Licenses & Permits
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If you have questions about locating, opening, or expanding your business within the City of Madison, the Office of Business Resources can help.
General Licensing
For all license applications we now require a copy of your State Seller's Permit ID certificate.
Unless otherwise specified, all licenses expire June 30.
View License and Permit Fees.
Clerk Licenses
- General Application Form
Includes: Amusement Devices, Outdoor Wood Boilers, and Trapping - Adult Entertainment Establishment Application
- Affiliated Organization Registration
Raising funds for City operations - Amusement Devices
- Auto Salvage Dealer
- Cigarette & Tobacco Products Application
- Close Out Sale
- Room Tax Packet
- Room Tax Application
- Solicitor Application
Door to door, no merchandise in hand - Solicitor - Non-profit
- Tattooist or Body Piercer, State of WI License
- Theater License Application
- Transient Merchant Application
- Trucker/Peddler
Door to door, merchandise in hand
Health Licenses
Public Health Madison Dane County Permits
- Health Licenses
Includes: Retail Food Establishments, Beaches, Bed & Breakfasts, Body Art Establishments, Campgrounds, Hotel/Motel/Tourist Rooming Houses, Manufactured Home Community, Recreational/Educational Camps, and Swimming Pools
Scrap & Recycling
Secondhand Dealer
Our Secondhand Dealer Ordinance requires any entity engaged in the buying or selling of certain used goods to hold an appropriate license. Please see our FAQ for more details.
Transportation and Paratransit
- Motor Bus or Fixed Route Transportation Vehicle
- Taxicab Information, Traffic Engineering
- Pedal Cab Operator Application
- Parade Permit Application
Alcohol Licensing
Entertainment Licenses
Entertainment licenses are required for premises providing amplified or live entertainment regardless of capacity. For all license applications we now require a copy of your State Seller's Permit ID certificate.
- 21+ Entertainment/18+ Center for Visual & Performing Arts
- Theatre License Application Form
- Adult Entertainment License
- Temporary Entertainment (21+) Permit
Establishments: New
- New Liquor or Beer Establishment application (Class A, B, or C)
The City of Madison currently has 1 Regular Class B Combination Liquor and Beer License available. A Reserve Class B Combination Liquor and Beer License will be subject to a $10,000 reserve fee upon issuance. **PLEASE NOTE: only COMPLETE applications will be accepted (see the checklist on the last page).*** - Appointment of Liquor/Beer Agent
- Background Check for Corporate Officers
- Surrender of Previous License
- Alcohol Beverage Laws for Retailers, State of WI
- New Liquor or Beer Application Checklist
Lista de Verificación de Aplicación de Licor o Cerveza Nueva
新酒或啤酒申請清單
Establishments: Existing
- Alcohol Beverage Laws for Retailers, State of WI
- Things to Know about License Renewals, Changes, and Permits
- Appointment of New Liquor/Beer Agent
- Change of Licensed Premises
- Change of Conditions on a License
- Change of Corporate Officers/Entity Reorganization
- Change of dba
- Transfer License to Another Address
Available to all alcohol licenses except reserve Class B Combination Liquor and Beer licensed establishments and also requires completion of a new license application to go along with the transfer form.
Existing Establishment License Renewals
- Instruction Letter - English
Carta de Instrucciones
指示信 - Filing Deadlines
Fecha límite de presentación
申请截止日期 - Alcohol License Renewal Form
- Entertainment License Renewal Form
- Convictions Supplement
- Pending Charges Supplement
New Alcohol Servers - Apply Online
- City of Madison Licenses & Permits portal
Login to the portal to file online. If you do not have an account, you will need to create an account to fill out the registration.
New Alcohol Servers - In Person or Mail
- Operator License Application
Please note you must list all pending citations, tickets, or criminal charges as well as any previous citations, municipal or ordinance violations and criminal convictions (excluding parking tickets) or your application may not pass review. Please read the entire application before you submit it for consideration. - Operator License Application Requirements
- Operator License Policy Guidelines
- Juvenile Records Release Form
Required of applicants under 21 years of age
Existing Alcohol Servers - Renewal
-
Operator license renewals must be completed online in the Licensing & Permits portal (linked below). Current license holders should have received an e-mail with instructions on how to renew their license. License holders, who have not previously registered an account on the portal, must use the name and e-mail associated with their license to create their account; the exact name and e-mail was included in the renewal instructions.
- City of Madison Licenses & Permits portal
Please note you must list all pending citations, tickets, or criminal charges as well as any previous citations, municipal or ordinance violations and criminal convictions (excluding parking tickets) or your application may not pass review. Please read the entire application before you submit it for consideration. - Renewal Instructions
State & Federal Forms
- Business Tax Registration Form, Wisconsin Department of Revenue
- Special Tax Registration & Return (Federal), Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau
- Employer Identification Number, Internal Revenue Service
Temporary (Picnic Beer) Licenses
- Temporary Beer & Wine Application
- FAQ Letter to Applicants
Includes extended definitions of who qualifies for the license