Types of Business Licenses

Adult Business

The category of Adult Business includes the following establishments:  Adult Bookstore, Adult Motion Picture Theater, Adult Mini Motion Picture Theater, Adult Motion Picture Arcade, Adult Cabaret (a.k.a. Class B Cabaret), Adult Drive-in Theater, Adult Live Entertainment Arcade, Adult Motel or Adult Service Establishment.

Adult Business License Application
Fee: $500.00
Expiration Date: January 31
For definitions of industry terms and regulations, consult Section 4-18.5 of the South Bend Municipal Code, Section 21-08.02 of the South Bend Municipal Code

Alarm Agent

Alarm Agent means any person or entity, whether an individual, partnership or corporation, who conducts a business of monitoring alarm systems and whose actions would involve contacting the South Bend Police Department or South Bend Fire Department for a response.

Alarm Agent License Application
Fee: $75.00
Expiration Date: January 31
For definitions of industry terms and regulations, consult Section 4-18.7 of the South Bend Municipal Code, Section 12-1 of the South Bend Municipal Code

Arborist

Arborist Activities include: any persons engaging in the business of planting, removing, trimming or spraying trees or shrubs.

Arborist License Application
Fee: $60.00, $3.50 per vehicle for Arborist plate fee)
Expiration Date: January 31
For definitions of industry terms and regulations, consult Section 4-19 of the South Bend Municipal Code

Automotive Repair and Service Center

Automotive Repair and Service Center shall mean any location where motor vehicle repair, servicing, and/or storage is done on the premises for a fee.

Automotive Repair and Service Center License Application
Fee: $200.00
Expiration Date: January 31
For definitions of industry terms and regulations, consult Sec. 4-20 of the South Bend Municipal Code

Carnival & Circus

A Carnival includes amusement activities, rides, merry-go-rounds, booths for the conduct of games of skill, food dispensing facilities and sideshows presented by traveling companies.
A Circus includes performances given by traveling companies on vacant lots with tents, or some other kind of temporary enclosure, where performances are given for a fee. Performances may include, but are not limited to: Trained animal acts, races, feats of horsemanship, acrobatics, strength, trapeze acting, or clowns.

Carnival/Circus License Application
Fee: $105.00
Expiration Date: January 31
For definitions of industry terms and regulations, consult Sec. 4-22 of the South Bend Municipal Code

Charitable Solicitation

Charitable solicitations includes the request for financial assistance in connection with philanthropic purposes as well as the sale or attempted sale of items or services in connection with philanthropic purposes or organizations.

Charitable Solicitation License Application
Fee: $45.00
Expiration Date: January 31
For definitions of industry terms and regulations, consult Sec. 4-55 of the South Bend Municipal Code

Fertilizer Manufacturing Facility

Fertilizer manufacturing facility shall mean any facility or location where organic waste is processed commercially for the where manure or crop residue is returned to the soil at the point of generation as part of a total farm or gardening operation.

Fertilizer Manufacturing Facility License Application
Fee: $200.00
Expiration Date: January 31
For definitions of industry terms and regulations, consult Sec. 4-23 of the South Bend Municipal Code

Food Vending Vehicle

Food vending vehicles include any vehicles from which food items such as ice cream, candy or other food sundries are sold directly to a consumer at retail, and which is operated on any public road, street or other place within the City.

Food Vending Vehicle License Application
Fee: $65.00
Expiration Date: January 31
For definitions of industry terms and regulations, consult Sec. 4-25 of the South Bend Municipal Code

Hotels & Motel

Hotels and motels include buildings in which lodging, with or without meals, is provided and offered to the public for compensation and which is open to transient guests.

Hotels and Motels License Application
Fee: $95.00 (per establishment)
Expiration Date: January 31
Attention: Lodging establishments must have a restaurant license (Sec. 4-45 of the South Bend Municipal Code) in order to serve food or meals to patrons.
For definitions of industry terms and regulations, consult Sec. 4-30 of the South Bend Municipal Code

Itinerant restaurant

Itinerant restaurants include any restaurants which operate for a temporary period of time, not to exceed two (2) weeks, and include, but are not limited to, those operated in conjunction with a fair, carnival, circus, public exhibition, or similar gathering.

