Photography Business Permit Requirements in Aurora, IL

1. EIN (Employer Identification Number)

   Required if you have employees or operate as an LLC/corporation. Also useful for opening a business bank account and separating personal and business finances. Free from the IRS.

   Official government source

   Free·Immediate (online application)

   Free

   Immediate (online application)

2. FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate (Drone Photography)

   Required if you offer commercial aerial photography using drones (unmanned aircraft systems). Must pass the FAA Aeronautical Knowledge Test at an approved testing center. Operating commercially without this certificate can result in significant fines. This is a federal requirement enforced by the FAA regardless of state.

   Official government source

   $175 (exam fee)·2–4 weeks to study and schedule exam

   $175 (exam fee)

   2–4 weeks to study and schedule exam

1. Illinois — No State Photography License Required

   Illinois does not require a state-issued license or certification to offer paid photography services. Photography is an unregulated profession at the state level — there is no state board or licensing agency that certifies photographers in Illinois.

   Official government source

   N/A·N/A

   N/A

   N/A

2. Illinois Department of Revenue - Retailers' Occupation Tax (Sales Tax) Registration

   A photographer who transfers tangible items such as prints, albums, canvases or USB drives to clients must register with the Illinois Department of Revenue and collect tax on those sales. In Aurora the combined general merchandise rate is 8.500% effective August 1, 2026 (it was 8.250% through July 31, 2026). Register on Form REG-1 through MyTax Illinois; the Certificate of Registration is delivered electronically to your MyTax account.

   Official government source

   No registration fee·About 1-2 business days online through MyTax Illinois; 6 to 8 weeks if Form REG-1 is mailed

   No registration fee

   About 1-2 business days online through MyTax Illinois; 6 to 8 weeks if Form REG-1 is mailed

1. Aurora Business Registration

   The City of Aurora maintains a general Business Registration process through its Licenses and Registration page and YourVoice portal, separate from specialty licenses such as liquor, mobile food units, contractor licensing, and peddler registration. There is no Aurora 'Occupational Tax Certificate,' and Illinois counties do not license general businesses, so there is nothing to obtain from Kane County. Aurora does not publish a fee schedule for general business registration; call 311 or 630-256-4636 to confirm what applies to a photography business. Home-based photographers should separately confirm with Development Services that receiving clients at the residence complies with the zoning ordinance.

   Official government source

   Aurora publishes no fee schedule for general business registration; confirm with the City at 311 or 630-256-4636·Aurora publishes no processing time for business registration; register before you begin operating and confirm any zoning review timing with Development Services

   Aurora publishes no fee schedule for general business registration; confirm with the City at 311 or 630-256-4636

   Aurora publishes no processing time for business registration; register before you begin operating and confirm any zoning review timing with Development Services

2. Aurora — Special Event Permit (Tier 5 film production; other public-property shoots)

   Aurora requires a Special Event Permit at Tier 5 for any film production in the city undertaken for commercial, not-for-profit, educational, or artistic purposes. Still-photography shoots are not separately listed, but a paid shoot that closes a street, occupies a city right-of-way, or stages on city park property falls under the same Special Event Permit tiers. Incidental photography in public spaces does not require a permit. Contact Aurora's Special Events office at (630) 256-3370 or [email protected] to confirm which tier applies.

   Official government source

   $25 non-refundable application fee, invoiced after the application is submitted and initially reviewed (city service costs may be recovered separately for larger events)·Apply at least 30 days before the shoot for a Tier 5 film production permit; 45–90 days for higher-impact event tiers

   $25 non-refundable application fee, invoiced after the application is submitted and initially reviewed (city service costs may be recovered separately for larger events)

   Apply at least 30 days before the shoot for a Tier 5 film production permit; 45–90 days for higher-impact event tiers

Official Sources

• Aurora Business Licensing
• Illinois Department of Revenue — Retailer's Occupation Tax Registration
• FAA — Become a Drone Pilot (Part 107)

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