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Permits & Licenses

The City of Evanston issues a variety of permits and licenses through multiple departments. Please review each permit or licenses details carefully for department contact information, application requirements, and any additional regulations that may apply. 

Permit Desk:

The City of Evanston's Permit Desk handles all building permits, Right-of-Way (ROW) permits, and water/sewer permits. The Permit Desk is located at Morton City Hall (909 Davis Street, Evanston, IL 60201) on the 1st floor. 

For current hours, location details, online appointments, and contact information, please visit the Building Permits page.

Citizen Portal:

Use the City’s online portal to apply for and track select permits, including Building, Public Works, Property Standards, and certain license-related permits.

Visit Citizen Portal

Notice Re: Health & Food-Related Licenses

In keeping with its regulatory responsibilities and mission to protect the well-being of residents and visitors, the Health & Human Services Department manages the licensing and permitting of various food establishments and regulated operations.

No food for public consumption may be prepared or stored in a private home. Private caterers (caterers who provide food for private events) are not licensed by either the City of Evanston or the Illinois Department of Public Health.

Food-related licenses and permits:

  • Must be issued before any food item is received, prepared, served, or sold

  • Are not transferable

  • Must be displayed on site in a location visible to the public

  • Are valid only for the term shown on the licenses

All City Permits & Licenses:

A
  • Miscellaneous

Alarm (Security System) Permit

Find out more using the helpful links below. More Details
(847) 448-4311 311Center@cityofevanston.org
  • Business & Commercial

Application to Operate a Residential Care Home

Find out more using the helpful links below. More Details
(847) 859-7676 hhslicensing@cityofevanston.org
B
  • Events & Activities

Banner Permit Application

Find out more using the helpful links below. More Details
(847) 448-4311 311Center@cityofevanston.org
  • Animals & Pets

Beekeeping License

Find out more using the helpful links below. More Details
(847) 448-4311 hhslicensing@cityofevanston.org
  • Events & Activities

Block Party Application (online)

Find out more using the helpful links below. More Details
(847) 448-4311 311Center@cityofevanston.org
  • Events & Activities

Block Party Application (printable)

Find out more using the helpful links below. More Details
(847) 448-4311 311Center@cityofevanston.org
  • Events & Activities

Bonfire Permit - Lighthouse Beach Fire Circle

Find out more using the helpful links below. More Details
(847) 448-4311 311Center@cityofevanston.org
  • Events & Activities

Bonfire Permit Application - Northwestern University

Find out more using the helpful links below. More Details
  • Building & Construction

Building Permit Applications

Find out more using the helpful links below. More Details
(847) 448-4311 311Center@cityofevanston.org
  • Business & Commercial

Business License Registration

Find out more using the helpful links below. More Details
(847) 448-4311 311Center@cityofevanston.org
C
  • Building & Construction

Certificate of Occupancy Request Form - Commercial/Multifamily

Find out more using the helpful links below. More Details
(847) 448-4311 311Center@cityofevanston.org
  • Building & Construction

Certificate of Occupancy Request Form - Residential

Find out more using the helpful links below. More Details
(847) 448-4311 311Center@cityofevanston.org
  • Miscellaneous

Cigarette Tax Stamp Refund Application

Find out more using the helpful links below. More Details
(847) 448-4311 311Center@cityofevanston.org
  • Miscellaneous

Collection Box License

Find out more using the helpful links below. More Details
(847) 448-4311 hhslicensing@cityofevanston.org
  • Building & Construction

Contractor Registration

Find out more using the helpful links below. More Details
(847) 448-4311 311Center@cityofevanston.org
  • Food & Health

Cottage Food Registration

Find out more using the helpful links below. More Details
(847) 859-7676 hhslicensing@cityofevanston.org
D
  • Building & Construction

Demolition Permit Instructions

Find out more using the helpful links below. More Details
(847) 448-4311 311Center@cityofevanston.org
  • Animals & Pets

Dog Park Membership Application

Find out more using the helpful links below. More Details
(847) 448-4311 311Center@cityofevanston.org
  • Food & Health

Dogs at Outdoor Dining Areas

Find out more using the helpful links below. More Details
(847) 859-7676 hhslicensing@cityofevanston.org
  • Parking & Vehicles

