Business Licenses

• A general business license is required of all businesses operating in Columbus, GA/Muscogee County.
• Business licenses are not transferable.
• Out-of-state businesses with no location or office in Georgia, doing business in Columbus, GA/Muscogee County are subject to the City of Columbus Occupation Tax.
• Businesses located in Columbus, Ga/Muscogee County are required to obtain a Certificate of Occupancy from the Department of Inspections and Code.

Procedures for Obtaining a Business License

1. Certificate of Occupancy
   1. Required for all established businesses located in Muscogee County and can be obtained from the Inspections & Code Enforcement Division, located on the second floor at 420 10 th Street, Columbus, Ga. That office can be reached at (706) 225-4126
   2. The Inspections & Code Enforcement Division, located on the second floor at 420 10th Street, Columbus, Ga., must approve businesses operating from a residence in Muscogee County, prior to operation. That office can be reached at (706) 225-4126.
2. Business License or Occupational Tax Certificate
   1. Can be obtained in the Occupation Tax Section after the Certificate of Occupancy is obtained. The Occupation Tax Section is located at 3111 Citizens Way, Ground Floor, Columbus, Georgia 31906.
   2. Some professions require licensing through the State of Georgia. Ifyours is one of these professions, you must provide a copy ofyour State license when applying for your local business license. Please visit http://sos.georgia.gov/plb/ to see if your profession is one of those requiring state licensing.
   3. There will be an Administrative fee of $75.00 for the license, unless the qualifications for the professional option, under Section 19-44 ofthe Columbus Code are met, in which case, a fee of $400.00 will be collected per licensed professional. For Pawnshops, there will be a Regulatory Fee of $150.00.
   4. Businesses that are located outside the state of Georgia, with no physical location in Georgia, but conducts business within the state of Georgia, will be required to obtain a business license from the municipality in Georgia in which they conduct the most business.
   5. Businesses applying for an alcoholic beverage license need to obtain the application from the Occupation Tax Section . . The process for an alcoholic beverage license is in addition to the process for a general business license.
   6. Applicants for a business license or alcoholic beverage must execute a Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SA VE) affidavit to verify their lawful presence in the United States and E-Verify Affidavit.

Required Documents

Occupation Tax Fees

• Administrative Fee
  $75.00 Upon Issuance of License
• Occupation Tax Rate
  Range from $1.00 - $6.00 per $1000. (See Occupation Tax Section for details.)
• Alcoholic Beverage Application Fee
  $50.00 Upon Acceptance of Application & $20.00 for Each Waiver For Police Records Check

Helpful Telephone Numbers

Business License: Request or Renewal

Sole Proprietorship, Partnership, or Corporation.

Save Affidavit verifying legal status (12-2012)

The (S.A.V.E.) Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements program is an inter-governmental initiative designed to aid benefit-granting agencies in determining an applicant's immigration status, and thereby ensure that only entitled applicants receive federal, state, or local public benefits and licenses. For every public benefit a city or county issues to any person or entity, the city or county must receive a signed and sworn affidavit verifying the person's lawful presence in the United States. This requirement is mandated under Georgia Law O.C.G.A.§ 50-36-1.

E-Verify - Private Employee

The enactment of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Enforcement Act of 2011, H.B. 87, requires most every private employer needing a Georgia business license to register with and utilize the federal work authorization program, also known as E-Verify. Before any city or county issues any occupational tax certificate (also known as business licenses) or other licenses to a private employer, the employer must sign an affidavit stating that the employer is authorized to use E-Verify or is not required to use E-Verify. This requirement is mandatory. In order to comply with Georgia State Law, any employer of ten or more full time employees (full time means someone who works for you at least 35 hours per week) renewing or obtaining a business license/occupation tax certificate or similar license will have to complete and submit the enclosed E-Verify affidavit proving the employer's E-Verify registration number and attesting to its proper use. Please visit https://www.e-verify.gov/ for E-Verify registration instructions.

Alcoholic Beverage License

he Georgia Department of Revenue has developed and implemented a centralized state-wide Alcohol Licensing Portal (ALP) in a collaborative effort with local governing authorities to streamline the retail alcohol initial registration, renewal licensing process and Alcohol Special Event Permits. This web-based secure portal ensures both the Georgia Department of Revenue and City of Columbus receive, review, and process all retail alcohol applications in the ALP.

All applicants for initial applications for Alcoholic Beverage Licenses and Alcohol Special Event Permits will have to submit their applications through the Georgia Department of Revenue GTC Alcohol Licensing Portal. Please click on the link below to download PDF attachment on how to register a new or existing business for a retail alcohol license:

Pawnbrokers and Dealers in Second-hand Jewelry