Business Licensing and Registration

Confirming Zoning Compatibility

If you intend to establish a business that requires a commercial physical location, you need to first confirm if the proposed use of the property is in conformance with our Zoning Ordinance, and then obtain a Letter of Zoning Determination from our Office of Code Enforcement, paving the way for you to receive your Certificate of Occupancy (see below) for a commercial space. We have 10 different zoning codes which govern where certain types of businesses can be established and operate. You can check zoning compatibility by checking the AxisGIS tool. You can also call us anytime in Planning and Economic Development at 401-616-2482.

Petition for Business License

In addition to obtaining a Letter of Zoning Determination from our Office of Code Enforcement, you will need to file a Petition for License with the Clerk’s Office and then obtain City Council Approval. The City Council meets the second Monday of each month, and review Petitions for License which they then approve or deny. Please note that certain business licenses, such as liquor licenses, may be limited or unavailable. Depending on the type of business you intend to establish or operate, you will also need to complete additional applications. Call us anytime in Planning or the Clerk’s Office (who issue the licenses) if you have any questions.

Obtain Certificate of Occupancy (and Building and Fire permits if new construction/repairs are planned)

Once the City Council approves the Petition for License, you must then obtain a Certificate of Occupancy to ensure that the location complies with the building code. If you are planning to establish your business in a site that will be renovated or redeveloped, then you must obtain the proper building and fire permits prior to construction and pursuit of a Certificate of Occupancy. Please contact our Department of Code Enforcement at 1280 High Street for more information. We have recently joined the statewide building and fire e-permitting initiative and all permits are now administered online using the Viewpoint e-permitting platform.

Getting the License

Submit the signed Certificate of Occupancy to the City Clerk at 580 Broad Street, 1st Floor, who will then issue the business license. The license should be on display on the premises of the business at all times. Business owners must renew the licenses yearly, in most cases by November 30th for the following year. For more information on licenses, visit the Office of the City Clerk or the Licensing page. Note: not all licenses are currently available on the website. 

Online Licensing and Registration

We currently offer an online option for business licensing and registration utilizing the OpenCounter platform.