Wholesale Food Establishment License: Chicago restaurant guide
Chicago BACP / CDPH
What it is
The city license needed whenever food is prepared, stored, sold or distributed at wholesale from a building — for example a restaurant or bakery selling packaged products to other businesses, or running a commissary or frozen-dessert plant.
When a restaurant needs it
Only if you sell food to other businesses (wholesale) rather than just to the public.
How to apply
Submit initial business information online or in person, get zoning approval, submit a wholesale application to the State of Illinois and pass the state inspection, meet CDPH Food Protection for a wholesale consultation, then complete the full application, pay, and pass the City debt check.
Documents you’ll need
- Documents matching your legal entity type
- Current lease or proof of property ownership
- State wholesale inspection report
Good to know
This is on top of your Retail Food Establishment license if you also sell to the public. Zoning for wholesale/manufacturing can differ from retail, so check before committing.
Official source
BACP — Wholesale Food Establishment license
Answer a few questions about your space and get every permit in order, with a timeline, a cost range, walkthroughs, and every application filled in for you to sign with Open.
Last reviewed 2026-10-06. Guidance only, not legal advice.