Saved Chicago Data research

Changes in Chicago business-license records

Compare Chicago license-record counts by community and license category. Research examples retain renewals, term dates and administrative caveats.

Scan evaluated November 9, 2026 · 1 qualifying candidates · 70 annual-only contexts · 1 frequency flags · 0 turn flags

What this measure can tell us

These charts count license records by the start date of the license term, including renewals and other transactions. They do not measure business openings, business closures or the number of distinct operating establishments. One establishment can contribute more than one record.

The scan considered community totals, individual license categories and represented ward values. A rise in one category may be a genuine administrative change without a corresponding rise in economic activity. Category migrations, renewal schedules and changes in how a permit is recorded are plausible alternatives that the numeric screen cannot resolve.

Business frequency screening now compares the most recent 24 complete months with the preceding 24, requiring 48 consecutive covered months. The original 12-month comparison stays visible as context. The same 1.5-fold, five-record monthly-mean difference and 120-record supporting-total gates apply to the declared windows. Means use 24 months, and thresholds use unrounded values. Missing history never falls back to annual screening.

Applied to every one of the 5,676 business conditions in the same frozen snapshots, this revision leaves one qualifying frequency candidate: Near North Side Pop-Up Retail User records. All 70 original annual flags remain as review context; none qualifies under the new two-year rule. Its two-year totals fall from 214 to 37, but its annual totals rise from 15 to 22: the directions conflict, so it must not be described as a continuing decline. No business celeration turns qualified. The wider five-feed scan still covers 10,925 conditions; all non-business flags are unchanged.

Annual-only does not prove a renewal explanation or the absence of change. Some series miss an absolute-volume or monthly-delta gate rather than showing a repeating cycle. Two-year-only flags can describe older changes, and opposing annual/two-year directions must not be called persistent. Fixed windows reduce one administrative timing mismatch but are not seasonal adjustment, a renewal detector or statistically calibrated confirmation.

Source: Business Licenses, City of Chicago Data Portal. Source updates after the saved retrieval dates are not incorporated into this preview.

Browse the saved evidence

All conditions are listed alphabetically. With JavaScript, choose a signal to rank within this dataset; scores are review priorities, not statistical confidence.

