City of West Chicago, Illinois

Where History and Progress Meet

Skip NavigationMenu
  • About West Chicago
    • America In Bloom
    • Community Profile
    • Demographics
    • Healthy West Chicago
    • History
    • Location
    • Media Center
    • Spirit
    • Welcome Brochure (pdf)
    • Close
  • Residents
    • Services
      • Animal Control
      • Bicycle Lockers
      • Brush Pickup
      • Cemeteries
      • Citywide Collection Event
      • Electric Utiity
      • Garbage & Recycling
      • Hydrant Flushing
      • Lawn Sprinkling
      • Fall Leaf Collection
      • Metra Lot Parking
      • Snow Removal
      • Spring Leaf Collection
      • Water
      • Water and Sewer Billing
      • Yard Waste Collection
    • Communication Channels
      • Annual State of the City Address
      • Blogs
      • City Maps
      • Coffee with the Mayor
      • Community Calendar
      • Forms & Applications
      • News Room
      • Social Media
      • Welcome Brochure
      • Window to West Chicago
    • Elections & Voting
      • Find Your Polling Place
      • Elections & Voting
    • Close
  • Government
    • Elected Officials
      • City Clerk
      • City Council
      • Committees
      • Mayor Ruben Pineda
      • Meeting Minutes & Agendas
      • Transparency Portal
    • Commissions
      • Civil Service Commission
      • Cultural Arts Commission
      • Environmental Commission
      • Historical Preservation Commission
      • Liquor Control/Tobacco Commission
      • Plan Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals
    • City Departments
      • Administration
      • Administrative Services
      • Community Development
      • Police
      • Public Works
    • Municipal Code
      • Code Catalog
      • Property Maintenance Standards
      • FAQs
    • Close
  • Business
    • New Business
      • Why Locate in West Chicago
      • Opening a New Business
      • Assistance and Support
      • Entrepreneur Testimonials
      • Home-based Business Standards
    • Business Help Desk
      • Business Registration Renewal
      • Zoning
      • Permits
      • Specialty Business Licenses
      • Forms and Applications
      • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Incentive Programs
      • Downtown Grant Program
      • Facade Improvement
      • Sales Tax Sharing
      • Streamlined Development Process
    • Awards and Milestones
      • Marketplace Milestones
    • Close
  • Explore
    • West Chicago Prairie
      • Walking and Biking Trails
    • Family Destinations
      • ARC Center
      • Turtle Splash
      • Wiggly Field Dog Park
      • Sonny Acres
      • The Shell
      • Klein Creek Farm
      • Parks
    • Historic Downtown
      • City Museum
      • Gallery 200
      • West Chicago Public Library
    • Public Art
      • Community Art Banner Exhibits
      • Signa Rotae
      • In This Together
      • Forever Lily
      • WCTU Fountain
    • Special Events
      • Blooming Fest
      • Railroad Days
      • National Night Out
      • Move with the Mayor Virtual Challenge
      • Mexican Independence Day Festival
      • Food Festival
      • Virtual Frosty 5K, Frosty Scavenger Hunt, Frosty House Decorating Contest
    • Close
  • Community Organizations
    • Hospitals
      • Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital
      • Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital
    • Religious Organizations
      • Arya Samaj of Chicagoland
      • Church of Christ
      • Community Fellowship
      • Faith Community
      • First United Methodist
      • Glen Arbor Community
      • Nueva Esperanza
      • New Life Bilingual
      • Real Life Church
      • Renewal Church
      • Resurrection Angelican
      • St. Andrew / San Andrés Lutheran
      • St. Mary Catholic
      • St. Michael’s United Church of Christ
      • Trinity Evangelical Lutheran
      • Water’s Edge Bible
      • Willow DuPage
    • Schools
      • Benedictine University
      • Benjamin School District 25
      • College of DuPage
      • Educare West DuPage
      • Elementary School District 33
      • St. Charles School District 303
      • West Chicago High School
      • Wheaton Academy
    • Community Service Groups
      • Access DuPage
      • American Legion Post 300
      • Boy Scout Troop 33
      • DuPage Homeownership Center
      • GardenWorks Project
      • Giving DuPage
      • Neighborhood Food Pantry
      • People Made Visible
      • Prairie Stewardship Group
      • Rotary Club
      • West Chicago Garden Club
      • Western DuPage Chamber of Commerce
    • Government Organizations
      • Dept. of Homeland Security
      • DuPage County
      • Fire Protection District
      • Wayne Township
      • West Chicago Park District
      • West Chicago Public Library
      • Winfield Township
    • Close
  • QUICK LINKS
    • E-Pay
    • Job Opportunities
    • Police News
    • How Do I…?
    • Window to West Chicago
    • Elections & Voting
    • Snow Regulations
    • FOIA Requests
    • Property Maintenance / Code Enforcement Brochure
    • Social Services Resource Guide
    • Welcome Brochure
    • Close

Frequently Asked Questions

The following are commonly asked questions by new members of the business community:

Opening a Business

Is there any City funding available to help my new (or existing) business?
Yes, the City currently has several incentive programs to assist businesses located within the Downtown TIF District. To learn more about our programs please visit our Incentive Programs page.

How do I start electrical and gas utility service?
Please contact ComEd at 800-334-766, or similar provider, for electrical service and for gas service, contact NICOR at 888-642-6748 to turn on/off utilities.

