Business permits and licenses in indiana

You can learn about some of the necessary licenses for your industry or specific business activities on the InBiz website. This business resource website helps entrepreneurs start their business, file business entity reports, register for permits and taxes, order a certificate of existence, and more. All of the professional and occupational licenses in Indiana are regulated and administered by the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency.

You can learn about the requirements and process for obtaining an occupational license on their website. Finally, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management handles all commercial permits pertaining to air, water, and land quality.

In addition to occupational licenses and permits, there are a number of state-level tax registrations, which are based on the industry you operate in and which business structure your company uses.

While Indiana LLCs are classified as pass-through entities and are not required to pay state income taxes, corporations must pay corporate income tax. Indiana Auction Firm License. Indiana Business License. Indiana Certificate of Authority. Indiana Collection Agency License. Indiana Currency Exchange License. Indiana Design Firm License. Indiana Emergency Contact Information. Indiana Employee Leasing License. Indiana Employment Agency License.

Indiana Fictitious Name Registration. Indiana Film Permit. Indiana Finance License. Indiana Holiday Sales License.

Indiana Insurance Business License. Indiana Landscaping License. Indiana Lodging Tax. Indiana Lottery License. Indiana Mercantile Tax. Indiana Nurse Agency License. Indiana Optical Establishment License. Indiana Peddlers License.

Indiana Petroleum Dealers License. Indiana Real Estate License. Indiana Rental Property Tax. Indiana Rental Vehicle Company License. Indiana Restaurant License. Indiana Sales Tax Registration. Download Form. Box Indianapolis, IN The Registered Retail Merchant Certificate is valid for two years, and the Department of Revenue will renew it automatically at no cost, as long as the business is current with its tax payments.

Contact the relevant state or local government office for renewal information for any other licenses you may have. You can get a business license by applying with the correct licensing and regulatory agency for your business. If your business conducts activities that are regulated by the federal government, you will need to apply for the appropriate business license or permit.

Agriculture Alcoholic beverages Aviation Firearms, ammunition, and explosives Fish and wildlife Commercial fisheries Maritime transportation Mining and drilling Nuclear energy Radio and television broadcasting Transportation and logistics. Recommended: Consider having a professional service help you research and apply for business licenses and permits. Best Licensing Services. A business license is a permit issued to businesses by a government office that allows the business to operate in a particular area.

They can be issued by federal, state, or local governments. There are typically different licensing requirements for different businesses and different locations.

There are many types of business licenses. These include licenses at the local, state, and federal levels, licenses related to sales tax and other taxes, and specific licenses for various professions. There are also environmental licenses, zoning permits, and more. For more information regarding state and federal minimum wage laws, call: Employees who are not paid all wages earned on the regular payday for the period in which they are earned may file a wage claim with the Employment Standards Division.

If a valid complaint cannot be resolved administratively, the file is referred to a private attorney for action, and penalties up to double the amount due, plus attorney's fees and court costs may be assessed against the employer.

For additional information call Many state and federal employment laws have corresponding posting requirements. Please keep in mind that most of the posters have size requirements included in state or federal law, and many of the "combined posters" sold by private companies do not meet these size requirements.

Federal: The Law Poster needed by: private employers, state and local governments, and educational institutions; anyone holding federal contracts or subcontracts; or anyone receiving federal financial assistance.

State: The Notice of Teen Worker Hour Restrictions poster is required to be posted by all Indiana employers who employ teens ages 14 through 17 years of age. State: Worker's Compensation Notice is needed by almost anyone with employees. This is not a poster provided by the Board, but posting must be similar in form to example given by the Board.

Federal protects the job rights of individuals who voluntarily or involuntarily leave employment positions to undertake military service. Also prohibits employers from discriminating against past and present members of the uniformed services, and applicants to the uniformed services. The Division of Fire and Building Safety ensures state code uniformity in design, construction standards, and code enforcement for new buildings and building renovations.

The Plan Review Branch reviews plans for construction and alteration of Class I structures for compliance with applicable adopted codes and standards, and prepares design releases for approval by the Division of Fire and Building Safety. The Elevators and Amusement Section regulates the safety of elevator; escalator and amusement ride operation. A certified safety inspector must perform initial and annual inspections. For questions, call A boiler or pressure vessel is a container that holds gas or liquid under pressure, producing steam, heat, or electricity.

The Boiler and Pressure Vessel Safety Section provides the administrative, technical and 17 professional support to all agencies and organizations associated with Indiana requirements for regulations of boilers and pressure vessels. This division makes periodic inspections by a certified boiler inspector for regulated boilers or pressure vessels not exempt by statute IC Questions call: The Fire Emergency Service Branch of the Division of Fire and Building Safety conducts fire safety inspections of all types of occupied buildings, except one-and two-family homes and manufactured housing, throughout Indiana.

These inspected buildings include schools, hospitals, nursing homes, day care centers, correctional facilities, restaurants, hotels, motels and stores.

All of these buildings must be in compliance with the Indiana Fire Prevention Code and other Indiana safety laws. The Department of Fire and Building Safety is also part of the plan review process pre-construction. The Office of the State Fire Marshal, Inspection Branch, works with local fire officials to assure that all places of public assembly are as fire safe as possible.