71 evidence records

Exact saved counts · no source refresh

Albany Park · All categories
Ward: 33 · Annual-only review context · not a qualifying candidate
642 → 607 raw 24-month totals · -1.46 change / month
Annual-only flag · window-sensitive review context · Annual context: 393 → 214. Annual-only flags are excluded from frequency ranking.
Archer Heights · All categories
All other available filters · Annual-only review context · not a qualifying candidate
375 → 337 raw 24-month totals · -1.58 change / month
Annual-only flag · window-sensitive review context · Annual context: 218 → 119. Annual-only flags are excluded from frequency ranking.
Archer Heights · All categories
Ward: 14 · Annual-only review context · not a qualifying candidate
349 → 313 raw 24-month totals · -1.5 change / month
Annual-only flag · window-sensitive review context · Annual context: 202 → 111. Annual-only flags are excluded from frequency ranking.
Belmont Cragin · Retail Food Establishment · 1006
All other available filters · Annual-only review context · not a qualifying candidate
276 → 278 raw 24-month totals · 0.08 change / month
Annual-only flag · window-sensitive review context · Annual context: 176 → 102. Annual-only flags are excluded from frequency ranking.
Belmont Cragin · All categories
Ward: 31 · Annual-only review context · not a qualifying candidate
580 → 552 raw 24-month totals · -1.17 change / month
Annual-only flag · window-sensitive review context · Annual context: 339 → 213. Annual-only flags are excluded from frequency ranking.
Belmont Cragin · All categories
Ward: 36 · Annual-only review context · not a qualifying candidate
332 → 314 raw 24-month totals · -0.75 change / month
Annual-only flag · window-sensitive review context · Annual context: 195 → 119. Annual-only flags are excluded from frequency ranking.
Beverly · All categories
All other available filters · Annual-only review context · not a qualifying candidate
347 → 317 raw 24-month totals · -1.25 change / month
Annual-only flag · window-sensitive review context · Annual context: 198 → 119. Annual-only flags are excluded from frequency ranking.
Beverly · All categories
Ward: 19 · Annual-only review context · not a qualifying candidate
346 → 315 raw 24-month totals · -1.29 change / month
Annual-only flag · window-sensitive review context · Annual context: 198 → 117. Annual-only flags are excluded from frequency ranking.
Bridgeport · All categories
All other available filters · Annual-only review context · not a qualifying candidate
588 → 567 raw 24-month totals · -0.88 change / month
Annual-only flag · window-sensitive review context · Annual context: 219 → 348. Annual-only flags are excluded from frequency ranking.
Bridgeport · All categories
Ward: 11 · Annual-only review context · not a qualifying candidate
584 → 563 raw 24-month totals · -0.88 change / month
Annual-only flag · window-sensitive review context · Annual context: 217 → 346. Annual-only flags are excluded from frequency ranking.
Brighton Park · All categories
All other available filters · Annual-only review context · not a qualifying candidate
671 → 645 raw 24-month totals · -1.08 change / month
Annual-only flag · window-sensitive review context · Annual context: 414 → 231. Annual-only flags are excluded from frequency ranking.
Brighton Park · All categories
Ward: 12 · Annual-only review context · not a qualifying candidate
493 → 474 raw 24-month totals · -0.79 change / month
Annual-only flag · window-sensitive review context · Annual context: 314 → 160. Annual-only flags are excluded from frequency ranking.
Clearing · All categories
All other available filters · Annual-only review context · not a qualifying candidate
308 → 295 raw 24-month totals · -0.54 change / month
Annual-only flag · window-sensitive review context · Annual context: 88 → 207. Annual-only flags are excluded from frequency ranking.
Clearing · All categories
Ward: 13 · Annual-only review context · not a qualifying candidate
298 → 286 raw 24-month totals · -0.5 change / month
Annual-only flag · window-sensitive review context · Annual context: 88 → 198. Annual-only flags are excluded from frequency ranking.
Dunning · All categories
All other available filters · Annual-only review context · not a qualifying candidate
589 → 569 raw 24-month totals · -0.83 change / month
Annual-only flag · window-sensitive review context · Annual context: 216 → 353. Annual-only flags are excluded from frequency ranking.
Dunning · All categories
Ward: 38 · Annual-only review context · not a qualifying candidate
463 → 445 raw 24-month totals · -0.75 change / month
Annual-only flag · window-sensitive review context · Annual context: 169 → 276. Annual-only flags are excluded from frequency ranking.
East Side · All categories
All other available filters · Annual-only review context · not a qualifying candidate
226 → 225 raw 24-month totals · -0.04 change / month
Annual-only flag · window-sensitive review context · Annual context: 74 → 151. Annual-only flags are excluded from frequency ranking.
East Side · All categories
Ward: 10 · Annual-only review context · not a qualifying candidate
226 → 224 raw 24-month totals · -0.08 change / month
Annual-only flag · window-sensitive review context · Annual context: 74 → 150. Annual-only flags are excluded from frequency ranking.
Edgewater · All categories
All other available filters · Annual-only review context · not a qualifying candidate
