Business Licenses and Permits

Residents and business owners in Elgin, Illinois are demanding that the city stop requiring business licenses.

According to the Daily Herald, more than 100 people filled the city council chambers to push forward the agenda of political group Elgin Operant Conditioning to Achieve Voter Expectations (Octave), who believe that business licenses in the city should be abolished.

At the meeting, Jeffrey Meyer of Octave declared, “As our representatives, you must heed our call. Repeal the Elgin business license now.”

City business licenses have only been required in Elgin since 2009, when the council voted unanimously to institute the ordinance.

Licenses in Elgin now cost business owners between $35 and $595 a year.

Kevin Bunte, of Bunte Auction Services, told the Daily Herald, “The cost of a business license won’t shut us down, but the problem is it’s just one more hand in our pocket.”

Before business license laws came into effect in 2009, Elgin was voted one of the top ten US cities for economic development in both 2003 and 2005.

The city council claims its pro-business philosophy makes Elgin a favorable place for companies to do business.

Tags: business licenses, Illinois