Itinerant Restaurant License Application
Itinerant Restaurant License Fee: $75.00 (per location, per event)
Live Entertainment Addition: $30.00
Expiration Date: N/A
For definitions of industry terms and regulations, consult Sec. 4-45 of the South Bend Municipal Code
For information specific to restaurants with live entertainment, consult Sec. 4-46 of the South Bend Municipal Code

Lawn Parking Permit

A person who desires to park or who desires to permit the parking of motor vehicles(s) on the nonpublic lawn area for a residentially zoned area must have a one-day conditional use lawn parking permit or a seasonal conditional lawn parking permit.

Lawn Parking Permit (Conditional Use Lawn Parking 2023)

Lawn Parking License Fees:

• If parking nine (9) cars or less, the cost is $3.00 per parking space per day
• If parking ten (10) or more cars, the cost is a flat rate of $50.00 per day

Application Fees:

• If applying for a season license: $25.00
• If applying for a partial season license: $5.00 multiplied by the number of games

Expiration Date: Varies

For definitions of industry terms and regulations, consult Sec-14-55 of the South Bend Municipal Code.

Massage Establishment & Technicians

Massage establishments include any establishments having a fixed place of business where any person engages in, conducts, carries on, or permits to be engaged in, conducted or carried on, massages or baths.
Massage technicians include any person who, for any form of consideration whatsoever, gives or administers a massage or bath to a patron.

Massage Establishment Business License Application
Massage Establishment License Fee: $200.00
Expiration Date: February 28
Massage Therapist License Application
Massage Technician License Fee: $75.00
Expiration Date: February 28
For definitions of industry terms and regulations, consult Sec. 4-35 of the South Bend Municipal Code

Mobile Food Vendor Vehicle

Mobile Food Vendor Vehicle means a licensed motorized vehicle that is enclosed, self-contained and serves food items to the general public.  Food items may be prepared, cooked, and assembled in the vehicle or may have been prepared, wrapped or packaged in a licensed food establishment.

Mobile Food Vendor Vehicle License Application (Food Truck)
One Year Fee: $525.00
90 Day Fee: $200.00
30 Day Fee: $130.00
1 Day Fee: $50.00
Yearly Expiration Date (Business name A-M): March 1
Yearly Expiration Date (Business name N-Z): April 1
For definitions of industry terms and regulations, consult Sec. 4-45 of the South Bend Municipal Code

Open Air Business

An open air business includes any person who erects, places or stands in the City an open-air booth, shed, tent, trailer, container, donation box or stand for the purpose of selling, bartering, receiving for future sale or use, distributing or exchanging on or from such place any goods, wares or merchandise, which terms shall include also all fruits, vegetables, country produce, refreshments, beverages, baked goods, and confectionery, before engaging in such business shall obtain a license from the Controller. The license shall designate the place where such business is to be operated and the kind of booth, shed, tent, trailer or stand in and from which such articles are to be sold.

Open-Air License Application
Public Property Fee: $40.00
Private Property Fee: $45.00

Donation Box and Container License Application
Donation Boxes & Containers: $25.00
Expiration Date: January 31
Attention:  Those open-air businesses serving food that is prepared or served in such a manner that is ready for consumption is required to obtain a restaurant license in addition to an Open Air Business License.
For definitions of industry terms and regulations, consult Sec. 4-38 of the South Bend Municipal Code

Outdoor Movie Theater

Outdoor motion picture theaters include every place where motion pictures are exhibited to the public and which is not enclosed within a building.

Outdoor Motion Picture Theater License Application
Fee: $85.00
Expiration Date: January 31
For definitions of industry terms and regulations, consult Sec. 4-40 of the South Bend Municipal Code

Peddlers and Canvassers

A peddler is one who sells or offers for sale tangible commodities directly to a consumer from house to house, store to store, or on the streets. Peddlers shall include persons selling from any type of motor vehicle; persons going on foot as “pack peddlers.”
A canvasser or solicitor is one who takes orders for future deliveries of goods or services in public or private places or from house to house and not from an established place on private premises.

Peddlers and Canvassers License Application
Fee: $50.00
Expiration Date: January 31
For definitions of industry terms and regulations, consult Section 4-43 of the South Bend Municipal Code

Pool Halls

Pool Hall or Billiard Hall: Any establishment which keeps, maintains, or operates for hire on the premises four (4) or more pool or billiard tables.

Pool Hall License Application
Fee: $100.00
Expiration Date: January 31
For definitions of industry terms and regulations, consult Sec. 4-36 of the South Bend Municipal Code

Precious Metals Dealers

Precious Metals Dealer refers to any person who claims to the public to be a purchaser of precious metals, or who in doing business engages in purchasing, trading, or offering by consignment silver, gold or other precious metals.

