Business Licensing

The City Business License Administrator provides applications and coordinates all interdepartmental approvals pursuant to licensing ordinances. The Business License Administrator is responsible for issuing all business licenses for the City of Portland. To contact the Business License Administrator, call 207-874-8557.

COVID-19 RELATED RESOURCES - TEMPORARY STREET CLOSURES & EXPANSION OF OUTDOOR DINING AND RETAIL



Under the City Council's emergency proclamation, the City Manager may temporarily suspend certain traffic, outdoor dining, and retail business rules to allow for the safe and successful recovery of local businesses.  
 

The deadline for Temporary Licenses was May 10, 2021.

 Business License Requirements:

Prior to receiving a city license to conduct a business, most business types require an inspection or approval from:
*Treasury Department Approval
Any outstanding taxes or sewer fees will affect your ability to obtain your business license until they are brought current.

City Treasury Division
Room 102
Portland, ME 04101
Ph: 207-874-8490

Fees


All business licenses require a $45 application fee. However, if you are applying for multiple licenses at the same time, only one $45 fee is required. All fees, applications, and licenses must be paid on an annual basis. Renewal application fees are $35. Please do not send cash in the mail.

Applications, Permits & Supporting Information

  1. Booting of Motor Vehicles License
  2. Brewery/Distillery/Winery Alcohol On Premise Application
  3. Brewery/Distillery/Winery Manufacturing Application
  4. Circus License
  5. Entertainment License
  6. Farmers Market Public Property License
  7. Fire Permit
  8. Flea Market Seller License Application
  9. Food Service Establishment - Commissary Kitchen
  10. Going Out of Business Sale
  11. Golf Cart
  12. Liquor License Application
  13. Massage Establishment
  14. Massage Therapist
  15. Massage Therapist - Establishment Combined
  16. Mobile Food Service License - Pushcart/Food Truck
  17. Mobile Food Service Rules and Regs - Pushcarts
  18. Mobile Food Service Rules and Regulations - Food Trucks
  1. Mobile Unit Compliance Handout
  2. Motion Picture Theatre
  3. Outdoor Dining Private Property
  4. Outdoor Dining Public Property
  5. Parklet Outdoor Dining
  6. Scrap Metal Recycling Facility
  7. Second Hand Dealer Junk Collector
  8. Sidewalk Sale
  9. Single Concert/Single Dance Permit
  10. Street Artist Handbook April 2017
  11. Street Artists Rules and Regulations
  12. Street Goods Vendor
  13. Temporary Food Service Establishment Rules & Regulations
  14. Temporary Food Service License
  15. Towing Wrecker Service License
  16. Transient Sellers Permit
  17. Valet Parking Application
  18. Valet Parking Rules and Regulations

Taxi & Livery Applications

  1. Bicycle Cab Company
  2. Bicycle Cab Driver
  3. Insurance Requirements Information
  4. Taxi Complaint Form
  1. Taxi/Livery Business License
  2. Taxi/Livery/Tour Driver Application
  3. Tour Business Application

Doing Business As (DBA)


Regardless of the type of business license applied for, if the applicant intends to operate as a sole proprietor or a partnership, a d/b/a (doing business as) must be filed. The d/b/a filing fee is $10.

Marijuana Licensing:

Please email applications and supporting documents to marijuana@portlandmaine.gov

City of Portland Marijuana Webpage

Marijuana Information

  1. Marijuana Retail Business Application
  2. Marijuana Cultivation
  3. Marijuana FSE
  4. Marijuana Manufacturing
  5. Marijuana Small Scale Caregiver
  6. Marijuana Testing
  7. City of Portland - Marijuana Guidance Doc 2021-002 - AES radios