What permits do you need to open a restaurant in Dupage County?

Video Gaming Terminal Permit Sticker

County Code Sec. 4-2 makes it unlawful for a licensed establishment to operate any video gaming terminal without a valid county video gaming terminal permit sticker for each terminal on its premises. Under Sec. 4-3 the establishment applies to the Liquor Control Commissioner or a designee, the annual fee is $250 per terminal payable in full when the application is filed, each sticker expires June 30 of each year unless sooner revoked, and the inspector applies the sticker at inspection if the applicant complies with the code. Chapter 4 was adopted by Ordinance DC-O-0034-24 on May 28, 2024. The county liquor license (Chapter 3) and the State Video Gaming Act licensing apply as well.

Annual Food Service Establishment / Retail Food Store Permit

County Code Sec. 18-204 makes it unlawful to operate a food service establishment "within DuPage County in the State of Illinois" without a valid permit from the Health Authority, and the permit must be posted where patrons can see it. Sec. 18-102 sets the annual food service establishment and retail food store permit at $1,092 for Risk Category 1, $684 for Risk Category 2 and $305 for Risk Category 3, with a seasonal establishment (six months or less) at $305, as in effect from December 1, 2025 (the editor's notes to the County Code and the Health Department's fee page both state that date); County Code Sec. 18-111 raises these fees by the Illinois Department of Revenue CPI every December 1, so the schedule adjusts on December 1, 2026, and the Board of Health's draft minutes of September 10, 2026 record that its FY2027 budget assumes EHS fees increased by CPI. The Health Department assigns the risk category after reviewing the application, menu and facilities. A 25% penalty applies if the fee is unpaid by the expiration date (Sec. 18-109), and a permit unpaid 30 days after the due date is forfeited (Sec. 18-110). Under Sec. 18-201 a store that offers only prepackaged foods not requiring time/temperature control, and a kitchen in a private home such as a small family daycare provider, are outside the definition of a food establishment. Fee-exempt nonprofits still need the permit (Sec. 18-107).

Retail Food Establishment Permit

The Department of Public Health's Retail Food page states that retail food establishments in Illinois, 'including restaurants, bakeries, grocery stores, and food trucks, are regulated by local health departments serving the jurisdiction where the establishment is located', and directs anyone starting a retail food business to the local health department, so the permit and its fee are set locally and depend on the county or city. The state reserves permitting to itself only for food processing plants, which it splits with the Department of Agriculture. The code itself is the 2022 FDA Food Code as adopted by Illinois, and inspection findings are graded as priority, priority foundation or core rather than by a numeric score.

Shared with other businesses in Dupage County

• County Retail Liquor License (Classes A–H) — DuPage County Local Liquor Commissioner (Chair of the County Board), $50–$2,400 initial and renewal license fee by class: A package store $2,250; B restaurant and tavern $2,250; C hotel or motel $2,400; D additional bar $200; E temporary daily $50; F clubs $375; G1 video gaming terminal café $2,250; G2 additional video gaming terminal bar $200; H catering $100; plus a non-refundable $1,000 application fee for Classes A, B, C, G1 and G2, license year July 1 – June 30 (County Code Sec. 3-12); Class E is a 24-hour license. Also required for coffee shops and retail stores; what it involves is set out on the retail stores page.
• Temporary Food Service Permit — DuPage County Health Department, $82–$268 per booth, for up to 14 days, by risk category: 1T $268, 2T $165, 3T $82 (non-refundable); 25% penalty if the permit is not obtained at least three business days before the event, up to 14 dates at the same location; no more than two permits (28 dates) per location in a year. Also required for food trucks, coffee shops and retail stores; what it involves is set out on the food trucks page.
• Food Service Plan Review — DuPage County Health Department, $273–$1,092 per project: Type I plan review $273, Type II $684, Type III $1,092; plan review consultation $283; priority review (three business days) $1,092 in addition to the applicable fee; resubmittal fee $344 at the third and later resubmittals, one-time, per construction, remodel or conversion project. Also required for coffee shops, retail stores and childcare centres; what it involves is set out on the coffee shops page.
• Multi-Location Temporary Food Permit — DuPage County Health Department, $376–$1,195 per permit, by risk: high $1,195, medium $684, low $376 (non-refundable); late fees $298.75, $171.00 and $94.00, covers multiple sites and dates under one permit. Also required for food trucks and coffee shops; what it involves is set out on the food trucks page.
• Special Event, Seasonal Sales and Temporary Structure (Operations) Permits — DuPage County Building & Zoning Department, $100–$500 special event Class A $100, Class B $150, Class C $200, Class D (multi-day) $300; seasonal sales permit $100; operations permit for a non-residential temporary structure (up to 180 days) Class B $350, Class C $500 per structure, plus $100 per unit when adding electric, per event; an operations permit is valid for up to 180 days. Also required for food trucks, retail stores and coffee shops; what it involves is set out on the retail stores page.
• Food Handler Training — Illinois Department of Public Health, Division of Food, Drugs and Dairies, No fee, 3 years. Also required for coffee shops and food trucks; what it involves is set out on the coffee shops page.
• Certified Food Protection Manager — Illinois Department of Public Health, Division of Food, Drugs and Dairies, No fee, 5 years. Also required for coffee shops and food trucks; what it involves is set out on the food trucks page.