How do I start waste pickup service?
The City is not contracted with a particular vendor for commercial waste pickup. Please contact a local or regional waste and recycling company for provision of service.

How do I start water service?
You can set up service by visiting City Hall’s Administrative Services (475 Main Street) or call 630-293-2200 during normal business hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. We will need the following information: Your full legal name, the service address, the billing address, date you take possession of the property, day and evening phone numbers, whether you own or lease and the commercial use.

Current Water Rates: Minimum bi-monthly charge: $20.00 / 333 cubic feet or 2,491 gallons Usage over 333 cubic feet: $2.90 / 100 cubic feet or $3.88 per 1,000 gallons

Current Sewer Rates: Industrial/Commercial: $4.36 / 100 cubic feet or $5.83 per 1,000 gallons

How do I initiate automatic water utility payments?
For automatic debit from your checking account, simply print out and complete an Automatic Payment of Utility Bills Application and then submit this form along with a cancelled check to the Administrative Services Department during normal business hours. Or, if you prefer, you can also pay your utility bills online via E-Pay. The State receives a service charge in proportion to the amount of your bill.

Business Registration

Why is annual business registration required?
Annual Business Registration is required by West Chicago's Municipal Code Article III - Section 9-46.

Are not-for-profit and charitable organizations required to submit an annual registration form?
While government agencies, not-for-profit and charitable organizations are not required to pay the fee, we do ask that you submit a completed application. (Article III – Section 9-49)

What happens if I submit my business registration renewal late?
The registration renewal fee is $110.00, plus applicable fines, if postmarked after the end of the calendar year.

Can I pay my registration fee in cash?
Yes, please visit the Community Development desk at City Hall, 475 Main Street, to submit your application and remit your payment in cash. Please do not send cash via mail.

Business Signs

Is a permit required for permanent signage for my business? 
Yes, all signs or other street graphics (except those listed in Article XII - Section 12.3) that are planned to be erected, expanded, altered, relocated or reconstructed require a sign permit. Please reference the Application for Sign Permit for details and informational requirements.
(Article XII – Section 12.2)

Additionally, if you are a business located within the Turner Junction Historic District you will require a Certificate of Appropriateness that is reviewed and issued by the historic preservation commission.

How large can my window signage be? 
All window signs shall meet the following requirements:

  • Should not cover more than forty (50) percent of the total window space of a building facade.
  • Permanent window signs shall be debited against the displaying establishment's sign area allowance for flush-mounted signs, but temporary window signs shall not.
  • Shall not contain changeable copy.
  • Temporary window signs shall not be displayed for more than thirty (30) days.

Please note that non-contiguous window sign graphics (on different window panes, separated by architectural muntins, or separated spatially) are considered distinct individual signs. The applicable municipal fee of will be charged for each sign.
(Article XII – Section 12.7-5)

Can I place a sidewalk, A-frame or sandwich board, sign in front of my business? 
Yes, if you are located in the B-1 Central Business Zoning District and in the Turner Junction Historic District. To view your business zoning designation click here. All sidewalk signs require a Sign Permit. When located in the Turner Junction Historic District the city's historic preservation commission shall also approve the sign.
(Article XII – Section 12.7-6)

What are the design allowances for signs?
Please refer to Article XII – 12.7 for specific regulations based on sign type. They are as follows:

Changeable copy signs
Flush-mounted signs
Freestanding signs
Projecting signs
Window signs
Sidewalk signs
Automobile service station signs
Development identification signs
Drive-through restaurant signs
Institutional signs
Shopping center identification signs
Temporary signs

What are the sign permit fees?
The fee schedule for signage is as follows per Appendix G – Fee Schedule:

Sign — permanent, freestanding illuminated: $130.00
Sign — permanent, freestanding non-illuminated: $105.00
Sign — permanent, wall illuminated: $95.00
Sign — permanent, wall non-illuminated: $75.00
Sign — temporary, 14-day period: $100.00
Sign — change of copy only: $25.00

 

e-Pay logo and link_________________________

West Chicago City Hall
425 Main Street
West Chicago, IL 60185

Phone: 630-293-2200
FAX: 630-293-3028

City Hall Limited Reopening
Beginning Tues. 8/11/20
Tues., Weds., Thurs.: 8:00 am – Noon
The public is required to wear a
mask and practice social distancing
when inside the building.

Full details

REQUEST

  • Business Forms
  • Resident Forms
  • Elections & Voting Info
  • FOIA
  • LexisNexis eCrash
  • Permits and Applications
  • Utility Services
  • Overnight Parking
  • Citizen Online Reporting
  • Vacation Watch

VIEW

  • GIS Maps
  • Job Opportunities
  • Metra Lot Parking
  • Municipal Code
  • Newsletters
  • Transparency Portal
  • Quest Bid System
  • West Chicago on YouTube

STAY UP-TO-DATE

  • Join Our Emailing List
  • Police News
  • Public Works Projects
  • Latest News Releases
  • Blogs
  • Community Calendar (Desktop)
  • Community Calendar (Mobile)
  • Media Center
  • INTERNAL EMAIL

Copyright 2020 © - City of West Chicago, Illinois - All rights reserved - Terms of Use - Privacy Policy - Legal Disclaimer

Site by Technivista