Manteno officials are moving to require every local business to carry and display a village-issued business license, a change leaders say will clarify who is operating in town and whether commercial properties meet current safety and code standards. The proposal, unveiled at a recent finance committee meeting, targets a January 1, 2027 start date and could reshape how the village tracks and inspects its commercial activity.
At Monday’s finance committee session, Trustee Mike Barry — who chairs the committee — described a patchwork knowledge of commercial operations across the village. Officials said the lack of a formal licensing system makes it difficult to confirm business ownership, track activity, or ensure compliance with municipal codes.
An ordinance to establish the program still must be written and approved by the Village Board. Planners expect the measure to pass through both the planning & zoning and finance committees before reaching a full board vote.
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Village leaders have offered an initial range for the annual fee between $50 and $100, though that figure is not final. If adopted, the license would be required to be displayed prominently inside the business — a common practice in many towns but one that, officials noted, currently does not exist in Manteno.
The move is framed less as a revenue source and more as a tool for oversight. Officials pointed out that Manteno’s last comprehensive update to its business-related codes dates back to 1956, leaving a long period without a modern inventory of commercial tenants or structures.
Barry cited recent enforcement efforts around the Gotion battery storage facility as an example of the kind of consistent oversight he wants extended to all commercial operations. Other trustees agreed, saying a universal licensing requirement would reduce perceptions that some businesses are held to different standards than others.
- Primary goals: establish a clear inventory of businesses, record owner contact information, confirm building compliance with codes, and create uniform enforcement.
- Estimated timing: ordinance drafting over coming months; applications potentially mailed in late November; program effective Jan. 1, 2027.
- Projected cost: preliminary estimate $50–$100 per year, subject to final ordinance language.
Mayor Annette LaMore and the village’s new building standards director, Jim Paicz, expressed support for the January launch. They argued that beginning the program in the slower winter months would be easier to administer than tying it to the village fiscal year in May, when demand for building permits typically spikes.
Paicz added that the village currently does not have a reliable count of active businesses — a gap the licensing program is intended to close. He warned that the first year may involve hiccups as the village and business owners adjust to new procedures.
The proposal also has practical implications for local business owners. In addition to paying the fee, owners should expect a registration process and potential inspections to verify code compliance. For residents, the change is pitched as a step toward greater transparency and safety in commercial properties.
Officials have not yet released a draft text of the ordinance or a detailed enforcement plan. Next steps include drafting the language, committee review, and public consideration at future Village Board meetings. If the timeline holds, Manteno businesses could receive licensing packets before the year-end holiday season.
Whether the plan proceeds unchanged will depend on committee recommendations and the eventual board vote — but for now, Manteno is moving toward a formal system to catalog and monitor its commercial activity after decades without a uniform licensing requirement.
