Business Licenses

City Clerk’s Office

Certain businesses are required by City Code or state law to get a business license. To check if you’re business needs licensing, and how to apply, see below. Applications are linked on the title of each description, as well as at the bottom of the page alongside auxiliary information packets for each license type. 

Application Process:

Apply

Any business required to have a business license must apply through the City Clerk’s Office. Applications can be found below, and may be printed off and mailed or emailed to clerk@marquettemi.gov, or brought in person to City Hall. 

Approve

Once the application has been received by the Clerk’s Office, and payment has been received, the approval process will start. This process can take up to two weeks, and involves approval from different department heads to ensure the license is up to code.

Renew

All business licenses are valid for a period of one year, starting on the first of the month that the license is initially issued. The renewal process is the same as the application process, including the fees and approval from department heads.

Business License Types:

Fixed Location Businesses:

Lodging Establishments: All businesses in the city that operate as lodging establishments including a Bed and Breakfast, a Bed and Breakfast Inn, a Hotel, a Motel or a Rooming House need to get an annual license with the City. Please note: short term rentals need to be permitted through the fire department. 

Lodging establishment application — Lodging establishment information packet

Farmer’s Markets and Farm Produce Vendors: Farmer’s markets are areas designated by the City Commission where farm produce vendors can sell. Farmer’s market organizations have the option for a group license that will apply to all vendors in the market, if the organization does not have a group license, the individual vendor needs to get a license as well.

Farmer’s market/produce vendor application — Farmer’s market/produce vendor information packet

Sidewalk Cafe: A food service establishment needs a license from the City if it plans to have a sidewalk cafe that takes up a portion of adjacent public right-of-way. Licenses normally last May 1 – October 31, but this period can be extended by the City Manager. Licenses must be issued prior to setting up and operating a sidewalk cafe.

Sidewalk cafe application — Sidewalk cafe information packet

Outdoor Merchandise Display: Businesses must get a license from the City to allow for temporary placement of merchandise on a public sidewalk to display, exhibit, or offer for sale goods sold by an adjacent business.

Outdoor merchandise display application — Outdoor merchandise display information packet

Mobile and Temporary Businesses:

Mobile Food Vending: Any motorized or non-motoried vehicle, trailer or other device designed to be portable and not permenantly attached to the ground and in which food or drink is prepared for consumption through service on the premises or elsewhere needs a license. This includes food carts, food trailers, and food trucks. If a mobile food vendor is only operating in association with a special event, they will be permitted through the special events permit process. 

Mobile food vending application — Mobile food vending information packet

Transient Merchants: Anyone who travels from place to place and offers goods, property, or services for sale in the street and right-of-way of the City needs a license. Group event licensing is available for an organized event where more than three transient merchants will be operating. Please note: Minors who are on foot in their neighborhood and under supervision by a school, charity, or religious organization do not need a license. A person who is seeking funds or membership as an authorized representative of an organization does not need a license. 

Transient merchant application — Transient merchant information packet

Special Businesses and Activities:

Licensing Required by State Law: Auctioneers, Precious Metals and Gems Dealers, Secondhand Dealers, and Hawker Peddlers need to get a license through the City. The guidelines for these licenses (and others as may be required), are in State Law, not in City Code. 

Street Performers: Individuals may perform without a license in designated public areas of the City. Performances include live, public presentation or exhibition which includes, but is not limited to, acting, singing, playing a musical instrument, pantomime, juggling, magic, dancing, reading aloud, puppetry, art demonstrations, and performing of any sort. 

Other Licenses Required:

Marihuana Licensing: Licensing for recreational marijuana sales and production is handled by the Clerk’s Office. There are four types of licenses described on this page: excess marihuana grower, designated consumption establishments, marihuana event organizer, and temporary marihuana event. There are state licensing requirements, and a City special land use permit required. Call the Clerk’s Office at (906) 228-0430 for more information. 

Short Term Rentals: Short term rentals are required to be permitted by the City’s Fire Department. There is an ongoing waitlist to be one of the 250 allowed short term rentals in the City. To find out more go to the Fire Department page, or call them at (906) 228-0412.

Planning and Zoning: There are some activities that may not require a business license, that still need permitting from the zoning division. Check the zoning page or call them at (906) 228-0425 to ensure additional permitting is not required.