Licenses & Permits

On this page:

General Licensing
Alcohol Licensing

Questions about locating, opening, or expanding your business within the City of Madison? The Office of Business Resources can help.

General Licensing

All license applications require a copy of your State Seller's Permit ID certificate.

Unless otherwise specified, all licenses expire June 30.

View License and Permit Fees(opens in a new window).

Clerk Licenses

General Application Form
Includes: Outdoor Wood Boilers, and Trapping
Adult Entertainment Establishment Application(opens in a new window)
Affiliated Organization Registration(opens in a new window)
Raising funds for City operations
Amusement Devices(opens in a new window)
Auto Salvage Dealer(opens in a new window)
Cigarette, Tobacco, & Electronic Vaping Device Retail Products Application(opens in a new window)(link is external)
- Sole proprietor, partners, or officers/members and appointed agents must each complete the individual questionnaire(opens in a new window)(link is external) for a background check.
- LLCs and Corporations must appoint an agent(opens in a new window)(link is external) responsible for sale of cigarette, tobacco, and/or electronic vaping devices.
Close Out Sale(opens in a new window)
Room Tax Packet(opens in a new window)
Room Tax Application(opens in a new window)
Solicitor Application(opens in a new window)
Door to door, no merchandise in hand
Solicitor - Non-profit(opens in a new window)
Tattooist or Body Piercer(link is external), State of WI License
Theater License Application(opens in a new window)
Transient Merchant Application(opens in a new window)
Trucker/Peddler(opens in a new window)
Door to door, merchandise in hand

Health Licenses

Public Health Madison Dane County Permits

Health Licenses(link is external)
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 (opens in a new window)requires any entity engaged in the buying or selling of certain used goods to hold an appropriate license. Please see our Secondhand Dealer FAQ(opens in a new window) for more details.

Transportation and Paratransit

Alcohol Licensing

Entertainment Licenses

Entertainment licenses are required for premises providing amplified or live entertainment, regardless of capacity. All license applications require a copy of your State Seller's Permit ID certificate.

Establishments: New

New Liquor or Beer Establishment application(opens in a new window) (Class A, B, or C)
- The City of Madison currently has no 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.
- Only complete applications will be accepted. Use the checklist on the last page of the application form.
Appointment of Liquor/Beer Agent(opens in a new window)
Background Check for Corporate Officers(opens in a new window)
Surrender of Previous License(opens in a new window)
Alcohol Beverage Laws for Retailers(link is external), State of WI
New Liquor or Beer Application Checklist(opens in a new window)
Lista de Verificación de Aplicación de Licor o Cerveza Nueva(opens in a new window)
新酒或啤酒申請清單(opens in a new window)

Establishments: Existing

Alcohol Beverage Laws for Retailers(link is external), State of WI
Things to Know about License Renewals, Changes, and Permits(opens in a new window)
Appointment of New Liquor/Beer Agent(opens in a new window)
Change of Licensed Premises(opens in a new window)
Change of Conditions on a License(opens in a new window)
Change of Corporate Officers/Entity Reorganization(opens in a new window)
Change of dba(opens in a new window)
Transfer License to Another Address(opens in a new window)
Available to all alcohol licenses except Reserve Class B Combination Liquor and Beer. Also requires a new license application(opens in a new window).

Existing Establishment License Renewals

New Alcohol Servers - Apply Online

City of Madison Licenses & Permits portal
Login to the portal to apply online. If you do not have an account, you will need to create one.

New Alcohol Servers - In Person or Mail

Operator License Application(opens in a new window)
List all pending citations, tickets, or criminal charges. Also list any previous citations, municipal or ordinance violations and criminal convictions. You do not need to list parking tickets. Applications with omissions may not pass review. Read the entire application before submitting it.
Operator License Application Requirements(opens in a new window)
Operator License Policy Guidelines(opens in a new window)
Juvenile Records Release Form(opens in a new window)
Required of applicants under 21 years old

Existing Alcohol Servers - Renewal

Operator license renewals must be submitted through the Licensing & Permits portal. Current license holders receive renewal instructions via email. The exact name and email address to use when creating your account can be found in this email message.

Operator Renewal Instructions(opens in a new window)

State & Federal Forms

Business Tax Registration Form(opens in a new window)(link is external), Wisconsin Department of Revenue
Special Tax Registration & Return (Federal)(link is external), Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau
Employer Identification Number(link is external), Internal Revenue Service

Temporary (Picnic Beer) Licenses

Temporary Beer & Wine Application(opens in a new window)
FAQ Letter to Picnic Beer Applicants(opens in a new window)
Defines who qualifies for this license