Types of Business Licenses

General Licensing Information:

Businesses By Type:

Click a business type for additional information.

 

Adult Business

The category of Adult Business includes the following establishments:  Adult Bookstore, Adult Motion Picture Theater, Adult Mini Motion Picture Theater, Adult Motion Picture Arcade, Adult Cabaret (a.k.a. Class B Cabaret), Adult Drive-in Theater, Adult Live Entertainment Arcade, Adult Motel or Adult Service Establishment.

LICENSING FEE EXPIRATION DATE

Adult Business License

500.00

Jan 31

 

 

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Alarm Agent

Alarm Agent means any person or entity, whether an individual, partnership or corporation, who conducts a business of monitoring alarm systems and whose actions would involve contacting the South Bend Police Department or South Bend Fire Department for a response.

LICENSING FEE EXPIRATION DATE

Alarm Agent License

75.00

Jan 31

 

 

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Arborist

Arborist Activities include: any persons engaging in the business of planting, removing, trimming or spraying trees or shrubs.

LICENSING FEE EXPIRATION DATE

Arborist License

60.00

Jan 31

 

3.50 (Per Vehicle for Arborist Plate Fee)

 

 

 

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Automotive Repair and Service Center

Automotive Repair and Service Center shall mean any location where motor vehicle repair, servicing, and/or storage is done on the premises for a fee.

LICENSING FEE EXPIRATION DATE

Automotive Repair and Service Centers License

200.00

Jan 31

 

 

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Carnival & Circus

A Carnival includes amusement activities, rides, merry-go-rounds, booths for the conduct of games of skill, food dispensing facilities and sideshows presented by traveling companies.

A Circus includes performances given by traveling companies on vacant lots with tents, or some other kind of temporary enclosure, where performances are given for a fee. Performances may include, but are not limited to: Trained animal acts, races, feats of horsemanship, acrobatics, strength, trapeze acting, or clowns.

LICENSING FEE EXPIRATION DATE

Carnival/Circus License

105.00

Jan 31

 

 

 

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Charitable Solicitation

Charitable solicitations includes the request for financial assistance in connection with philanthropic purposes as well as the sale or attempted sale of items or services in connection with philanthropic purposes or organizations.

LICENSING FEE EXPIRATION DATE

Charitable Solicitation License

45.00

Jan 31

 

 

 

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Fertilizer Manufacturing Facility

Fertilizer manufacturing facility shall mean any facility or location where organic waste is processed commercially for the where manure or crop residue is returned to the soil at the point of generation as part of a total farm or gardening operation.

LICENSING FEE EXPIRATION DATE

Fertilizer Manufacturing Facility License

200.00

Jan 31

 

 

Food Vending Machine

 

 

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Food Vending Vehicle

Food vending vehicles include any vehicles from which food items such as ice cream, candy or other food sundries are sold directly to a consumer at retail, and which is operated on any public road, street or other place within the City.

LICENSING FEE EXPIRATION DATE

Food Vending Vehicle License

65.00  (Per Vehicle)

Jan 31

 

 

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Hotels & Motel

Hotels and motels include buildings in which lodging, with or without meals, is provided and offered to the public for compensation and which is open to transient guests.

LICENSING FEE EXPIRATION DATE

Hotel & Motel License

95.00  (Per Establishment)

Jan 31

 

 

  • Attention: Lodging establishments must have a restaurant license (Sec. 4-45 of the South Bend Municipal Code) in order to serve food or meals to patrons.
  • For a copy of the Business License Application:

 

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Itinerant Restaurant

Itinerant restaurants include any restaurants which operate for a temporary period of time, not to exceed two (2) weeks, and include, but are not limited to, those operated in conjunction with a fair, carnival, circus, public exhibition, or similar gathering.

LICENSING FEE                                                      EXPIRATION DATE

Itinerant Restaurant License

75.00  (Per Location, Per Year)

N/A

Live Entertainment Addition

30.00

 

 

  • For definitions of industry terms and regulations, consult:
  • For information specific to restaurants with live entertainment, consult:
  • For a copy of the Business License Application:

 

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Massage Establishment & Technicians

Massage establishments include any establishments having a fixed place of business where any person engages in, conducts, carries on, or permits to be engaged in, conducted or carried on, massages or baths.

Massage technicians include any person who, for any form of consideration whatsoever, gives or administers a massage or bath to a patron.

LICENSING FEE EXPIRATION DATE

Massage Establishment License

200.00

Feb 28

Massage Technician License

75.00

Feb 28

 

 

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Mobile Food Vendor Vehicle

Mobile Food Vendor Vehicle means a licensed motorized vehicle that is enclosed, self-contained and serves food items to the general public.  Food items may be prepared, cooked, and assembled in the vehicle or may have been prepared, wrapped or packaged in a licensed food establishment.