Areas regulated by the Fire Marshal include: maximum seating; entertainment permits; fire suppression systems; and above ground storage tanks for underground tanks, see Section III-A-3 Environmental Protection.

Before or during construction contact your local building official and Local Economic Development Organization LEDO to check for local requirements and local resources available to your business. The Indiana Department of Environmental Management IDEM issues several state and federal permits required before construction or expansion of certain facilities. IDEM encourages businesses planning a project to contact the agency to understand regulatory requirements and to help IDEM understand the project time frames.

IDEM has permit review deadlines to provide efficient service within a reasonable time frame. These time frames vary depending on the type of permit, so early planning and coordination are essential. Failing to obtain the necessary permits can result in substantial fines. IDEM has developed an Internet based plain English environmental permit guide that can help your business or organization identify the types of permits or approvals you may need from IDEM.

The Compliance and Technical Assistance Program provides assistance to businesses and communities to help them achieve regulatory compliance.

The service is confidential to encourage regulated entities to be proactive and voluntarily comply with environmental regulations. If businesses or communities are unsure if they are regulated or how regulations impact them, they may contact a representative in this program. In order to receive confidential services; please be sure to request a CTAP representative. The Recycling Market Development Program provides loans and grants to promote and assist recycling throughout Indiana by focusing on economic development efforts of private recycling businesses.

Federal regulations require air permits to construct and operate new facilities, and to modify existing facilities for any businesses that emit specific amounts of air pollutants lead, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, etc. Operations that do not exceed the specific amounts may still need to register with IDEM. Facilities that emit toxic pollutants, such as arsenic, asbestos, beryllium, benzene, mercury, vinyl chloride and coke oven emissions, may also need these permits.

Demolition or renovation of buildings containing asbestos or removal of asbestos from buildings requires a permit. Worker certification in asbestos removal is also necessary. Water permits are needed by facilities that discharge pollutants to surface water or discharge storm water to storm sewers or surface water. Such facilities include:. Solid Waste Permits: Construction, Operation and Modification Permits are needed by industries that build, operate or want to expand solid waste facilities.

Disposal of solid waste at an industry-owned location also requires a solid waste permit. Solid waste facilities include:. Solid wastes that do not require a solid waste permit but are regulated through water permits are solid and dissolved material in domestic sewage, irrigation return flows, or industrial discharges.

Manure and crop residue used, as fertilizer or soil conditioners are not regulated if applied where the waste was generated. These wastes include sludge, industrial process waste, pollution control waste, and contaminated soil, residue or debris resulting from the cleanup of a spill involving these wastes.

Wastes that do not require approval from IDEM are coal ash, demolition and construction debris, and industrial or commercial waste similar to household waste paper, cardboard, plastic, wood, metal scrap, etc. Hazardous Waste Permits: Businesses that generate or transport hazardous wastes must follow hazardous waste regulations.

Businesses that treat, store or dispose of hazardous waste require a permit. A solid waste is a hazardous waste if the waste is not excluded as a hazardous waste in the Code of Federal Regulations and meets the criteria of a hazardous waste. Underground Storage Tanks: Facilities with underground storage tanks containing a regulated petroleum product or hazardous waste substance must register the tanks with IDEM. Registration is not required for underground heating oil tanks.

Public Water Supply Program: Industries that supply water from their own sources e. IDEM has a standard monitoring framework for this program. However, no permit is required.

The U. The EPA has developed guidelines for COE to use in evaluating dredge spoil disposal sites and has the authority to prohibit use of particular sites. IDEM reviews all the Corps of Engineers' Section dredge-and-fill applications to ensure that the proposed activities will not adversely affect water quality. If wetlands are located along streams, rivers, and natural lakes, disturbances to these wetlands may also require a permit form the Department of Natural Resources.

Both the U. Army Corps of Engineers District Office and the DNR should be contacted regarding construction activities, such as filling, dredging, or draining in wetlands. Isolated wetlands those wetlands not regulated under the federal Clean Water Act are regulated under Indiana's State Isolated Wetlands law. Floodway Flood Plain Construction Permit: The Department of Natural Resources issues permits for construction, excavation, or filling in or on a floodway under the Flood Control Act which prohibits abodes or residences in or on a floodway.

When construction activities are anticipated in or along streams and rivers the Division of Water should be contacted regarding permit requirements at the following address Some DNR Dept.

Indiana has over different licenses, permits, certifications, and other permissions, which could be required to engage in certain activities. In order to simplify this area, the most commonly requested approvals will be addressed here. This is not intended to be a complete listing, nor should the omission of any license imply that it is not required.

However, there are some service-oriented businesses that do not require a license from the state to operate in Indiana. Any questions regarding which licenses or permits are necessary can be addressed to the State Information Center.

Alcoholic Beverages Any individual or business serving, selling, or manufacturing beer, wine, or liquor for consumption will need to contact the Alcohol Tobacco Commission to obtain a permit or license.

For more information contact:. The Department of Health administers all sanitary standards pertaining to handling and processing of foods, ie: Food Handlers Certification.

