Overview
The City of Elgin has partnered with the Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Neighborhood Association to implement a general premise business license for all Elgin businesses. Businesses operating within the city must annually renew their general business license.

Goals

The goals of the business license are three fold:

1. Collect Elgin business data
2. Create a mechanism to enforce applicable health and safety codes
3. Improve economic development efforts

 

Establishments

The following establishments are exempt from the associated fee, but still need to complete the application for informational purposes:

• A governmental unit
• A public utility or cable television company which is subject to regulation by the Federal Communications Commission of the Illinois Commerce Commission or which operates in the City of Elgin pursuant to a franchise agreement with the city of Elgin.
• A general business license fee shall not be charged to an entity which is both (1) exempt from income taxation under Section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code and (2) which has a business premises with floor area of less than 500,000 square feet.
• A person who obtains a general business license and pays a fee therefore who also obtains a second general business license for such business as a Residential Occupation shall not be required to pay a second general business license fee for the general business license for the Residential Occupation.

 

License fees are based on the square footage of each business. For more information about calculating square footage please click here.

 

Floor Area of Business Premises in Square Feet	Annual Fee
0 -900	$35
1000 - 2499	$95
2500 - 4999	$145
5000 - 9999	$195
10,000 -19,999	$245
20,000 - 29,999	$295
30,000 - 39,999	$445
40,000	$595

All businesses applying for a business license must complete the following steps:

First-time Applicants / New Businesses
First time applicants must apply and pay for their business license in-person at:
City Hall
150 Dexter Ct.
Elgin, IL 60120

Same day payment is required for those applying for a new general business license. No new online applications will be accepted. Once a license has been issued, payment and informational updates can be completed online.

Existing Businesses
Each new license year, your business will be mailed an invoice containing your business’s account number and amount due. Follow the instructions on the letter to pay your business license online.

Pay online.

Changes to Business Information
If any information regarding your business has changed over the course of the year, please complete the following Business License Renewal Application and any additional forms noted on the application.

Questions

For any questions regarding the business license or the process outlined above, please contact the City of Elgin Customer Service Department, (847) 931-5635 or email us.