954 → 946 raw 24-month totals · -0.33 change / month
Annual-only flag · window-sensitive review context · Annual context: 597 → 349. Annual-only flags are excluded from frequency ranking.
Edgewater · All categories
Ward: 48 · Annual-only review context · not a qualifying candidate
722 → 719 raw 24-month totals · -0.13 change / month
Annual-only flag · window-sensitive review context · Annual context: 456 → 263. Annual-only flags are excluded from frequency ranking.
Edison Park · All categories
All other available filters · Annual-only review context · not a qualifying candidate
177 → 181 raw 24-month totals · 0.17 change / month
Annual-only flag · window-sensitive review context · Annual context: 60 → 121. Annual-only flags are excluded from frequency ranking.
Gage Park · All categories
Ward: 14 · Annual-only review context · not a qualifying candidate
283 → 286 raw 24-month totals · 0.13 change / month
Annual-only flag · window-sensitive review context · Annual context: 181 → 105. Annual-only flags are excluded from frequency ranking.
Greater Grand Crossing · All categories
Ward: 6 · Annual-only review context · not a qualifying candidate
444 → 398 raw 24-month totals · -1.92 change / month
Annual-only flag · window-sensitive review context · Annual context: 243 → 155. Annual-only flags are excluded from frequency ranking.
Hermosa · All categories
All other available filters · Annual-only review context · not a qualifying candidate
436 → 398 raw 24-month totals · -1.58 change / month
Annual-only flag · window-sensitive review context · Annual context: 261 → 137. Annual-only flags are excluded from frequency ranking.
Hermosa · All categories
Ward: 31 · Annual-only review context · not a qualifying candidate
243 → 213 raw 24-month totals · -1.25 change / month
Annual-only flag · window-sensitive review context · Annual context: 139 → 74. Annual-only flags are excluded from frequency ranking.
Irving Park · Retail Food Establishment · 1006
All other available filters · Annual-only review context · not a qualifying candidate
197 → 189 raw 24-month totals · -0.33 change / month
Annual-only flag · window-sensitive review context · Annual context: 131 → 58. Annual-only flags are excluded from frequency ranking.
Irving Park · Limited Business License · 1010
All other available filters · Annual-only review context · not a qualifying candidate
281 → 269 raw 24-month totals · -0.5 change / month
Annual-only flag · window-sensitive review context · Annual context: 176 → 93. Annual-only flags are excluded from frequency ranking.
Irving Park · All categories
All other available filters · Annual-only review context · not a qualifying candidate
1,050 → 1,024 raw 24-month totals · -1.08 change / month
Annual-only flag · window-sensitive review context · Annual context: 663 → 361. Annual-only flags are excluded from frequency ranking.
Irving Park · All categories
Ward: 30 · Annual-only review context · not a qualifying candidate
233 → 230 raw 24-month totals · -0.13 change / month
Annual-only flag · window-sensitive review context · Annual context: 153 → 77. Annual-only flags are excluded from frequency ranking.
Irving Park · All categories
Ward: 33 · Annual-only review context · not a qualifying candidate
351 → 339 raw 24-month totals · -0.5 change / month
Annual-only flag · window-sensitive review context · Annual context: 226 → 113. Annual-only flags are excluded from frequency ranking.
Lake View · All categories
Ward: 32 · Annual-only review context · not a qualifying candidate
415 → 355 raw 24-month totals · -2.5 change / month
Annual-only flag · window-sensitive review context · Annual context: 216 → 139. Annual-only flags are excluded from frequency ranking.
Lincoln Park · Retail Food Establishment · 1006
All other available filters · Annual-only review context · not a qualifying candidate
432 → 446 raw 24-month totals · 0.58 change / month
Annual-only flag · window-sensitive review context · Annual context: 277 → 169. Annual-only flags are excluded from frequency ranking.
Lincoln Park · Limited Business License · 1010
All other available filters · Annual-only review context · not a qualifying candidate
436 → 434 raw 24-month totals · -0.08 change / month
Annual-only flag · window-sensitive review context · Annual context: 277 → 157. Annual-only flags are excluded from frequency ranking.
Lincoln Park · All categories
All other available filters · Annual-only review context · not a qualifying candidate
1,847 → 1,842 raw 24-month totals · -0.21 change / month
Annual-only flag · window-sensitive review context · Annual context: 1,142 → 700. Annual-only flags are excluded from frequency ranking.
Lincoln Park · All categories
Ward: 2 · Annual-only review context · not a qualifying candidate
312 → 299 raw 24-month totals · -0.54 change / month
Annual-only flag · window-sensitive review context · Annual context: 187 → 112. Annual-only flags are excluded from frequency ranking.
Lincoln Park · All categories
Ward: 32 · Annual-only review context · not a qualifying candidate
246 → 234 raw 24-month totals · -0.5 change / month
Annual-only flag · window-sensitive review context · Annual context: 147 → 87. Annual-only flags are excluded from frequency ranking.
Lincoln Park · All categories
Ward: 43 · Annual-only review context · not a qualifying candidate
1,274 → 1,276 raw 24-month totals · 0.08 change / month