Driveway, Parking, Garage Regulations

Find out more using the helpful links below. More Details
(847) 448-4311 311Center@cityofevanston.org
F
  • Events & Activities

Farmers Market License

Find out more using the helpful links below. More Details
(847) 859-7676 hhslicensing@cityofevanston.org
  • Business & Commercial

Film/Video & Photo Shoot Permit Application

Find out more using the helpful links below. More Details
(847) 448-4311 filmpermits@cityofevanston.org
  • Building & Construction

Fire Alarm/Suppression Application

Find out more using the helpful links below. More Details
(847) 866-5928 311Center@cityofevanston.org 909 Lake Street,
       Evanston, IL 60201
  • Food & Health

Food Delivery Vehicle License

Find out more using the helpful links below. More Details
(847) 448-4311 hhslicensing@cityofevanston.org
  • Food & Health

Food Establishment License

Find out more using the helpful links below. More Details
(847) 448-4311 hhslicensing@cityofevanston.org
  • Building & Construction

Food Facility Construction Manual

Find out more using the helpful links below. More Details
(847) 448-4311 311Center@cityofevanston.org
  • Building & Construction

Food Facility Construction Plan Review Form

Find out more using the helpful links below. More Details
(847) 448-4311 311Center@cityofevanston.org
H
  • Food & Health

Health Department Fees

Find out more using the helpful links below. More Details
(847) 448-4311 311Center@cityofevanston.org
  • Animals & Pets

Hen Coop License

Find out more using the helpful links below. More Details
(847) 448-4311 hhslicensing@cityofevanston.org
  • Building & Construction

Historic Preservation

Find out more using the helpful links below. More Details
(847) 448-4311 311Center@cityofevanston.org
  • Business & Commercial

Home Day Care Permit

Find out more using the helpful links below. More Details
(847) 448-4311 hhslicensing@cityofevanston.org
  • Miscellaneous

Honorary Street Name Sign Program Application

Find out more using the helpful links below. More Details
(847) 448-4311 311Center@cityofevanston.org
L
  • Business & Commercial

Liquor Licenses

Find out more using the helpful links below. More Details
(847) 448-4311 liquorlicense@cityofevanston.org
  • Business & Commercial

Long Term Care License Application

Find out more using the helpful links below. More Details
(847) 859-7676 hhslicensing@cityofevanston.org
  • Events & Activities

Loudspeaker Permit Application

Find out more using the helpful links below. More Details
(847) 448-4311 311Center@cityofevanston.org
M
  • Food & Health

Mobile Food Vendor Permit

Find out more using the helpful links below. More Details
(847) 859-7676 hhslicensing@cityofevanston.org
  • Parking & Vehicles

Moving Vehicle and Storage Container Permit (MVSC)

Find out more using the helpful links below. More Details
(847) 448-4311 311Center@cityofevanston.org
N
  • Miscellaneous

Newsrack - Private Publication City Code 7-3-15

Find out more using the helpful links below. More Details
(847) 448-4311 311Center@cityofevanston.org
O
  • Building & Construction

Obstruction Permit

Find out more using the helpful links below. More Details
(847) 448-4311 311Center@cityofevanston.org
P
  • Parking & Vehicles

Paint Trailer Permit

Find out more using the helpful links below. More Details
(847) 448-4311 311Center@cityofevanston.org
  • Events & Activities

Park Permit for Special Events

Find out more using the helpful links below. More Details
(847) 448-4311 311Center@cityofevanston.org
  • Events & Activities

Park Permits & Picnics

Find out more using the helpful links below. More Details
(847) 448-4311 311Center@cityofevanston.org
  • Parking & Vehicles

Parking Lot Lighting & Lighting of Other Outdoor Areas

Find out more using the helpful links below. More Details
(847) 448-4311 311Center@cityofevanston.org
  • Building & Construction

Parking Lots & Garages Design Guidelines

Find out more using the helpful links below. More Details
(847) 448-4311 311Center@cityofevanston.org
  • Parking & Vehicles

Parking Permit - Residential

Find out more using the helpful links below. More Details
(847) 448-4311 311Center@cityofevanston.org
  • Streets & Sidewalks

Parkway Tree Planting Permit

Find out more using the helpful links below. More Details
(847) 448-4311 311Center@cityofevanston.org
  • Animals & Pets

