Business Licenses

»» City Manager Isaiah Hugley, with the authorization of Mayor and Council, will waive penalties and interest for business license renewals received by 4:30 p.m. on May 1, 2023. All penalties and interest will resume after the said expiration date.

»» PROCEDURES FOR OBTAINING A BUSINESS LICENSE     

• 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.

»» BUSINESS LICENSE REQUEST/RENEWAL FORM
    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 Employer
     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

     The 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:

»» INFORMATION FOR ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE LICENSE APPLICATION

»» SIGN & SURVEY AUTHORIZATION FOR NEW ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE LICENSE

»» NONPROFIT ALCOHOL SPECIAL EVENT APPLICATION

»» ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE LICENSING FEES

»» ONE-TIME-PAYMENT AUTHORIZATION FORM

»» REQUEST TO INVESTIGATE

Alarm Registration

»» ALARM REGISTRATION APPLICATION

Pawnbrokers and Dealers in Second-hand Jewelry

»» APPLICATION TO OPERATE AS: PAWNBROKERS, DEALERS IN SECOND-HAND JEWELRY, PRECIOUS METALS AND GEMS