Obtaining a City of Huntsville Privilege License

All persons, firms, or corporations engaged in any exhibition, trade, business, vocation, occupation, profession, calling or conducting any type business within the corporate limits of the City of Huntsville, shall obtain a Privilege License from the Clerk-Treasurer's Department before engaging in business. The following are simplified procedures every business must follow before a City of Huntsville Privilege License will be printed:

If the business is physically located within the City of Huntsville, you will need to fill out and submit both the Annual Privilege License Tax Return and the Annual Privilege License Approval Application, along with the payment as required by the City of Huntsville Municipal Code of Ordinances.

If the business is physically located outside the City of Huntsville, but you will be coming into the City to conduct business, you need to fill out and submit just the Annual Privilege License Tax Return along with the payment as required by the City of Huntsville Municipal Code of Ordinances.

Madison County Personal Property Tax – Every business should check with the Madison County Tax Assessors Office. You can contact this office on the web at www.co.madison.al.us/services/taxa or call (256) 532-3350.

Complete the Annual Privilege License Tax Return (for a Regular Business) or Annual Privilege License Tax Return (for Construction Trades only). This form asks basic questions concerning the Ownership, Address (both mailing and physical location), Location Trade Name (Doing Business As), Telephone Numbers. The license fee due the City of Huntsville is computed according to Chapter 15 of the City of Huntsville Municipal Code. A copy of this Code can be viewed via the hot link or it is available in the form of a booklet and may be requested by calling (256) 427-5082 or E-Mail Kevin Flory, License Inspector; Dennis Cole, License Inspector; Carolyn Love, License Inspector; or City Clerk/Treasurer.

Complete the Annual Privilege License Approval Application. Every new business located within the corporate limits of the City of Huntsville must be approved before a license will be granted. If you are operating from a residential address you must fill out the City of Huntsville Privilege License Approval Application for a Residential Address and file it with the Annual Privilege License Tax Return. If you are operating from a commercial address you must fill out the City of Huntsville Privilege License Approval Application for a Commercial Address and file it with the Annual Privilege License Tax Return. These are the phone numbers for the different departments charged with the inspections for approval/disapproval. Zoning Enforcement section of the Planning Department, telephone (256) 564-8008 (zoning compliance), Huntsville Fire & Rescue, Fire Marshal's Office, telephone (256) 427-5144 (fire and safety compliance), and Finance Department, telephone (256) 427-5070 (sales and use tax, gasoline tax, lodging tax, rental tax, liquor tax, or wine tax compliance). When a business located within the City of Huntsville moves to a new physical location, the new location must be approved in the same manner as would a new business (via an approval application) before the current license is valid or at renewal, whichever comes first. An Application Approval form will not be sent to these departments for their approval or disapproval until the Privilege License Fee has been paid. If, for any reason the business location is not approved, the prepaid license fee is returned.

Organizations wanting a Bingo License must fill out an additional City of Huntsville Bingo License Supplemental Application and pay a $100.00 non-refundable filing fee. Bingo games in the City of Huntsville are governed by Ordinance No. 96-192, as amended. This supplemental application is available upon request by calling (256) 427-5086 or E-Mail Carolyn Love, License Inspector; or City Clerk/Treasurer. In addition to the above-mentioned approvals, these applications go before the Bingo License Review Committee for approval or disapproval.

Businesses wanting an Alcoholic Beverage License to sell alcoholic beverages in any form (both on and off premise) have to fill out an additional City of Huntsville Alcoholic Beverage License Supplemental Application or Alcoholic Beverage License for a Special Event and pay a $100.00 non-refundable filing fee. Information concerning this application can be contacting one of our License Inspectors Dennis Cole (256) 427-5093, Kevin Flory (256) 427-5092, Carolyn Love (256) 427-5086; or City Clerk/Treasurer. In addition to the above-mentioned approvals, these applications go before the Liquor License Review Committee for approval or disapproval. Anyone wanting the rules and regulations for the sale of Alcoholic Beverages within the State of Alabama should contact the Alabama ABC Board. The local phone number is (256) 726-0401.

Businesses wanting to serve food will have to obtain a Food Permit from the Madison County Health Department. This permit (food service, limited food service, retail food, limited retail food, and food processing) must be obtained before the City of Huntsville Privilege License will be printed. For more information about obtaining a Food Permit from the Madison County Health Department call (256) 539-3711.

Businesses in the building trades or construction industry must obtain their City of Huntsville Privilege License and building permits from the Inspection Department of the City of Huntsville. Contractor licensing is governed by City of Huntsville Municipal Code of Ordinances Chapters 7 & 15. For more information concerning contractors licensing, insurance requirements, and permit fees call (256) 427-5331 or E-Mail Inspection Division.

Businesses wanting to operate Taxicabs, Limousines or Carriage Service must fill out an Application for Certificate of Public Convenience & Necessity to operate a Taxicab or Limousine Service in the City of Huntsville, AL. and pay a $50.00 non-refundable filing fee. The application will be sent to the Transportation Department for them to get the necessary paperwork ready to go to the City Council for their approval. After the application has been approved, the vehicles have to be inspected, permit numbers issued, inspection stickers affixed. A taxi company has to maintain at least 5 taxicabs for the City of Huntsville Privilege Licenses to be issued. The annual City of Huntsville License fee is $140.00 ($125.00 license fee, $10.00 inspection fee & $5.00 issuing fee) per vehicle. This supplemental application is available upon request by calling (256) 427-5086 or E-Mail Carolyn Love, License Inspector; or City Clerk/Treasurer. Anyone wanting to drive a Taxi, Limousine or Airport Shuttle Vehicle they must obtain a special license from the Huntsville Police Department Records Section.

If you have any other questions or need more information, please contact one of our License Clerks or License Inspectors, either by: E-Mail Kevin Flory, License Inspector; Dennis Cole, License Inspector; Carolyn Love, License Inspector; or City Clerk/Treasurer.

Or telephone one of our License Clerks; Emy Roberts (256) 427-5082, Mary Johnson (256) 427-5083 or Denise Womack (256) 427-5084 or one of our License Inspectors; Kevin Flory (256) 427-5092, Dennis Cole (256) 427-5093 or Carolyn Love (256) 427-5094.

U.S. Mail

City of Huntsville
Clerk-Treasurer Department, License Division
P. O. Box 308
Huntsville, Alabama 35804-0308

Overnight Mail

City of Huntsville
Clerk-Treasurer Department, License Division
308 Fountain Circle, 3rd floor
Huntsville, Alabama 35801