Pet License

Find out more using the helpful links below. More Details
(847) 448-4311 311Center@cityofevanston.org
  • Animals & Pets

Pooch Park Membership

Find out more using the helpful links below. More Details
(847) 448-4311 311Center@cityofevanston.org
  • Building & Construction

Preservation Commission

Find out more using the helpful links below. More Details
(847) 448-4311 311Center@cityofevanston.org
R
  • Events & Activities

Raffle Permit

Find out more using the helpful links below. More Details
(847) 448-4311 311Center@cityofevanston.org
  • Business & Commercial

Retail Tobacco Vendor License

Find out more using the helpful links below. More Details
(847) 859-7676 hhslicensing@cityofevanston.org
  • Building & Construction

Right of Way Permit (ROW)

Find out more using the helpful links below. More Details
(847) 448-4311 311Center@cityofevanston.org
  • Building & Construction

Right of Way Street Obstruction Bond CORPORATION

Find out more using the helpful links below. More Details
(847) 448-4311 311Center@cityofevanston.org
  • Building & Construction

Right of Way Street Obstruction Bond INDIVIDUAL

Find out more using the helpful links below. More Details
(847) 448-4311 311Center@cityofevanston.org
S
  • Food & Health

Seasonal Food Establishment Permit

Find out more using the helpful links below. More Details
(847) 448-4311 hhslicensing@cityofevanston.org
  • Miscellaneous

Shared Housing

Find out more using the helpful links below. More Details
(847) 448-4311 311Center@cityofevanston.org
  • Food & Health

Shared/Rental Kitchen

Find out more using the helpful links below. More Details
(847) 859-7676 hhslicensing@cityofevanston.org
  • Business & Commercial

Sidewalk Cafe Permit

Find out more using the helpful links below. More Details
(847) 448-4311 PublicWorksPermits@cityofevanston.org
  • Parking & Vehicles

Sign Application - No Parking within 8 Feet of a Driveway

Find out more using the helpful links below. More Details
(847) 448-4311 311Center@cityofevanston.org
  • Building & Construction

Sign Variance Application

Find out more using the helpful links below. More Details
(847) 448-4311 311Center@cityofevanston.org
  • Building & Construction

Small Cell Wireless Facilities Application

Find out more using the helpful links below. More Details
(847) 448-4311 311Center@cityofevanston.org
  • Events & Activities

Special Event Permit Application

Find out more using the helpful links below. More Details
(847) 866-2914 specialevents@cityofevanston.org
  • Building & Construction

Sprinkler (Lawn) System Requirements

and Underground Lawn Sprinkler Liability Waiver More Details
(847) 448-4311 311Center@cityofevanston.org
  • Building & Construction

Stormwater Detention Policy

Find out more using the helpful links below. More Details
(847) 448-4311 311Center@cityofevanston.org
T
  • Events & Activities

Tag Day Application (.pdf)

or Word More Details
(847) 448-4311 311Center@cityofevanston.org
  • Events & Activities

Temporary Event and Seasonal Food Permits

Find out more using the helpful links below. More Details
(847) 448-4311 hhslicensing@cityofevanston.org
  • Events & Activities

Tent Permit

Find out more using the helpful links below. More Details
(847) 448-4311 311Center@cityofevanston.org
  • Business & Commercial

Tobacco Vendor (Retail) License

Find out more using the helpful links below. More Details
(847) 448-4311 hhslicensing@cityofevanston.org
  • Streets & Sidewalks

Tree Preservation Permit

Find out more using the helpful links below. More Details
(847) 448-4311 311Center@cityofevanston.org
  • Parking & Vehicles

Truck Permit

Find out more using the helpful links below. More Details
(847) 448-4311 311Center@cityofevanston.org
V
  • Parking & Vehicles

Valet Parking Permit

Find out more using the helpful links below. More Details
(847) 448-4311 311Center@cityofevanston.org
  • Parking & Vehicles

Vehicle Sticker

Find out more using the helpful links below. More Details
(847) 448-4311 311Center@cityofevanston.org
  • Food & Health

Vending Machine License

Find out more using the helpful links below. More Details
(847) 448-4311 hhslicensing@cityofevanston.org