Precious Metal Dealer License Application
Fee: $75.00
Expiration Date: January 31
For definitions of industry terms and regulations, consult Sec. 4-44 of the South Bend Municipal Code

Public Parking Facilities

Public Parking Facilities include any plot, piece or parcel of land or any building or structure used for the purpose of storing motor vehicles where the owners or persons storing such vehicles are charged a fee and which are open to the public.

Public Parking Facility License Application
Fee: $80.00 (per facility)
Expiration Date: January 31
For definitions of industry terms and regulations, consult Sec. 4-39 of the South Bend Municipal Code

Restaurants

Restaurant means any coffee shop, cafeteria, short order café, luncheonette, grill, sandwich stand, soda fountain, drive-in restaurant, walk-up restaurant, mobile food vendor, mobile food cart, drive-in theater restaurant, in-plant food service, tavern commissary, snack bar, tea room, fast-food restaurant, or restaurant without live entertainment or music, food catering or food service establishment, hotel or motel where continental breakfast is served, retail food markets, whether fixed or movable, where food for human consumption is prepared or served in such manner that it is ready for consumption on the premises.  The term “restaurant” shall not include a food service establishment that is known as a retail food market where food is not prepared and served for consumption on the premises with the exception of retail food markets that contain soda fountains, coffee dispensers or slushy machines; nor shall the term “restaurant” include any coin-operated vending machine dispensing any kind or type of food, confectionery or beverage.

Restaurant License Application
Restaurant License Fee (Capacity of 0-150 persons): $90.00
Restaurant License Fee (Capacity of 151+ persons): $110.00
Live Entertainment Addition: $30.00
Expiration Date (Restaurant Name A-M): March 1
Expiration Date (Restaurant Name N-Z): April 1
For definitions of industry terms and regulations, consult Sec. 4-45 of the South Bend Municipal Code
For information specific to restaurants with live entertainment, consult Sec. 4-46 of the South Bend Municipal Code

Recycling Drop Off Facility

Recycling drop off center includes any facility, open to the public, where household recyclables, (e.g. glass, plastic, and paper) are collected for transfer to a processing center or markets.   This category also includes a facility for the collection of used clothing and household goods. Such used goods must be stored in an enclosed structure.
Recycling processing center includes any building or enclosed space used for the collection, processing, and storage of recyclable materials.

Fee: $50.00 (per location)
Expiration Date: January 31
Attention: Recycling processing centers must have additional licensing pursuant to Sec. 4-51 of the South Bend Municipal Code.
Those facilities which include both a recycling drop-off center as well as a processing center require separate licensing for each activity.
For definitions of industry terms and regulations, consult Sec. 4-47 of the South Bend Municipal Code

Rubbish and Garbage Removal

Anyone who intends to collect, transport, or dispose of, for compensation, any garbage, rubbish or trash of any kind, type, or nature.  Vehicles owned and operated by the City of South Bend are not subject to the licensing requirement.

Rubbish and Garbage Removal License Application
Rubbish and Garbage Removal License Fee: $60.00 (per vehicle)
Vehicle Inspection Fee: $10.00 (per vehicle)
Expiration Date: April 30
For definitions of industry terms and regulations, consult Sec. 4-48 of the South Bend Municipal Code

Scrap Metal Dealers

What is a Scrap Metal Dealer?

Any person who keeps and maintains a yard, covered or uncovered, space or place, within the City for the purpose of, and engaging in the business of, buying or selling, exchanging or storing of old or used metals, tinware, brass, copper, iron, lumber, old automobiles, or any other such type of material commonly called and referred to as “scrap metals.”

What is a Junk Dealer?

Any person who keeps or maintains a yard, covered or uncovered, space or place, within the City for the purpose of, and engaging in the business of, buying or selling, exchanging or storing of old or used materials, bottles, glassware, paper, bagging, rags or rope, or any other type of material commonly referred to as “junk.”

What is a Valuable Metal Dealer?

Any individual, firm, corporation, limited liability company, or partnership engaged in the business of purchasing and reselling valuable metal either at a permanently established place of business or in connection with a business of an itinerant nature, including junk shops, junk yards, junk stores, auto wreckers, scrap metal dealers or processors, salvage yards, collectors of or dealers in junk, and junk carts or trucks. The term includes a core buyer. The term does not include a person who purchases a vehicle and obtains title to the vehicle

What is a Recycling Operation?

