Renewal Notice for Licenses Extended During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Please see below for an industry notice regarding the upcoming renewal requirement for licenses that were extended during the COVID-19 pandemic. As stated in the notice, all licenses issued by the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) under Title 4 or Title 9 of the Municipal Code of Chicago that were extended temporarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic will no longer be considered active after July 15, 2021. Impacted licenses with an expiration date between March 15, 2020, and June 15, 2021, that were extended during the pandemic must be renewed by July 15, 2021, to continue legal operations in Chicago.

Even though Chicago is in Phase 5 and fully reopened, BACP knows that businesses continue to face significant challenges. As we come out of the pandemic and businesses are expected to renew their business licenses, BACP is continuing to support businesses in several ways:

  • The City of Chicago created a $10 million Licensee Relief Program which will provide targeted grants to businesses that have been particularly impacted by the pandemic. More information about this program will be shared in the coming weeks, including how to apply.

  • The City of Chicago recently established a new program that will give licensees that owe a debt to the City the option of entering into a debt payment plan to complete the renewal of their license. More information will be announced in the coming weeks on the launch of this newly-established program.

  • The City of Chicago will continue our Active Compliance Program to focus on engaging businesses on licensing compliance through non-disciplinary consultations in the field and over the phone to promote safe business practices, legal compliance, and consumer protection. BACP investigators will take into account the challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and will continue issuing strict enforcement action only in the case of egregious or public-safety-related violations.

Additionally, while licenses must be renewed by July 15 to continue operating, given the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, BACP will work with licensees to help them renew their license by July 15 and be flexible in their assessment of late fees.

Operators can renew their licenses online via chicagobusinessdirect.org. Impacted licensees that already have a User Profile with Chicago Business Direct will receive an email directly from Chicago Business Direct early next week that includes all of the information they need to renew. If you do not have a User Profile, you will need to create one on chicagobusinessdirect.org.

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