Business Licenses

Amusement Facility

In order to operate an amusement hall, dance club, bounce house, indoor-trampoline facility, indoor rock-climbing gym, movie theater, ice or roller-skating rink/alley/field, bowling alley (or bowling lanes), theater, or any other facility enclosed within a building which is used for athletic, amusement or recreational purposes with seating or occupancy limits in excess of 100 persons, an application for an amusement facility license must be completed and submitted to the Finance Department. Applicants are encouraged to review Chapter 36.02 of the Municipal Code to familiarize themselves with the requirements for the application and any associated fees.

Amusement Facility License Application

Amusement Device

In order to operate an amusement device in the City of DeKalb, an application for an amusement device license must be completed and submitted to the Finance Department. For license purposes, an amusement device shall mean any machine, apparatus, contrivance, appliance, or device which may be operated or played involving in its use either skill or chance, including, but not limited to pool table, billiards, bumper pool, tape machine, card machine, pinball machine, bowling game machine, shuffleboard machine, marble game machine, horse racing machine, shuffleboard machine, basketball machine, baseball game machine, football game machine, dart game, electronic video game, or any other similar mechanical or electronic game machine or device. Amusement Device shall not include any video gaming device licensed pursuant to Chapter 38 of the Municipal Code. Applicants are encouraged to review Chapter 36.01 of the Municipal Code to familiarize themselves with the requirements for the application and any associated fees.

Amusement Device License Application

Arcade

In order to operate an arcade in the City of DeKalb, an application for an arcade license must be completed and submitted to the Finance Department. For license purposes, an arcade is defined as a business consisting solely of amusement devices. Applicants are encouraged to review Chapter 36.01 of the Municipal Code to familiarize themselves with the requirements for the application and any associated fees.

Arcade License Application

Body Art Establishment (Tattooing)

In order to operate a body art establishment in the City of DeKalb, an application for a body art establishment license must be completed and submitted to the Finance Department. Applicants are encouraged to review Chapter 67 of the Municipal Code to familiarize themselves with the requirements for the application and any associated fees.

Body Art Establishment License Application

Gas Station

In order to operate a gas station in the City of DeKalb, an application for registering for motor fuel tax must be completed and submitted to the Finance Department. Included below will also be the form to submit your Motor Fuel Tax Return. Applicants are encouraged to review Chapter 66 of the Municipal Code to familiarize themselves with the requirements for the application and any associated fees. Any businesses that wish to sell tobacco, must apply for a Tobacco License which can be found below under the Tobacco section. Additionally, if Gas Stations will have hot foods for sale, roller items, hot sandwiches, pizza, nachos, a donut case, fountain sodas, or coffee, will need to remit a Restaurant and Bar Tax. The application form and the tax remittance form can be found below. Applicants are encouraged to review Chapter 60 of the Municipal Code to familiarize themselves with the requirements for the application and associated fees.

Application For Registration of Motor Fuel Tax Motor Fuel Tax Return Application For Registration of Restaurant, Bar & Package Liquor Tax
Restaurant, Bar, & Package Liquor Remittance Tax Form

Hotel/Motel

In order to operate any establishment that offers five or more rooms for rent on an hourly, daily, weekly, or other similar basis, which is held out to the public as an inn, hotel, motel, or place where sleeping, rooming or other similar activities may occur in furnished or semi-furnished rooms shall be required to complete and submit an application for a hotel/motel license to the Finance Department. Applicants are encouraged to review Chapter 55 of the Municipal Code to familiarize themselves with the requirements for the application and any associated fees.

Hotel/Motel License Application

Pawn Broker

In order to operate a pawnbroker business in the City of DeKalb, an application for a pawnbroker license must be completed and submitted to the Finance Department. Applicants are encouraged to review Chapter 32 of the Municipal Code to familiarize themselves with the requirements for the application and any associated fees.

Pawnbroker License Application

Rooming House

In order for any person, firm or corporation to conduct, keep, manage, transfer license ownership or operate a rooming house or dormitory in the City of DeKalb, an application for a rooming house license must be completed and submitted to the Finance Department. A rooming house as defined in Chapter 14 of the Municipal Code is a building further described as a detached structure containing a single dwelling unit (not including an apartment) in which sleeping accommodations and/or meals are provided for compensation (pursuant to previous arrangements for definite periods and not open to the public or transients) to:

More than three (3) persons not related by blood, marriage, adoption or other means of legal custody living together as a single housekeeping unit in a dwelling unit located east of Normal Road, north of Lucinda Avenue and east of the Kishwaukee River, south of Lucinda Avenue.
More than four (4) persons not related by blood, marriage, adoption or other means of legal custody living together as a single housekeeping unit in a dwelling unit located west of Normal Road, north of Lucinda Avenue and west of the Kishwaukee River, south of Lucinda Avenue.

Applicants are encouraged to review Chapter 14 of the Municipal Code to familiarize themselves with the requirements for the application and any associated fees.

Rooming House License Application

Taxicab/Livery

In order to operate a taxicab or livery vehicle in the City of DeKalb, an application for a taxicab/livery business license must be completed and submitted to the Finance Department. Applicants are encouraged to review Chapter 41 of the Municipal Code to familiarize themselves with the requirements for the application and any associated fees. Along with a business license, each driver of a taxicab or livery vehicle will need to complete and submit an application for a taxicab or livery driver's license.

Taxicab/Livery Business License Application
Taxicab/Livery Driver's License Application

Tobacco

In order to sell or give away tobacco (inclusive of devices or products related to smoking, such as e-cigarettes) in any form in the City of DeKalb, an application for a tobacco license must be completed and submitted to the Finance Department. Applicants are encouraged to review Chapter 64 of the Municipal Code to familiarize themselves with the requirements for the application and any associated fees.

Tobacco License Application
Retail Store Tobacco License Application

Vehicle Relocator (Towing)

In order to operate as a commercial vehicle relocator in the City of DeKalb, an application for a relocator's license must be completed and submitted to the Finance Department. Applicants are encouraged to review Chapter 35 of the Municipal Code to familiarize themselves with the requirements for the application and any associated fees.

Commercial Vehicle Relocator License Application