Chicago Heights Raises Liquor License Requirements and Costs

The unanimously approved adding a couple more steps to the liquor license renewal process Monday.

Businesses will now have to post a $10,000 surety bond with the City each year to cover any fees or penalties the business might incur in the forthcoming year. The cost of the surety bond depends on the license applicant's credit rating and insurance history, according to the City's Corporation Counsel T.J. Somer.

"I've seen them as low as $100 and I've seen them as high as $1,000," Somer said.

Ald. Josh Deabel noted the additional cost for business owners, who already pay between $1,500 and $2,500 for a liquor license every year as well as other licensing fees.

"I'm a little concerned about the pricing being added onto a business we're already kind of hurting," Deabel said.

The surety bond is actually not new to Chicago Heights, according to Somer. In the past there was a $1,000 surety bond, but it was not included in a rewrite of the liquor code that passed more than five years ago. Somer said the bond amount was increased because the previous one was established in the mid-1950s and needed to be updated. 

Building Inspections

Additionally, the City will require the code enforcement department to do a building inspection of any business applying for or renewing their liquor license. 

Somer called both requirements "good additions," referencing the 2003 E2 nightclub stampede in Chicago as a good reason to adopt the building inspection provision.

The changes had been added to this year's liquor license application May 1, prior to the council's vote.

"We already effectuated it for this license application," Somer said. "I just wanted to get it on the books so we were consistant with everything."