No more than 2 adult customers, clients, students, or patients shall be on the premises at any one time.
You must have a valid driver's license to apply. You'll also need to make sure you don't owe money to the City. We're unable to issue you a business license if you don't meet these requirements.
UNSURE IF YOU OWE?
- Check if you owe court fees, property taxes or parking tickets. Call the Treasurer's Office at 616-456-3020
- Check if you owe taxes to the City. Call the Income Tax Department at 616-456-3415
PROPERTY REQUIREMENTS
The Zoning Department will not approve accessory structures. All rooms must be within the main dwelling unit. You'll need to make sure the property is properly zoned. Call the Zoning Department at 616-456-4100 to check the property zoning. Check before submitting your application to avoid long delays in processing your license.
Here's a list of other property requirements:
- The dwelling must be the principal residence of the owner-operator
- The owner-operator shall be in residence when renting.
- City Code does not supersede Condominium Association rules and regulations. Condominium Associations must approve of the home occupation business (if applicable)
- Applicant must be sole owner, joint tenant, or joint tenant by the entire-ties of the real estate
MEDICAL MARIJUANA
A registered primary care giver must be in compliance with these and other relevant regulations:
Here's a look at what you'll need to complete your application:
- A floor plan of the entire home with business space clearly indicated
- A letter of approval from authorized Condominium Association (if applicable)
You'll need the following information for ALL owners, partners, or corporate officers:
- Name
- Address
- Last 4 digits of Social Security number
- Driver's license or State ID number
- Date of birth
- E-mail address
Have questions? Give us a call at the number listed in the Contact Us section of this page. There are many things that you need to do to apply for the license. We also have resources to help you prepare your application:
Home Occupation Class B License Checklist(PDF, 185KB)
Medical Marijuana Grower Checklist(PDF, 187KB)
Home Occupation License Ordinance
Zoning Code
There is a $405 application fee for new licenses. You can renew your first issuance twice. There is a $203 application fee for renewals.
After two renewals, you'll have to re-apply for a license and pay the $403 first issuance fee. All application fees are non-refundable. Here's a look at our accepted payment methods:
MAILED PAYMENTS
IN PERSON PAYMENTS
- Cash
- Check
- Money order
- Credit or debit cards (Visa, Discover, or MasterCard)
Make sure you have the appropriate payment ready. Refer to step 3 for accepted payment methods.
The Fire Department will contact you to schedule an inspection.
MEDICAL MARIJUANA INSPECTIONS
The Vice Department will contact medical marijuana grower applicants to schedule an inspection. The department will ensure compliance with all rules and regulations.
It takes us 5-10 business days to process applications. Keep in mind that it may take longer to process your application if we find that you need to make changes. We'll call or email you to let you know your license is ready. You can either pick it up from the office or we'll mail it to you.
The license must be displayed openly on the property where all customers can see.
We use a standard licensing year of July 1 through June 30 for all businesses. Your license will expire on June 30 regardless of when you apply. The fees are also the same no matter when you apply during the year. So make sure to plan accordingly.
You can renew your Home Occupation License for two years after your first issuance. Then you will need to re-apply and pay the first-issuance fee.