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Business Licenses
Business License Applications
All businesses operating in the Village of Romeoville are required by Chapter 113 of the Village Ordinance to have a current Business License for each location unless the business is exempt by State Law. Exempt businesses are not required to obtain a Business License, although we ask that the application be completed so all businesses can be included in the business listing. No fee will be charged for exempt businesses.
All businesses that are not currently licensed under a State or Federal Law, and are operating for-profit within the village limits must have a current Business License. If you are opening a new business, buying an existing business, or transferring a business to your ownership, you must apply for a new Business License under your name. The following information provides an overview of the Village's Business License requirements. A pending license does not allow you operate.
Where there are multiple uses within one business, the principal use will be the primary business category used for licensing.
The businesses herein to be licensed shall specifically include shopping center developers and owners of buildings leased to another business or businesses as defined herein.
Total Floor Area - shall include the sum total of all the floor area in use or reserved for or retained for the use of business, including, but not restricted to, principal and accessory floor area, cellars, and basements, storage or detached accessory buildings, even though any such floor area may be temporarily vacant or not in a residential building.
Home Occupation - a home occupation is a business, profession, occupation or trade conducted for gain entirely within a residential building as permitted by the Village of Romeoville Zoning Code, or when permitted by the Village of Romeoville Zoning Code, within a structure that is accessory to a residential building. The annual license fee shall be $45.
Food Establishment - a building or premises or a portion thereof, the principal use of which is the sale or dispensing or distribution or serving of food, foodstuffs or drinks (alcoholic or nonalcoholic) for consumption on or off the premises or in or out of the building. No food establishment shall be issued any business license without proof of having passed an inspection from the Will County Health Department, as applicable, or without proof of having passed the applicable inspectional requirements of any other governmental agency having jurisdiction. The annual license fee shall be $200.
Industrial/Manufacturing - Warehouse and Distribution - a building or premises or a portion thereof the principal use of which is manufacturing, including assembly, processing, fabrication and storage or scientific research and development.
The annual business license fee shall be calculated as follows:
Category | Total Floor Area | Fee |
Industrial/Manufacturing | 0-10,000 | $100 |
| 10,001-20,000 | $205 |
| 20,001-30,000 | $305 |
| 30,001-40,000 | $410 |
| 40,001-50,000 | $510 |
| 50,001-75,000 | $620 |
| 75,001-100,000 | $720 |
| 100,001-200,000 | $840 |
| 200,001 or more | $930 |
Retail and Wholesale Establishment - a building or premises or a portion thereof the principal use of which is the sale or distribution on any commodity for a price or fee by a seller to a consumer or by one business to another business.
The annual business license fee shall be calculated as follows:
Category | Total Floor Area | Fee |
Retail and Wholesale | 0-2,500 | $70 |
| 2,501-5,000 | $135 |
| 5,001-7,500 | $210 |
| 7,501-10,000 | $275 |
| 10,001-12,500 | $350 |
| 12,501-15,000 | $415 |
| 15,001-17,500 | $480 |
| 17,501-20,000 | $555 |
| 20,001 or more | $625 |
Service/Commercial Establishment - a building or premises or a portion thereof the principal use of which is the rendering of personal or material services for a price or fee, whether or not a commodity is worked upon or exchanged.
The annual business license fee shall be calculated as follows:
Category | Total Floor Area | Fee |
Service/Commercial | 0-2,500 | $55 |
| 2,501-5,000 | $120 |
| 5,001-7,500 | $195 |
| 7,501-10,000 | $260 |
| 10,001-12,500 | $335 |
| 12,501-15,000 | $400 |
| 15,001-17,500 | $475 |
| 17,501-20,000 | $540 |
| 20,001 or more | $610 |
Tobacco Dealer - includes any business engaged in whole or in part in the retail or wholesale sale of tobacco and/or tobacco accessories. As used herein, tobacco and tobacco accessories shall mean and include tobacco in any and all forms (including but not limited to cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco, leaf tobacco, chew, snuff, snus or other orally consumed tobacco, gels, liquids, solutions and the like containing nicotine and marketed, held out or intended to be vaporized for inhalation), as well as any and all products used, held out, marketed or intended to facilitate the consumption of tobacco whether by smoking, oral consumption, or the inhalation of vapors containing nicotine, including but not limited to pipes, hookahs, rolling papers, e-cigarettes, vaping devices, or other electronic device intended to vaporize any gel, liquid, solution or substance containing nicotine to permit the inhalation of the vapors therefrom. Tobacco and tobacco accessories shall not include any product approved by the US Food and Drug Administration marketed and intended for smoking or tobacco use cessation purposes. The annual fee for a business license for a tobacco dealer shall be $450, in addition to the applicable license fee for the business as a retail/wholesale establishment.
Tobacco License for a Retail Tobacco Store
Pursuant to Village Ordinance 22-1766 passed on March 16th, 2022, any retail establishment that derives more than eighty percent (80%) of its gross revenue from the sale to the consumer or intended user of tobacco products or alternative nicotine products/electronic cigarettes or a combination thereof is subject to obtaining a Tobacco License from the Village of Romeoville. A nonrefundable fee of $250 shall be due and payable at the time of original application.
There shall be three (3) categories of retail tobacco licenses.
- Retail Tobacco Products License: The annual cost of this license is $650.
- Alternative Nicotine Products/Electronic Cigarettes License: The annual cost of this license is $650.
- Multi Products Retailer License: The annual cost of this license is $1,000.
Thank you for considering Romeoville for the home of your new business. You will need a new Business License if you are:
- Moving your business to a new location
- Opening an additional location for your current business
- Starting a new business
- The new owner of an existing business
Planning, Zoning & General Questions
If you have questions for Planning and Zoning call Lisa Lynch 815-886-5022 or email llynch@romeoville.org
For example: Can my type of business be located at 123 Main St.?
Building Code & Rental Inspection Questions
If you have questions about building code and/or rental inspections call 815-886-5163. For example: Is the space I want to rent equipped to operate my type of business?
Fire Code & Fire Inspection Questions
If you have questions about fire codes and inspections call 815-372-4045. For example: Does the fire alarm work at 123 Main Street?
Public Works Questions
If you have questions for Public Works call 815-886-1870. For example: How much water is available to me for my business?
Water Billing Questions
If you have questions about water billing call 815-886-5200. For example: How do I change the name on the water account?
Address Verification
To verify that your business is within the Village limits please call the Community Development Department at 815-886-7200.Resources & Applications
Business License With Liquor License Request
Any business serving or selling alcoholic beverages must apply for a separate liquor license. The application fee is $500, in addition there is a $58 fingerprint fee for each applicant, including the manager. At time of application submission, an appointment will be made for fingerprinting.Once fingerprinting has been completed, the Romeoville Police Department will conduct a full background check on the applicant. The results of the background check will be given to the Liquor Commissioner who will then make a recommendation to the Village Board. The Village Board will then vote on the matter at a regular Village Board Meeting. If approved, the liquor license will be issued by the Village Clerk. Liquor License fees are based on the type of license applied for. This process could take up to 60 days.