Business Licensing & Operations in Berwyn, IL (2026)
6 verified business licensing & operations rules for Berwyn, Illinois, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Adult Entertainment
In the City of Berwyn, Illinois, an adult use (an adult cabaret, adult store, adult theater or similar business) is allowed only as a special use in the I Industrial District. Table 1244.02-A leaves every commercial, public and residential district blank, and the Zoning Code treats a blank cell as not allowed.
Berwyn IL Adult Use Zoning and Special Use Rule
Significant RestrictionsBerwyn Code of Ordinances § 1244.02
(2) Special use ("S"). An "S" indicates that the use requires the approval of a special use permit (refer to § 1252.03(C) (Special Use Permit)) and must meet the use standards set forth in § 1244.03 (Use Standards) in order to be allowed within the designated district. (3) No designation. The absence of a letter (a blank space) or the absence of the use from the table indicates that the use is ...
Massage Establishments
In the City of Berwyn, Illinois, no one may operate a massage establishment without a business regulation certificate from the City Collector, granted on approval of the Mayor or the Mayor's representative. Health, Fire and Building inspect first, and every masseur or masseuse also needs a state license.
Berwyn Massage Establishment Certificate Requirements
Significant RestrictionsBerwyn Code of Ordinances § 855.02
(A) Required. No person shall engage in, conduct or carry on, or permit to be engaged in, conducted or carried on, upon any premises in the city, the operation of a massage establishment without first obtaining a business regulation certificate therefor from the City Collector, pursuant to the approval of the Administrative Official. (B) Application procedure. (1) Every applicant for a business...
Tattoo & Body Modification
In the City of Berwyn, Illinois, no one can provide tattoo or body piercing services without a license, and the city caps the total at two licenses in force at any one time in a year. Violations carry a fine of up to $2,000, with each day counted separately.
Berwyn Tattoo and Body Piercing License Cap
Significant RestrictionsBerwyn Code of Ordinances §§ 202.99, 879.01, 879.02
(A) Whoever violates any provision of this code or other ordinance of this city for which another penalty is not specifically provided, shall be fined not more than $2,000 for each and every violation thereof, and every day the violation continues shall constitute a separate offense. ... No person shall engage in the business of providing tattoo or body piercing services without first obtaining...
Tobacco Retail License
In the City of Berwyn, Illinois, no one can sell, give away or keep tobacco products for retail sale without first obtaining a tobacco dealer's license from the City Collector. The definition reaches liquid products containing nicotine derived from tobacco. The license fee is $200 a year for dealers and $150 where tobacco is not the primary business.
Berwyn IL Tobacco Dealer License Requirements
Significant RestrictionsBerwyn Code of Ordinances §§ 825.02, 825.03
TOBACCO PRODUCT. ... (1) Any product in leaf, flake, plug, liquid, or any other form, containing nicotine derived from tobacco, which product is intended to enable human consumption of the tobacco or nicotine, whether chewed, smoked, absorbed, dissolved, inhaled, snorted, sniffed, or ingested by any other means. ... § 825.03 SALES; LICENSE REQUIRED; APPLICATIONS. (A) No person shall sell or off...
Pawnbrokers
In the City of Berwyn, Illinois, operating a pawn shop requires a business license when more than 51% of revenue comes from pawn, title loan, payday loan or currency exchange services. The city caps pawn shop licenses at two, and a pawn shop in the C-2 District cannot sit within one mile of another.
Berwyn Pawn Shop License and Two-Shop Cap
Significant RestrictionsBerwyn Code of Ordinances §§ 879A.01, 879A.02, 1244.03(Z)
No person shall engage in the business of operating a pawn shop or providing title loan services, payday loan services, or cash/currency exchange services without first obtaining a business license thereof, if more than 51% of the business's total annual revenue is derived from providing the above outlined services or a combination thereof. ... (A) The total number of business licenses issued a...
Towing Companies
In the City of Berwyn, Illinois, towing and impoundment under the parking enforcement chapter runs through a company the Superintendent of Police appoints or retains. That company must be fully insured, licensed under local or state law, and keep a fenced impound area with locking gates. The impoundment and towing fine is capped at $500.
Berwyn Police-Appointed Towing Company Rules
Some RestrictionsBerwyn Code of Ordinances §§ 424.15, 424.99
The Superintendent of Police shall appoint or retain the services of an individual, agency or company to tow and impound vehicles in accordance herewith, provided that the individual, agency or company is fully insured and licensed according to local or state law and has available a secured impound area within which to retain vehicles impounded hereunder. For the purpose of this section, a SECU...
Looking for Cook County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Berwyn city rules.
Business Licensing & Operations in Cook County →