To get a Home Occupation Class C License, make sure you have a valid driver's license and 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
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. You must be sole owner, joint tenants, or joint tenants by the entireties of the real estate.
You will need to submit a completed Special Land Use Permit Application to the Zoning Department. You will need this permit before applying for your license. Submit a completed Special Land Use Permit Application(PDF, 289KB) to the Zoning Department before starting your license application.
A floor plan of the entire home with rooms for rent must be submitted with your application.
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 C License Checklist(PDF, 183KB)
Home Occupation License Ordinance
Zoning Code
There is a $410 application fee for new licenses. There is a $203 application fee for renewals. 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 4 for accepted payment methods.
The Fire Department will contact you to schedule an inspection.
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.