Business License
Before beginning operations in Houston County, a business, profession, or occupation should apply for a business privilege license with the Houston County Probate Office, 462 North Oates Street, Dothan, Alabama. This includes operations located within the municipal limits of Ashford, Avon, Columbia, Cottonwood, Cowarts, Gordon, Dothan, Kinsey, Madrid, Rehobeth, Taylor, Webb.
The state and county business privilege licenses must be renewed during the month of October each year. The license expires September 30, and should be renewed prior to November 1 each year to avoid penalties and interest. License fees vary depending upon the type of license that is required; in some cases, deciding factors may be:
- the population of the area where the business is located, or
- the number of employees a business may have, or
- the gross amount of contracts (contractors), or
- the capital investment of a business (manufacturer)
The Code of Alabama 1975, Title 40, Chapter 12 provides the authority for Alabama's county business licenses, which total in number approximately 140.
Sample business license sections include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Retail Stores and Chain Stores
- Automobile Dealers (Section 40-12-51)
- Auto Repair Shops (Section 40-12-54)
- Contractors (Section 40-12-84)
- Manufacturers (Section 40-12-87)
- Restaurant, Cafes (Section 40-12-151)
- Transient Dealers (Section 40-12-172)
- Transient Vendors (Section 40-12-174)
- Vending Machine Operators (Section 40-12-176)
For a sample listing of required licenses and fees contact the Houston County Business License office at 334-677-4742 or the Alabama Department of Revenue, Business License Division at 334-353-7827.
To download an application for a new business operating in Houston County,(click here).
A Quick Reference Guide is provided to determine the license sections that may apply to your business or occupation.
An educational brochure for Alabama taxpayers,'Starting A New Business' is also provided by the Alabama Department of Revenue.
Please note that a municipality within Houston County may have additional provisions for license fees and requirements for certain businesses and occupations. You may need to contact the respective City Clerk's office for the city or town where operations may be conducted.
Town of Ashford 334-899-3366
Town of Avon 334-899-3715
Town of Columbia 334-696-4417
Town of Cottonwood 334-691-2671
Town of Cowarts 334-792-8920
Town of Gordon 334-522-3113
City of Dothan 334-615-3165
Town of Kinsey 334-793-5409
Town of Madrid 334-677-3435
Town of Rehobeth 334-671-5829
Town of Taylor 334-677-5079
Town of Webb 334-792-0386
For information related to the collection and remittance of sales tax the following agencies should be contacted:
State and Houston County sales tax:
Alabama Department of Revenue, Sales and Use Tax Division, Montgomery, AL 36130 (334-242-1490)
RDS at 1-800-556-7274
Municipality sales tax:
Contact the City of Dothan Clerk's office - 334-615-3165
The state and county business privilege licenses must be renewed during the month of October each year. The license expires September 30, and should be renewed prior to November 1 each year to avoid penalties and interest. License fees vary depending upon the type of license that is required; in some cases, deciding factors may be:
- the population of the area where the business is located, or
- the number of employees a business may have, or
- the gross amount of contracts (contractors), or
- the capital investment of a business (manufacturer)
The Code of Alabama 1975, Title 40, Chapter 12 provides the authority for Alabama's county business licenses, which total in number approximately 140.
Sample business license sections include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Retail Stores and Chain Stores
- Automobile Dealers (Section 40-12-51)
- Auto Repair Shops (Section 40-12-54)
- Contractors (Section 40-12-84)
- Manufacturers (Section 40-12-87)
- Restaurant, Cafes (Section 40-12-151)
- Transient Dealers (Section 40-12-172)
- Transient Vendors (Section 40-12-174)
- Vending Machine Operators (Section 40-12-176)
For a sample listing of required licenses and fees contact the Houston County Business License office at 334-677-4742 or the Alabama Department of Revenue, Business License Division at 334-353-7827.
To download an application for a new business operating in Houston County,(click here).
A Quick Reference Guide is provided to determine the license sections that may apply to your business or occupation.
An educational brochure for Alabama taxpayers,'Starting A New Business' is also provided by the Alabama Department of Revenue.
Please note that a municipality within Houston County may have additional provisions for license fees and requirements for certain businesses and occupations. You may need to contact the respective City Clerk's office for the city or town where operations may be conducted.
Town of Ashford 334-899-3366
Town of Avon 334-899-3715
Town of Columbia 334-696-4417
Town of Cottonwood 334-691-2671
Town of Cowarts 334-792-8920
Town of Gordon 334-522-3113
City of Dothan 334-615-3165
Town of Kinsey 334-793-5409
Town of Madrid 334-677-3435
Town of Rehobeth 334-671-5829
Town of Taylor 334-677-5079
Town of Webb 334-792-0386
For information related to the collection and remittance of sales tax the following agencies should be contacted:
State and Houston County sales tax:
Alabama Department of Revenue, Sales and Use Tax Division, Montgomery, AL 36130 (334-242-1490)
RDS at 1-800-556-7274
Municipality sales tax:
Contact the City of Dothan Clerk's office - 334-615-3165
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