Business Licensing & Operations in Cook County, IL (2026)

5 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 8 cities in Cook County, Illinois.

Verified from official government sources

Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of Cook County. If you live within an incorporated city, that city's own rules apply: see the city list below.

Adult Entertainment

In unincorporated Cook County, adult entertainment cabarets, adult stores, adult booths, and adult theaters are zoned only into I-2, I-3, and I-4 Industrial Districts.

Cook County Adult Use Zoning Limits

Significant Restrictions

Cook County Zoning Ordinance § 13.14.1

To prevent adult uses from having an adverse effect upon residential and commercial areas, adult uses are permitted only in I-2, I-3 and I-4 Industrial Zoning Districts. Adult uses consist of the following: A.Adult booths. B.Adult entertainment cabarets. C.Adult motion and mini-motion picture theaters. D.Adult stores. E.Massage parlors. F.Massage schools.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Massage Establishments

In unincorporated Cook County, massage parlors and massage schools are classified as adult uses under the zoning ordinance and are permitted only in I-2, I-3 and I-4 Industrial Districts, each requiring a special use permit.

Cook County Massage Parlor Zoning Restrictions

Significant Restrictions

Cook County Zoning Ordinance § 13.14.1

To prevent adult uses from having an adverse effect upon residential and commercial areas, adult uses are permitted only in I-2, I-3 and I-4 Industrial Zoning Districts. Adult uses consist of the following: A. Adult booths. B. Adult entertainment cabarets. C. Adult motion and mini-motion picture theaters. D. Adult stores. E. Massage parlors. F. Massage schools.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Tobacco Retail License

Cook County requires retail tobacco dealers to register and remit county tobacco taxes under Ch. 74 Article XI, on top of the state retailer license. Suburban municipalities add their own licensing; Chicago tobacco retailers face additional city licensing and zoning caps.

Cook County Tobacco Tax Ordinance and Retail Tobacco Dealer Licensing

Heavy Restrictions

Cook County Tobacco Tax Ordinance (Chapter 74, Article XI)

CIGARETTE, OTHER TOBACCO AND CONSUMABLE PRODUCTS — This ordinance provides for the imposition of a tax on the retail sale of cigarettes, other tobacco products and consumable vapor products within Cook County. The tax imposed upon consumable vapor products is effective May 1, 2016. [...] Home Rule Tax Registration Application — Should be completed in full and submit a signed copy to the Departm...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Secondhand Dealers

Cook County requires secondhand dealers buying used cell phones to check a stolen cell phone database first, log each device's make, model and serial number, and bars them from taking pawned goods from minors.

Cook County Secondhand Dealer Stolen Phone Checks

Some Restrictions

Cook County Code § 54-422

No secondhand dealer shall purchase, take or receive from any person in pawn or pledge, for money loaned, any cell phone whose make, model and serial number is identified in a stolen cell phone database. Before purchasing... the secondhand dealer shall check the stolen cell phone database to verify that the cell phone is not a stolen or lost cell phone, and shall record in an inventory log the ...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Pawnbrokers

Cook County doesn't run its own pawnbroker license, but Code § 30-876 flatly bars anyone holding a County recycling-facility permit from also pawning, pledging, or holding a pawnbroker license: a cross-prohibition that applies countywide, including incorporated municipalities, except Chicago.

Cook County Pawnbroker-Recycler License Bar

Some Restrictions

Cook County Code § 30-876

Sec. 30-876. - Separate violations. No recycling facility permittee shall:(a)Receive any article or thing by way of pledge or pawn, nor shall such permittee loan or advance any sum of money on the security of any article or thing;(b)Receive or hold a license to conduct the business of pawnbroker, secondhand dealer or itinerant dealer in secondhand clothing;(c)Purchase any article whatsoever fro...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