Business Licenses and Permits

On my drive home from the office last night, my mind wandered to the list of items I wanted to tackle when I walked in the door.  Hug my wife and kids, fire up the BBQ, enjoy dinner, storm the dishes, read to the kids before bedtime, etcetera.  I smiled at the thought that a …

Local city counsils continue to seek new approaches to regulating local businesses.  Some are grappling with whether not-for-profit enterprises are required to file for a business license.  Others are considering greater cooperation with state or county regulatory agencies.
The Havre County Montana Planning and Development Committee is no exception.  After spending considerable time and effort drafting …

Charitable donation collection boxes have been popping up in parking lots and street corners all around the country.  Charities and for profit organizations should be sure to check with the local zoning office to make sure the donation boxes are allowed. 
In Madison, Wisconsin donation boxes do not currently need a permit, but organizations must receive …

Two years ago the State of Arizona passed a law that requires all employers to use E-Verify, a free, federal managed system, to check the legal status of all new employees.  According to The Arizona Republic, hundreds of thousands of workers have been hired without being verified.  The report speculates that most of those businesses …

Every day on the roads across America there are thousands of trucks transporting goods and people from one spot to another. The task of transporting goods and people is simple, but determining what licenses are needed to do so is a whole different animal.
Pretty much the only thing all commercial vehicles will have in common …

A resident of North Ogden, UT was denied a business license to sell guns out of his home by the City Council. City ordinances prohibit individuals from making sales out of their homes.
The resident explained to the Council his business plan was to sell gun accessories online, but selling actual guns would require face-to-face sales …

Restaurants in Florida cities must follow state health codes, however there are some exceptions to this rule.  Usually dogs, except service dogs, are not allowed to enter a restaurant where food is prepared and served.  However the state allows cities in the state to set their own laws allowing dogs in outdoor dining areas.  The …

The City of Maricopa, Arizona has noticed a 50% drop in issued business permits in the past week.  The city issued only four permits from July 19th through July 23rd, including one permit for a property management company located outside of the city limits.  Maricopa is located in the Phoenix metro area and is the …

Companies that span multiple industries face taller licensing hurdles than those that are narrowly focused in one industry. One such hurdle is the volume of government agencies a company will have to contact to determine the exact licensing requirements.
Let’s take a salt production company that mines, manufactures, stores and distributes salt products. At first glance …

Businesses in American Canyon, CA operating without a business license might be able to come into compliance with city regulations without facing penalties. The City Council is going to use its next meeting to look into this possibility.
The ultimate goal of the amnesty program is to level the playing field for businesses already in compliance. …