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Liquor Commissioner

The DuPage County Liquor Commissioner

As stated in the DuPage County code, the Chair of the DuPage County Board serves as the Liquor Commissioner for the unincorporated areas throughout DuPage County. The Liquor Commissioner's duty is to protect the general public's health, safety, and welfare by regulating the liquor industry in the sale and service of alcoholic beverages in the unincorporated areas of DuPage County. The Commissioner is responsible for regulating the selling and serving of alcoholic beverages by providing in liquor license applications, site inspections, resource referrals, and enforcement of liquor laws and rules. View a copy of the current liquor ordinance.

Goals of the DuPage Liquor Commissioner

  1. Enforce the Illinois Liquor Control Law and the liquor laws outlined in DuPage County Code chapter 3;
  2. Control the conditions associated with the sale and service of alcoholic beverages through a fair and efficient licensing process;
  3. Promote responsible liquor control and achieve voluntary compliance with liquor laws by licensees.

Duties of the DuPage Liquor Commissioner

The Liquor Commissioner has three core duties.

  1. The Liquor Commissioner validates all DuPage County liquor licenses.
  2. The Commissioner is authorized to make reasonable rules and take action in the performance of the duties as Liquor Commissioner. 
  3. The Commissioners responsible to call and preside over all meetings and hearings regarding the Liquor Ordinance of DuPage.

Applying for Liquor Licenses

Information on obtaining a DuPage County annual liquor license, such as associated fees, application, and information on the process, can be found on the DuPage County Clerk's web page under "Obtaining Licenses" or at 630-407-5500.

For temporary liquor licenses, a downloadable version is now available. View a Temporary Liquor License Application Form, and here for the View the Temporary Liquor License Instructions.

For all questions regarding the DuPage County Liquor Commission, please contact the DuPage County Clerk's office or the DuPage County Board Chair's office.

Public Act 101-0668 (Liquor Delivery Law)

Effective Jan. 1, 2022 Public Act 101-0668 amends the Illinois Liquor Code to allow additional methods of delivery to the final consumer. The three new methods of delivery include:

  1. delivery within the licensed retailer's parking lot, including curbside, for pickup by the consumer;
  2. delivery by an owner, officer, director, shareholder, or employee of the licensed retailer; or
  3. delivery by a third-party contractor, independent contractor, or agent with whom the licensed retailer has contracted to make deliveries of alcoholic liquors.

Liquor license holders looking to use any of these delivery methods should review the Illinois Liquor Control Commission's (ILCC) legislative guide. Prior to using any of the above delivery services, license holders need to contact the ILCC and ensure they comply with their requirements and regulations. The full text of Public Act 101-0668

Public Act 103-0004 ("Cocktails To-Go Law")

On June 9, 2023, Governor Pritzker signed into law an amendment to the Liquor Control Act of 1934 which allows retailers to sell alcoholic liquors for delivery and pick up, so long as certain criteria are met. Steps include ensuring the individual receiving the alcohol is of legal drinking age, the container with the alcoholic beverage must be sealed and labeled with what is contained in the beverage, and the label must state where the beverage was purchased from. This portion of the Act is repealed on August 1, 2028. This is not a complete list of requirements and please refer to the Illinois Liquor Control Commission and Public Act [Public Act 103-0004] for full requirements. Guidance by the Illinois Liquor Commission can be found here.  For more information, please contact the Illinois Liquor Control Commission at 217-782-2136.

Video Gaming

On July 13, 2009 Governor Pat Quinn signed into law the Video Gaming Act (230 ILCS 40) making licensed video gaming terminals legal in Illinois. This essentially allows video gaming play by adults age 21 and older at specific licensed establishments such as bars, restaurants, taverns, truck stops, and other places. The Illinois Gaming Board has jurisdiction over all gaming operations governed by the Video Gaming Act, however the Act allowed Counties and Municipalities to prohibit video gaming in their respective jurisdictions. In 2009, DuPage County did enact a prohibition on video gaming in unincorporated areas of the county.  On Nov. 12, 2019, the DuPage County Board voted to lift the video gaming prohibition on license holders in the unincorporated areas of the County. View the Resolution lifting the ban.

A Video Gaming Terminal (VGT) is an electronic video gaming machine that plays a video game authorized by the Illinois Gaming Board, such as video poker and blackjack. An establishment may operate up to 6 VGT's on its premises. The VGT must utilize a video display and microprocessors in which the player can play the authorized game. If the consumer wins at the VGT, the machine cannot directly dispense coins, cash, or tokens but rather dispenses tickets, and the proprietor of the establishment will pay out the cash award. The VGT's are tested and approved pursuant to rules adopted by the Illinois Gaming Board.

The Illinois Gaming Board has jurisdiction over all gaming operations governed by the Video Gaming Act. Information on obtaining a State of Illinois/Illinois Gaming Board license for video gaming can be found here: igb.illinois.gov or by calling 312-814-4700. The Illinois Gaming Board also has posted a FAQ on their webpage which can be found here: igb.illinois.gov/VideoFAQ.aspx.

Liquor Commission Resources

The following websites are great resources for residents interested in learning more about alcohol-related issues affecting DuPage County:

  • Alliance Against Intoxicated Motorists (AAIM) - AAIM  is an Illinois non-profit organization whose mission is "to prevent deaths and injuries caused by intoxicated or distracted motorists and to assist impaired driving crash victims and their families throughout the state of Illinois."
  • Illinois Division of Transportation Safety (IDTS) - The IDTS is part of the Illinois Department of Transportation with a mission "to formulate, coordinate, and deliver information, services and programs which will mobilize public and private resources to establish effective public policy and integrated programs to improve highway safety in Illinois."
  • Illinois Liquor Control Commission (ILCC) - The mission of the ILCC is "to protect the health, safety and welfare of the people of Illinois through careful control and regulation of the manufacture, distribution, and sale of alcoholic liquors and through the development of strategies to reduce youth access to tobacco products."
  • Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) -  MADD is a national nonprofit with local offices whose mission is "to stop drunk driving, support the victims of these violent crimes and prevent underage drinking."
  • National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) - Under the US Department of Transportation, the NHTSA's mission is to "save lives, prevent injuries and reduce economic costs due to road traffic crashes, through education, research, safety standards and enforcement activity." 
  • National Safety Council (NSC) - The National Safety Council is a nonprofit organization whose mission is "to save lives by preventing injuries and deaths at work, in homes and communities and on the road through leadership, research, education and advocacy."

DuPage County Liquor Commissioner Meetings

Periodically, the Liquor Commissioner may call meetings to receive feedback from license holders. Minutes from previous meetings can be downloaded below:

Agendas and Minutes

04/19/18 Regular meeting Minutes      
03/15/17 Regular meeting Minutes      
03/22/16 Regular meeting Minutes      
03/11/15 Regular meeting Minutes      
03/19/14 Regular meeting Minutes      
03/13/13 Regular meeting Minutes      
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