In Chicago, a Retail Food Establishment license from the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) is required any time perishable food is prepared, served or sold to the public. It is issued only to a commercial location, and only after the space passes a Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) inspection. Someone with a Chicago food sanitation certificate also has to be on site whenever you are open.
Start with the basics first. Zoning, business registration, an EIN and Illinois tax registration come before the food license, the same as for any Chicago business. Those steps are covered in our Chicago business license guide.
What it costs
The Retail Food Establishment license is priced by the size of the space and runs for two years:
| Square footage | License fee (2 years) |
|---|---|
| Up to 1,000 sq ft | $660 |
| 1,001–2,500 sq ft | $940 |
| 2,501–4,500 sq ft | $1,110 |
| 4,501–10,000 sq ft | $1,320 |
| Over 10,000 sq ft | $1,650 |
These food license fees were not part of the city's January 2026 fee increase. Budget separately for the manager certification course, any build-out permits, and a liquor license if you plan to serve alcohol.
Step by step
Confirm the space is zoned for food service
Every Chicago license application goes through zoning review, and a food license will only be issued to a commercial location, not a home. Check the address before you sign a lease, and do not assume the last tenant's use carries over to you. Look it up on the city's zoning pages or call 312-74-GOBIZ (312-744-6249).
Register the business and your tax accounts
Form your LLC or register your assumed name, get an EIN from the IRS, and register with the Illinois Department of Revenue. BACP asks for these numbers on the application, and the CDPH inspection guide lists your FEIN among the items you will need. Fees and links for each are in the business license guide.
Get a Chicago food service sanitation certificate
Every food establishment must have a Person in Charge on site who holds a CDPH Food Service Sanitation Manager Certificate whenever food that needs temperature control is being prepared, held or served. The original certificate must be posted where the public can see it.
There are two ways to get it:
- Take a CDPH-approved course and pass the exam. The city publishes a list of approved training providers.
- Apply for reciprocity if you already hold an ANSI-accredited Certified Food Protection Manager certificate. This is not automatic; CDPH decides.
An Illinois food manager certificate on its own is not enough in Chicago. The state's health department notes that Chicago maintains its own certification. Start this early, because you will need proof of the certificate for your inspection.
Get plan review and permits for any construction
If you are building out or remodeling the space, you will need a building permit from the Department of Buildings for structural work, including plumbing, electrical, gas lines and HVAC. CDPH also reviews floor plans for new construction or rehab of a food establishment, drawn to scale, through its Food Establishment Plan Review process. Projects using a Department of Buildings self-certified architect do not submit plans to CDPH separately.
If you are taking over an existing restaurant with no changes, this step may not apply, but confirm that with the city before you rely on it.
Apply for the Retail Food Establishment license
Apply online through Chicago Business Direct or in person at the Small Business Center in City Hall, 121 N. LaSalle St., Room 800, weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. You will need your ownership information, FEIN, photo ID, proof of your Chicago food sanitation certificate, the square footage of the space, and a full description of what you will sell and how you will prepare it.
Pass the CDPH health inspection
After the license fee is paid, request your inspection by emailing CDPH's Food Protection Division at food@cityofchicago.org. The inspector checks food handling practices, food temperatures, personal hygiene, the condition of the facility, and pest control.
If you pass, the inspector gives you an approval sign to post. That sign is not your license, and you cannot open with it. You can open once BACP issues the license and you post it on the premises.
Receive the license, then plan for renewal
BACP issues the license once inspections pass and any holds, such as unpaid city debt, are cleared. The license runs for two years. If you have seating, renewing it triggers a scheduled restaurant inspection from the Department of Buildings, and CDPH can also make unannounced routine inspections at any time.
Licenses you may need on top
- Liquor. Selling alcohol requires a separate liquor license, with its own inspections, background checks, public notice, and possible location restrictions. BYOB is allowed in restaurants, but you cannot charge for it without a liquor license.
- Food trucks. Mobile vendors use different licenses (Mobile Food Preparer or Mobile Food Dispenser), not the Retail Food Establishment license.
- Sidewalk seating and signs. Outdoor tables on the public way and business signs each need their own city permits.
What delays most food licenses
- Signing a lease before checking zoning. A food license is tied to one address and its zoning.
- No certified manager on staff. The inspection guide lists proof of a Chicago food sanitation certificate as a requirement.
- Starting construction without permits. Unpermitted plumbing, gas or electrical work can hold up the process until it is corrected.
- Treating the inspection sign as a license. Opening before BACP issues the license means operating without one.
Common questions
How much is a food license in Chicago?
$660 to $1,650 for two years, depending on square footage. A space of up to 1,000 square feet pays $660.
Can I get a Chicago food license for my home kitchen?
No. The Retail Food Establishment license is issued only to commercial locations. Home-based food sales follow separate rules that are not covered in this guide.
Is an Illinois food manager certificate enough in Chicago?
No. Chicago requires its own CDPH Food Service Sanitation Manager Certificate. If you already hold an ANSI-accredited manager certificate, you may be able to apply for reciprocity.
Can I open after I pass the health inspection?
Not yet. The approval sign from the inspector is not a license. Wait until BACP issues your license and post it on the premises.
Get this roadmap for your exact food business.
Tell ClearCiviQ what you are opening and where. It builds the steps for your menu, space and address, tracks what you have filed, and reminds you before your renewal is due.
Official sources
- City of Chicago: Retail Food Establishment license
- City of Chicago: Restaurants, Cafes, Grocery Stores, and Markets
- City of Chicago: Food Service Establishments
- CDPH: Food Service Sanitation Certificates
- CDPH: Retail Food License Readiness Checklist (PDF)
- CDPH: Guide to Your Initial Health Inspection (PDF)
- Illinois Department of Public Health: Food manager certification
This guide is general process information, not legal advice. Fees and requirements change; confirm with the agency before you file. For advice about your specific situation, consult a licensed attorney or CPA.