LICENSING FEE EXPIRATION DATE
  1-yr. $525.00

Varies by Business Name

A-M (Expires March 1st)

N-Z (Expires April 1st)

Mobile Food Vendor Vehicle License

1-day $50.00

30-day $130.00

90-day $200.00

 

 

 

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Open Air Business

An open air business includes any person who erects, places or stands in the City an open-air booth, shed, tent, trailer, container, donation box or stand for the purpose of selling, bartering, receiving for future sale or use, distributing or exchanging on or from such place any goods, wares or merchandise, which terms shall include also all fruits, vegetables, country produce, refreshments, beverages, baked goods, and confectionery, before engaging in such business shall obtain a license from the Controller. The license shall designate the place where such business is to be operated and the kind of booth, shed, tent, trailer or stand in and from which such articles are to be sold.

LICENSING FEE      EXPIRATION DATE

Open Air Business License  (Public Property)

Open Air Business License  (Private Property)

40.00

45.00

Jan 31

Jan 31
Open Air Business License for Donation Boxes & Containers 25.00 Jan 31

 

  • Attention:  Those open-air businesses serving food that is prepared or served in such a manner that is ready for consumption is required to obtain a restaurant license in addition to an Open Air Business License.
  • For definitions of industry terms and regulations, consult:
  • For a Copy of the Business License Application:

 

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Outdoor Movie Theater

Outdoor motion picture theaters include every place where motion pictures are exhibited to the public and which is not enclosed within a building.

LICENSING FEE EXPIRATION DATE

Outdoor Motion Picture Theater License

85.00

Jan 31

 

 

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Peddlers and Canvassers

A peddler is one who sells or offers for sale tangible commodities directly to a consumer from house to house, store to store, or on the streets. Peddlers shall include persons selling from any type of motor vehicle; persons going on foot as "pack peddlers."

A canvasser or solicitor is one who takes orders for future deliveries of goods or services in public or private places or from house to house and not from an established place on private premises.

LICENSING FEE EXPIRATION DATE

Peddlers & Canvassers License

50.00

Jan 31

 

 

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Pool Halls

Pool Hall or Billiard Hall: Any establishment which keeps, maintains, or operates for hire on the premises four (4) or more pool or billiard tables.

LICENSING FEE EXPIRATION DATE

Pool Hall License

100.00

Jan 31

 

 

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Precious Metals Dealers

Precious Metals Dealer refers to any person who claims to the public to be a purchaser of precious metals, or who in doing business engages in purchasing, trading, or offering by consignment silver, gold or other precious metals.

LICENSING FEE EXPIRATION DATE

Precious Metals Dealer License

75.00

Jan 31

 

 

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Public Parking Facilities

Public Parking Facilities include any plot, piece or parcel of land or any building or structure used for the purpose of storing motor vehicles where the owners or persons storing such vehicles are charged a fee and which are open to the public.

LICENSING FEE                                      EXPIRATION DATE

Public Parking Facility License

80.00 (Per Facility)

Jan 31

 

 

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Restaurants

Restaurant means any coffee shop, cafeteria, short order café, luncheonette, grill, sandwich stand, soda fountain, drive-in restaurant, walk-up restaurant, mobile food vendor, mobile food cart, drive-in theater restaurant, in-plant food service, tavern commissary, snack bar, tea room, fast-food restaurant, or restaurant without live entertainment or music, food catering or food service establishment, hotel or motel where continental breakfast is served, retail food markets, whether fixed or movable, where food for human consumption is prepared or served in such manner that it is ready for consumption on the premises.  The term “restaurant” shall not include a food service establishment that is known as a retail food market where food is not prepared and served for consumption on the premises with the exception of retail food markets that contain soda fountains, coffee dispensers or slushy machines; nor shall the term “restaurant” include any coin-operated vending machine dispensing any kind or type of food, confectionery or beverage..

LICENSING FEE EXPIRATION DATE

Restaurant License  (Capacity: 0-150 persons)

90.00

Restaurant Names:

A-M:  Mar 1

N-Z:   Apr 1

Restaurant License  (Capacity: 151+  persons)

110.00

Live Entertainment Addition

30.00

 

  • For definitions of industry terms and regulations, consult:
  • For information specific to restaurants with live entertainment, consult:
  • For a copy of the Business License Application:

 

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Recycling Drop Off Facility

Recycling drop off center includes any facility, open to the public, where household recyclables, (e.g. glass, plastic, and paper) are collected for transfer to a processing center or markets.   This category also includes a facility for the collection of used clothing and household goods. Such used goods must be stored in an enclosed structure.