Any person who keeps or maintains a yard, covered or uncovered, space or place, within the City for the purpose of, and engaging in the business of, buying or selling, exchanging or storing of old or used materials, junk, scrap metals, or scrap materials

Who can apply for a license?

If your establishment is within the South Bend City limits and you are planning to operate a Scrap Metal Dealers, Junk Dealers, Valuable Metal Dealers, or a Recycling Operation Facility, you must obtain an annual license.  Operating without a license in the city limits is prohibited and may result in fines per South Bend Municipal Code 4-4-51 .

Scrap Metal Application
The application fee is $5.00.  Once the application is approved, the license fee is $250.00.  When the application is submitted, Code Enforcement, Fire Department and the Police Department inspections and background checks will occur.  After the application has been approved, the license is mailed to the applicant.

Secondhand Dealers

Secondhand Store Owners include any person who keeps or maintains a business for the purchase or sale of secondhand clothing, secondhand furniture or secondhand goods, wares or merchandise of any kind.

Secondhand Stores License Application
Secondhand Dealer License Fee: $115.00
Outdoor Display Addition Fee: $40.00
Expiration Date: January 31
Attention: Secondhand dealers engaging in the trade of jewelry or other precious metals additionally require the Precious Metal Dealer License. For information regarding licensing of precious metals dealers, consult Sec. 4-44 of the South Bend Municipal Code
For information including licensing and inspections of secondhand stores consult Sec. 4-53 of the South Bend Municipal Code

Self Service Laundries and Dry Cleaners

Self-service laundries or dry cleaners mean only those establishments which provide self-operated washing or drying facilities and which are open and available to the general public. The term does not include any establishments wherein the laundry services are performed by employees of the operator of the laundry establishment, nor does this term include self-service laundry facilities which are provided for or established in apartment or multiple-rental units, as long as such self-service laundries are not open to the general public and are restricted in their availability to the tenants or inhabitants of such apartment or multiple-rental units.

Self-Service Laundries License Application
Self-Service Laundries License Fee (1-15 machines): $45.00 (per establishment)
Self-Service Laundries License Fee (15+ machines): $3.00 (per machine)
Expiration Date: January 31
For definitions of industry terms and regulations, consult Sec. 4-34 of the South Bend Municipal Code

Tattoo Establishment & Technician

A Tattoo Establishment refers to all places of business and all areas used by tattoo and piercing practitioners.  This primarily includes the facility treatment area, waiting/reception area, and premises.
Tattoo Technician includes persons providing any of the services of a tattoo establishment for a fee.  This includes but is not limited to: tattooing, body branding, and piercing.

Tattoo and Body Piercing Establishment License Application
Tattoo Establishment License Initial Fee: $250.00
Tattoo Establishment License Renewal Fee: $150.00
Expiration Date: January 31
Tattoo and Body Piercing Artist License Application
Tattoo Technician License Initial Fee: $125.00
Tattoo Technician License Renewal Fee: $75.00
Expiration Date: January 31
For licensing information of a tattoo establishment and technicians, consult Sec. 13-125 through Sec. 13-134 of the South Bend Municipal Code

Transient Merchant

Transient merchant includes any person, firm, partnership, association or corporation which engages in the sale of merchandise in any place in the City on a temporary basis and does not anticipate becoming an established business merchant for a continuous sixty (60) days or longer. A transient merchant includes anyone who for himself or as an agent for another, rents, erects, purchases, uses, or occupies any vehicle, room, building, or other structure, including but not limited to those located in or along parking lots, shopping centers, sidewalks, or other areas for the purpose of purchasing, selling, or offering for sale anything of value at such location for less than sixty (60) days.

Transient Merchant License Application
Transient Merchant License Fee (0-59 days): $135.00
Transient Merchant License Fee (Christmas Greenery only): $50.00
Attention: Please consult the descriptions of: “open air business (Sec. 4-38),” “peddler (Sec. 4-43),” and “canvasser (Sec. 4-43)” to ensure that your business is classified correctly.
For definitions of industry terms and regulations, consult Sec. 4-60  of the South Bend Municipal Code

Vehicle Removal Service

Engaging in the business of towing or otherwise removing unauthorized vehicles from private property, including: booting, impounding, disabling, or taking any other action having the effect of restricting the access to such vehicle of the owner or operator of such vehicle or restricting the free and unencumbered movement of such vehicle.

Vehicle Removal License Application
Fee: $125.00
Expiration Date: January 31
For definitions of industry terms and regulations, consult Sec. 4-20.5  of the South Bend Municipal Code