Oak Lawn Businesses Get Break On Biz License Fees Second Year In Row

OAK LAWN, IL — Businesses operating in Oak Lawn will get a break after business license fees were waived for a second consecutive year. The Oak Lawn Village Board unanimously approved the proposal at the Oct. 24 meeting.

The 2023 Business License Fee Amnesty Resolution was proposed by 6th District Trustee Ralph Soch and 4th District Trustee Jamie Pembroke. Soch co-sponsored the original 2022 amnesty after reading an Illinois Policy Institute report that showed how Illinois’ business tax policy was faring against neighboring states.

“Our business community is still struggling with inflation, labor shortages, and other economic challenges, and we need to do everything we can to help them be successful,” Soch said in a news release.

Soch added that the recent Cook County triennial property tax assessment has hit many commercial property owners hard, “with some seeing 30 to 40 percent increases.”

Trustees Soch and Pembroke worked with village management on the amnesty proposal and would only sponsor it if the village could hold the line on 2024 property taxes. Oak Lawn Village Manager Tom Phelan strongly supported the proposal and stated the amnesty program got the attention of local developers and businesses that likely played a role in more than 125 new businesses opening in Oak Lawn since 2022.

The amnesty applies to existing and new businesses, liquor, tobacco, games of skill, and video gaming license fees through the end of the current calendar year. This year’s changes to the amnesty will apply to ALL businesses, including vending machine and terminal operators, not just businesses physically located in Oak Lawn, a slight change from the 2022 amnesty program.

Most business fees will range from $250 to $2,500 based on square footage.

In the coming weeks, the village will unveil a business license fee structure for 2024 that will start on June 30 that will be “simpler, fairer, and for many businesses, less than our old structure,” Phelan said.

Oak Lawn village trustees unanimously passed the measure. Mayor Terry Vorderer reiterated how important it was to have a thriving business community to help keep taxes low.

“I’m going to be very happy talking about this at the next Oak Lawn Chamber of Commerce meeting,” the mayor said.

Anne Fritz, executive director of the Oak Lawn Chamber, said any relief the village can provide to businesses is appreciated.

“Businesses are still struggling to come out of COVID and inflation. This is a bonus for the business community in Oak Lawn,” Fritz said.

Interested in opening a business in Oak Lawn or questions about licensing fees, email [email protected].