tobacco products in Chicago. The rules for tobacco dealing in Chicago are in attached pages for your convenience.

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.

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” 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.