2.6: Licenses and Permits

Businesses Frequently Requiring a License or Permit

Once you have determined the purpose, type, name and structure of your business, you must find out if a license or permit is required. Many businesses require one or the other to operate without one may be illegal.

A license is a privilege granted by a legislative body at its discretion a permit is a right that anyone can obtain if the requirements of the granting agency are met. Licenses and permits may be granted at the town, city, and county or province level.

Departments that issue licenses or permits at the local level.

• Alcohol – sales and distribution
• Amusement parks, carnival rides, music, dancing
• Appliance testing labs
• Asbestos abatement
• Auto body repair
• Auto sales – new and used
• Child day care centres
• Cigarettes – wholesale and retail
• Collection agencies and finance companies
• Concrete technicians – testing labs
• Dairies, milk dealers and plants
• Dancing schools
• Detective agencies
• Diesel fuel trucks
• Elevators and operators, escalators
• Employment agencies
• Engine fuel and lubricants
• Engineering and related fields
• Entertainment
• Firearms sale
• Fishing, hunting, trapping
• Food or beverage service, sale or preparation
• Fortune tellers
• Hawkers and peddlers – balloons souvenirs arts and crafts, flowers,
• Auctioneers
• Hazardous chemicals or flammables
• Insurance agents, adjusters, brokers, advisors
• Junk dealers
• Lodging – hotels, motels, inns, bed and breakfasts, guesthouses
• Motion picture operators
• Motor vehicle appraisers
• Notaries public, justices of the peace
• Nursing homes
• Outdoor advertising
• Painters, riggers
• Pet shops, riding schools, cattle dealers, stables, riding instructors, guard and hearing dog businesses
• Restricted pesticide dealers and applicators
• Solid fuel burning, construction supervision