Annual-only flag · window-sensitive review context · Annual context: 794 → 482. Annual-only flags are excluded from frequency ranking.
Lincoln Square · Retail Food Establishment · 1006
All other available filters · Annual-only review context · not a qualifying candidate
207 → 206 raw 24-month totals · -0.04 change / month
Annual-only flag · window-sensitive review context · Annual context: 133 → 73. Annual-only flags are excluded from frequency ranking.
Lincoln Square · All categories
All other available filters · Annual-only review context · not a qualifying candidate
920 → 905 raw 24-month totals · -0.63 change / month
Annual-only flag · window-sensitive review context · Annual context: 572 → 333. Annual-only flags are excluded from frequency ranking.
Lincoln Square · All categories
Ward: 40 · Annual-only review context · not a qualifying candidate
407 → 403 raw 24-month totals · -0.17 change / month
Annual-only flag · window-sensitive review context · Annual context: 271 → 132. Annual-only flags are excluded from frequency ranking.
Logan Square · All categories
Ward: 26 · Annual-only review context · not a qualifying candidate
178 → 190 raw 24-month totals · 0.5 change / month
Annual-only flag · window-sensitive review context · Annual context: 64 → 126. Annual-only flags are excluded from frequency ranking.
Loop · Limited Business License · 1010
All other available filters · Annual-only review context · not a qualifying candidate
1,892 → 1,649 raw 24-month totals · -10.13 change / month
Annual-only flag · window-sensitive review context · Annual context: 629 → 1,020. Annual-only flags are excluded from frequency ranking.
Lower West Side · Limited Business License · 1010
All other available filters · Annual-only review context · not a qualifying candidate
355 → 333 raw 24-month totals · -0.92 change / month
Annual-only flag · window-sensitive review context · Annual context: 133 → 200. Annual-only flags are excluded from frequency ranking.
Lower West Side · All categories
All other available filters · Annual-only review context · not a qualifying candidate
1,242 → 1,255 raw 24-month totals · 0.54 change / month
Annual-only flag · window-sensitive review context · Annual context: 486 → 769. Annual-only flags are excluded from frequency ranking.
Lower West Side · All categories
Ward: 25 · Annual-only review context · not a qualifying candidate
1,154 → 1,159 raw 24-month totals · 0.21 change / month
Annual-only flag · window-sensitive review context · Annual context: 451 → 708. Annual-only flags are excluded from frequency ranking.
McKinley Park · All categories
All other available filters · Annual-only review context · not a qualifying candidate
305 → 308 raw 24-month totals · 0.13 change / month
Annual-only flag · window-sensitive review context · Annual context: 106 → 202. Annual-only flags are excluded from frequency ranking.
McKinley Park · All categories
Ward: 12 · Annual-only review context · not a qualifying candidate
207 → 205 raw 24-month totals · -0.08 change / month
Annual-only flag · window-sensitive review context · Annual context: 71 → 134. Annual-only flags are excluded from frequency ranking.
Morgan Park · All categories
All other available filters · Annual-only review context · not a qualifying candidate
297 → 284 raw 24-month totals · -0.54 change / month
Annual-only flag · window-sensitive review context · Annual context: 178 → 106. Annual-only flags are excluded from frequency ranking.
Near North Side · Pop-Up Retail User · 4409
All other available filters · frequency change
214 → 37 raw 24-month totals · -7.38 change / month
Annual and two-year changes point in opposite directions · Annual context: 15 → 22. Annual-only flags are excluded from frequency ranking.
New City · Limited Business License · 1010
All other available filters · Annual-only review context · not a qualifying candidate
1,076 → 885 raw 24-month totals · -7.96 change / month
Annual-only flag · window-sensitive review context · Annual context: 622 → 263. Annual-only flags are excluded from frequency ranking.
New City · Pop-Up Retail User · 4409
All other available filters · Annual-only review context · not a qualifying candidate
67 → 186 raw 24-month totals · 4.96 change / month
Annual-only flag · window-sensitive review context · Annual context: 29 → 157. Annual-only flags are excluded from frequency ranking.
New City · All categories
Ward: 12 · Annual-only review context · not a qualifying candidate
992 → 926 raw 24-month totals · -2.75 change / month
Annual-only flag · window-sensitive review context · Annual context: 593 → 333. Annual-only flags are excluded from frequency ranking.
North Center · All categories
Ward: 32 · Annual-only review context · not a qualifying candidate
316 → 284 raw 24-month totals · -1.33 change / month
Annual-only flag · window-sensitive review context · Annual context: 181 → 103. Annual-only flags are excluded from frequency ranking.
North Lawndale · All categories
Ward: 24 · Annual-only review context · not a qualifying candidate
324 → 284 raw 24-month totals · -1.67 change / month
Annual-only flag · window-sensitive review context · Annual context: 112 → 172. Annual-only flags are excluded from frequency ranking.
North Park · All categories
All other available filters · Annual-only review context · not a qualifying candidate
321 → 325 raw 24-month totals · 0.17 change / month