The Department of Health can be contacted at the following address or by calling the individual numbers listed below:. Businesses such as bed and breakfasts, food vending operations, restaurants, and grocery stores will need to contact the Division of Retail Foods for state responsibilities and requirements with which the business owner must comply.

Often this will include being inspected and regulated by a ounty health department instead of the state. Manufacturers, processors, repackers, or wholesale distributors of all non-dairy products statewide are regulated by the Division of Wholesale Foods. Manufacturers or wholesale distributors will need to contact this division for state requirements and compliance responsibilities.

Contractor Services The term "contractor" can be very confusing, as it is used in many business settings. As mentioned earlier, an independent contractor can be anyone in business for him or herself who is offering services to others on non-employee basis.

The title of "contractor" is most commonly used to refer to those involved in construction or renovation of structures. It may be used to refer to general contractors, HVAC contractors, electrical contractors, or plumbing contractors. The only construction contractors licensed by the State of Indiana are plumbers.

Many of the other specific areas require local licensing which vary by city and county. Businesses providing financial services may be covered by one or more of the areas described below.

Keep in mind that a business offering financing or assisting the customer in finding financing for the purchase of its products may fall under one of the areas listed. Questions regarding any of these consumers related financial services should be addressed to:.

Consumer Credit Sales: Sales which are due in more than four payments by written agreement, or on which interest is or may be charged. Typically this includes sales contracts, accounts receivable, store accounts, and in-house charge accounts which are due in payment through written agreement between the parties.

Consumer Leases: Any lease, by a written agreement, of goods to a consumer, for a consumer purpose, which is for a period of more than four months.

Consumer Loans: Any loan made by a person regularly engaged in the business of making loans in which:. Persons making or purchasing consumer loans are required to obtain a loan license.

Rental Purchase Agreement: Soliciting or engaging in rental purchase agreements which:. Budget Service: Any person, partnership, association, or corporation doing business as a budget counseling, credit counseling, debt management, or debt pooling service, if money is received from the debtor and disbursed to his creditor for a fee.

Pawnbrokers License: Any person, partnership, association, or corporation lending money on the deposit of personal property, or who deals in the purchase of personal property on the condition of selling the property back at a stipulated price. Loan Brokers and Mortgage Brokers : A loan broker is defined as any person who, in return for any consideration from anyone, promises to procure a loan for any person or assist any person in procuring a loan from any third party, or who promises to consider whether or not to make a loan to any person.

Unless he qualifies for any exemption from the loan broker statute, any person who collects up-front fees with the promise of making a loan or procuring a loan is a loan broker and must register with the Securities Division. In addition the Securities Division also has regulatory authority over several other occupations and business activities not related to the securities industry. Other occupations or business activities regulated by the Securities Division are collection agencies, investment advisers, and broker-dealers and their agents.

Motor carrier "operating authority" is generally required for any intrastate carrier who transports commodities or passengers for hire. Carriers who are involved in intrastate transportation of passengers and household goods i.

Some examples of passenger carriers who would qualify are special and charter buses, limousine services, and non-emergency transportation of passengers to and from doctors' offices, nursing homes, and hospitals. Carriers who are involved in intrastate transportation of regulated property are required to register with Department of Revenue for certification to operate between points within Indiana. An application and proof of insurance are also required to obtain this certification.

Carriers who are involved in interstate transportation and are based in the state of Indiana are required to register their Interstate Commerce Commission ICC authority with the Indiana Department of Revenue.

An application along with proof of insurance must be provided. Any vehicle or combination of vehicles that exceed the legal size or weight limits must first obtain a permit from the Indiana Department of Revenue before traveling on Indiana roads. Generally, the maximum width is 8 feet 6 inches, the maximum height is 13 feet 6 inches, and the maximum length is 40 feet for a single vehicle and 60 feet for a combination of vehicles.

The maximum weight is 80, pounds, subject to specific axles and wheel limitations. Details on the permitting of oversize or overweight vehicles are available from the Indiana Department of Revenue.

Commercial motor vehicles or combination of vehicles that have two axles and a gross vehicle weight in excess of 26, pounds, or that have three or more axles are required to register in order to comply with fuel tax laws. Interstate carriers will either file their liabilities under the International Fuel Tax Agreement through their base state, or will be required to obtain a trip permit from the Indiana Department of Revenue before traveling through the state.

Intrastate carriers need to register with the Indiana Department of Revenue before traveling through the state. Both interstate and intrastate carriers should contact the Department of Revenue at for more detailed information on registration requirements. Motor carriers must have properly registered license plates. If the carrier is based in Indiana, and engages in interstate travels, the plates will be apportioned under the International Registration Plan. The Department of Revenue administers this plan for Indiana carriers and issues the proper credentials.

Contact the Department of Revenue at for more information. Intrastate carriers who never leave the state of Indiana must visit a branch of the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles for proper license plates.

Contact the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, a local phone directory, or the State Information Center for locations of these branches. Listed below are the areas, which fall under these agencies' jurisdictions.

Again, please do not infer that these are all of the occupations or professions regulated in Indiana. Questions regarding occupations not listed here should be addressed to the State Information Center.