Recycling processing center includes any building or enclosed space used for the collection, processing, and storage of recyclable materials.

LICENSING FEE                               EXPIRATION DATE

Recycling Drop Off Facility License

50.00 (Per Location)

Jan 31

 

  • Attention: Recycling processing centers must have additional licensing pursuant to:
    • Sec. 4-51 of the South Bend Municipal Code. 
  • Those facilities which include both a recycling drop-off center as well as a processing center require separate licensing for each activity.
  • For definitions of industry terms and regulations, consult:

 

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Rubbish and Garbage Removal

Anyone who intends to collect, transport, or dispose of, for compensation, any garbage, rubbish or trash of any kind, type, or nature.  Vehicles owned and operated by the City of South Bend are not subject to the licensing requirement.

LICENSING FEE                                 EXPIRATION DATE
Rubbish and Garbage Removal License 60.00 (Per Vehicle)   Apr 30
Vehicle Inspection Fee 10.00 (Per Vehicle)  

 

 

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Secondhand Dealers

Secondhand Store Owners include any person who keeps or maintains a business for the purchase or sale of secondhand clothing, secondhand furniture or secondhand goods, wares or merchandise of any kind.

LICENSING FEE EXPIRATION DATE

Secondhand Dealer License

115.00

Jan 31

Outdoor Display Addition

40.00

 

 

  • Attention: Secondhand dealers engaging in the trade of jewelry or other precious metals additionally require the Precious Metal Dealer License. For information regarding licensing of precious metals dealers, consult:

            *  Sec. 4-44 of the South Bend Municipal Code

  • For information including licensing and inspections of secondhand stores consult:
  • For a copy of the Business License Application:

 

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Self Service Laundries and Dry Cleaners

Self-service laundries or dry cleaners mean only those establishments which provide self-operated washing or drying facilities and which are open and available to the general public. The term does not include any establishments wherein the laundry services are performed by employees of the operator of the laundry establishment, nor does this term include self-service laundry facilities which are provided for or established in apartment or multiple-rental units, as long as such self-service laundries are not open to the general public and are restricted in their availability to the tenants or inhabitants of such apartment or multiple-rental units.

LICENSING FEE                                          EXPIRATION DATE
Self-Service Laundries License    
(1-15 Machines) 45.00 (Per Establishment) Jan 31
(Over 15 Machines) 3.00 (Per Machine)  

 

 

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Tattoo Establishment & Technician

A Tattoo Establishment refers to all places of business and all areas used by tattoo and piercing practitioners.  This primarily includes the facility treatment area, waiting/reception area, and premises.

Tattoo Technician includes persons providing any of the services of a tattoo establishment for a fee.  This includes but is not limited to: tattooing, body branding, and piercing.

LICENSING

INITIAL FEE

RENEWAL FEE

EXPIRATION DATE

Tattoo Establishment License

250.00

150.00

Jan 31

Tattoo Technician License

125.00

75.00

Jan 31

 

 

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Transient Merchant

Transient merchant includes any person, firm, partnership, association or corporation which engages in the sale of merchandise in any place in the City on a temporary basis and does not anticipate becoming an established business merchant for a continuous sixty (60) days or longer. A transient merchant includes anyone who for himself or as an agent for another, rents, erects, purchases, uses, or occupies any vehicle, room, building, or other structure, including but not limited to those located in or along parking lots, shopping centers, sidewalks, or other areas for the purpose of purchasing, selling, or offering for sale anything of value at such location for less than sixty (60) days.

LICENSING                    FEE                                                          EXPIRATION DATE
Transient Merchant License 135.00  (0-59 Days)  
 

50.00 (Christmas Greenery Only)

  

 

  • Attention: Please consult the descriptions of: "open air business (Sec. 4-38)," "peddler (Sec. 4-43),” and “canvasser (Sec. 4-43)” to ensure that your business is classified correctly.
  • For definitions of industry terms and regulations, consult:
    • Sec. 4-60  of the South Bend Municipal Code
  • For a copy of the Business License Application:

 

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Vehicle Removal Service

Engaging in the business of towing or otherwise removing unauthorized vehicles from private property, including: booting, impounding, disabling, or taking any other action having the effect of restricting the access to such vehicle of the owner or operator of such vehicle or restricting the free and unencumbered movement of such vehicle.

LICENSING FEE EXPIRATION DATE

Vehicle Removal Service License

125.00

Jan 31

 

 

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