Annual-only flag · window-sensitive review context · Annual context: 197 → 128. Annual-only flags are excluded from frequency ranking.
Rogers Park · All categories
All other available filters · Annual-only review context · not a qualifying candidate
738 → 730 raw 24-month totals · -0.33 change / month
Annual-only flag · window-sensitive review context · Annual context: 447 → 283. Annual-only flags are excluded from frequency ranking.
Rogers Park · All categories
Ward: 49 · Annual-only review context · not a qualifying candidate
702 → 695 raw 24-month totals · -0.29 change / month
Annual-only flag · window-sensitive review context · Annual context: 419 → 276. Annual-only flags are excluded from frequency ranking.
Roseland · All categories
All other available filters · Annual-only review context · not a qualifying candidate
370 → 344 raw 24-month totals · -1.08 change / month
Annual-only flag · window-sensitive review context · Annual context: 220 → 124. Annual-only flags are excluded from frequency ranking.
Roseland · All categories
Ward: 9 · Annual-only review context · not a qualifying candidate
277 → 250 raw 24-month totals · -1.13 change / month
Annual-only flag · window-sensitive review context · Annual context: 162 → 88. Annual-only flags are excluded from frequency ranking.
South Lawndale · Retail Food Establishment · 1006
All other available filters · Annual-only review context · not a qualifying candidate
228 → 209 raw 24-month totals · -0.79 change / month
Annual-only flag · window-sensitive review context · Annual context: 67 → 142. Annual-only flags are excluded from frequency ranking.
South Lawndale · Limited Business License · 1010
All other available filters · Annual-only review context · not a qualifying candidate
431 → 348 raw 24-month totals · -3.46 change / month
Annual-only flag · window-sensitive review context · Annual context: 135 → 213. Annual-only flags are excluded from frequency ranking.
South Lawndale · All categories
All other available filters · Annual-only review context · not a qualifying candidate
1,151 → 1,069 raw 24-month totals · -3.42 change / month
Annual-only flag · window-sensitive review context · Annual context: 395 → 674. Annual-only flags are excluded from frequency ranking.
South Lawndale · All categories
Ward: 22 · Annual-only review context · not a qualifying candidate
632 → 602 raw 24-month totals · -1.25 change / month
Annual-only flag · window-sensitive review context · Annual context: 227 → 375. Annual-only flags are excluded from frequency ranking.
South Lawndale · All categories
Ward: 25 · Annual-only review context · not a qualifying candidate
346 → 300 raw 24-month totals · -1.92 change / month
Annual-only flag · window-sensitive review context · Annual context: 109 → 191. Annual-only flags are excluded from frequency ranking.
South Shore · All categories
All other available filters · Annual-only review context · not a qualifying candidate
512 → 467 raw 24-month totals · -1.88 change / month
Annual-only flag · window-sensitive review context · Annual context: 294 → 173. Annual-only flags are excluded from frequency ranking.
Uptown · Limited Business License · 1010
All other available filters · Annual-only review context · not a qualifying candidate
244 → 237 raw 24-month totals · -0.29 change / month
Annual-only flag · window-sensitive review context · Annual context: 150 → 87. Annual-only flags are excluded from frequency ranking.
Uptown · All categories
Ward: 47 · Annual-only review context · not a qualifying candidate
265 → 246 raw 24-month totals · -0.79 change / month
Annual-only flag · window-sensitive review context · Annual context: 154 → 92. Annual-only flags are excluded from frequency ranking.
West Lawn · All categories
All other available filters · Annual-only review context · not a qualifying candidate
464 → 415 raw 24-month totals · -2.04 change / month
Annual-only flag · window-sensitive review context · Annual context: 159 → 256. Annual-only flags are excluded from frequency ranking.
West Ridge · Limited Business License · 1010
All other available filters · Annual-only review context · not a qualifying candidate
352 → 316 raw 24-month totals · -1.5 change / month
Annual-only flag · window-sensitive review context · Annual context: 195 → 121. Annual-only flags are excluded from frequency ranking.
West Town · Consumption on Premises - Incidental Activity · 1475
All other available filters · Annual-only review context · not a qualifying candidate
234 → 225 raw 24-month totals · -0.38 change / month
Annual-only flag · window-sensitive review context · Annual context: 146 → 79. Annual-only flags are excluded from frequency ranking.
West Town · All categories
Ward: 27 · Annual-only review context · not a qualifying candidate
687 → 680 raw 24-month totals · -0.29 change / month
Annual-only flag · window-sensitive review context · Annual context: 420 → 260. Annual-only flags are excluded from frequency ranking.

Questions worth asking next

Does the category have comparable meaning in both windows?
Are renewals or multiple licenses per establishment driving the change?
Would a different administrative grouping reverse the interpretation?

Except for explicitly documented case-study follow-ups, these are proposed checks, not completed investigations. The numerical screen cannot choose among causal explanations.

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