Business laws

Cook County Business Laws for Foreign-Owned Businesses

Cook County business ordinances for owners with ties to India and Canada: paid leave, minimum wage, licenses, human rights, and what Kane and DuPage skip.

Cook County business laws are county ordinances, and the reach of each is limited to work, premises or licenses located in Cook County. This tier explains four of them for owners with ties to India or Canada, two short pages per ordinance.

Which Cook County business laws are covered?

Paid Leave Ordinance: employers of one or more employees working in Cook County, outside Chicago and outside suburbs that lawfully preempted it. Staff earn 1 hour per 40 worked, with a yearly minimum of 40 hours (pro rata for part-time staff).
Minimum Wage Ordinance: $15.40 an hour ($9.25 tipped) since July 1, 2026, against the Illinois $15.00 ($9.00). In general, the county and state laws alike reach any employer that has at least four employees.
Unincorporated Business Licensing: a General Business License limited to unincorporated areas, priced at $40 for the two years that end February 28, 2027. Towns and Chicago have their own rules.
Human Rights Ordinance: any employer with at least one employee that is based in the county or does business there.

What about Kane, DuPage, Will and Kendall counties?

Our local guides cover Kane, DuPage, Will, Kendall and Cook counties. Chicago has its own paid leave and wage ordinances, and some Cook suburbs have opted out of the County rules, so check the town first.

See Illinois laws for the state rules, and read the disclaimer.

Cook County laws

USCAIN

Cook County Paid Leave Ordinance for Cross-Border Employers

Who the Cook County paid leave ordinance covers and what applies in Kane, DuPage, Will and Kendall.

Read

Rules, numbers and checklist

USCAIN

Cook County Minimum Wage Ordinance for Employers

Cook County minimum wage coverage, 2026 rates, and what Kane, DuPage, Will and Kendall employers pay.

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Rules, numbers and checklist

USCAIN

Cook County General Business License: Who Needs One

Who needs the Cook County General Business License, its cost and what foreign-owned owners should check first.

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Rules, numbers and checklist

USCAIN

Cook County Human Rights Ordinance for Employers

What the Cook County Human Rights Ordinance covers, its deadlines and notes for foreign-owned and cross-border businesses.

Read

Rules, numbers and checklist

Please read: general information only

This page gives general information and education about a law that may affect businesses. It is not legal, tax, accounting or other professional advice and it is not a substitute for advice from a licensed attorney or CPA who knows your facts. Reading it does not create an attorney-client, CPA-client or any other professional relationship with CPA Tax Payroll and Accounting Corp. CPA Tax Payroll and Accounting Corp is a CPA firm, not a law firm: it does not give legal advice or represent anyone in legal matters.

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