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Business Licenses
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 City Manager's Office. 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 - New
Body Art Establishment License Application - Renewal
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 City Manager's Office. 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 City Manager's Office. 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 (The submission of a Tobacco License application does not guarantee the issuance of a license.)
Retail Tobacco Stores are defined as a retail store which derives more than 30% of its gross revenue from the sale of tobacco or nicotine products and accessories, inclusive of any device contemplated within the definition of "Smoking", or which dedicates more than 25% of its total floor area or public display area to the storage or sale of such items.
Retail Store Tobacco License Application (The submission of a Retail Tobacco Store License application does not guarantee the issuance of a license). NOTE: Retail Tobacco Stores are capped at four (4). As of April 4, 2025, there are no Retail Tobacco Store licenses available.
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 City Manager's Office. Applicants are encouraged to review Chapter 35 of the Municipal Code to familiarize themselves with the requirements for the application and any associated fees.