Business License Section

Mobile Food Vending Advisory Board Meeting will be held at the License Section, 4252 Groves Rd, Columbus, OH 43232 on Thursday, October 15, 2026 at 2:00 PM.

Vehicle for Hire Advisory Board Meeting will be held at the License Section, 4252 Groves Rd, Columbus, OH 43232 on Thursday, October 29, 2026 at 9:30 AM.

Appeal hearing for Research Alloys Company Inc will be held at the License Section, 4252 Groves Rd, Columbus, OH 43232 on Monday, November 9, 2026 at 9:00 AM.

Below is a complete list of licenses that the License Section issues. Each section contains the following:

• any application(s) and/or form(s) required to obtain the license; and
• link(s) to the applicable Columbus City Code;
• rules and regulations that may apply to the specific section of the code.

Information submitted through the City of Columbus' website may be subject to disclosure pursuant to a public records request. Information submitted through the City's website may be shared with another governmental agency if the visitor's inquiry relates to that agency. Certain types of information (such as electronic payment information) are exempt from disclosure as public records. If you have questions about the Ohio Public Records laws, refer to State of Ohio's Revised Code, Section 149.43, Availability of Public Records.

Please ensure you have all required paperwork prior to submitting your application. Incomplete applications (including all required documents) will not be accepted. For your convenience, the License Section has installed a secure drop box at 4252 Groves Road which can be utilized during non-business hours.

• A BCI background check, which is required for all license applications with the exception of Charitable Solicitations, Community Market, and Community Noise, can be conducted at the License Section at the time of application submission. If electing to conduct the BCI background check through a third-party Webcheck agency, the results must be received by the License Section directly from Ohio BCI.
• If applying from out of state, please follow the instructions under the Short Term Rentals dropdown for Non-Ohio Residence Only Background Check procedures.
• A Letter of Good Standing, issued by the City of Columbus Division of Income Tax, can be obtained via crisp.columbus.gov. For questions, please call the CRISP help line at (614) 645-8899 (Mon-Fri, 9:00 am-4:00 pm).
• For Mobile Food Vending, and Vehicle for Hire Owners, an inspection of the operating vehicle/unit is required. The License Officer will schedule an inspection appointment after all requirements are met.

   

   

• Alarm Dealer Application(PDF, 152KB)
• Monthly Alarm Dealer Form - Customers(XLSX, 11KB)
• Quarterly Alarm Dealer Form - Employees(XLSX, 10KB)

City Code and Other References

• Chapter 597.13: Alarm Dealer

• Contact Alarm Unit

Effective June 1, 2024

The City of Columbus has suspended all aspects of the Alarm User and False Alarm programs until new legislation is enacted. Alarm users in the City of Columbus do not currently have any requirements to register and will not be charged for false alarms.

• Arcade Application(PDF, 138KB)

City Code and Other References

• Chapter 559: Amusement Devices

• Contact License Section

• Notice of Appeal(PDF, 88KB)
• Request for Stay(PDF, 81KB)

City Code and Other References

• Chapter 505 Board of License Appeals and Procedures

• Billiard Room Application(PDF, 158KB)

City Code and Other References

• Chapter 551: Billiard Rooms

• Contact License Section

• Bug Your Bike
• Contact License Section

• Carnival, Circuses and Shows Application(PDF, 153KB)

City Code and Other References

• Chapter 563: Carnivals, Circuses and Shows

• Contact License Section

• Charitable Solicitations Application(PDF, 183KB)
• Professional Fundraiser Application(PDF, 169KB)
• Roadway Solicitations Application(PDF, 149KB)

City Code and Other References

• Chapter 525: Charitable Solicitations

• Contact Charitable Solicitations Unit

• Close-Out Sale Application(PDF, 155KB)

City Code and Other References

• Chapter 535: Closing-Out Sales; Distressed-Merchandise Sales

• Contact License Section

• Commercial Sales Application(PDF, 209KB)
• Commercial Sales Promoter Application(PDF, 145KB)
• W-2 Affidavit (Promoter Applicants Only)(PDF, 95KB)

City Code and Other References

• Chapter 523: Commercial Sales License

• Contact Commercial Sales Unit

• Community Market Application(PDF, 163KB)

City Code and Other References

• Chapter 524: Community Markets on Public Property

• Contact License Section

• Community Noise Application(PDF, 134KB)

City Code and Other References

• Chapter 2329.11: Community Noise
• Community Noise Rules and Regulations(PDF, 213KB)

• Contact License Section

• Hotel/Motel Application(PDF, 162KB)

City Code and Other References

• Chapter 598: Hotel/Motel and Short-Term Rental Operations

• Contact Hotel/Motel Unit

• Itinerant Vendor Application(PDF, 217KB)

City Code and Other References

• Chapter 517: Itinerant Vendors

• Contact License Section

• Massage Establishment Application(PDF, 157KB)
• Massage Provider Application(PDF, 137KB)

City Code and Other References

• Chapter 540: Massage and Bath Establishments

• Contact Massage Unit

• Mobile Food Vendor Application(PDF, 912KB)
• Mobile Food Vending Background Check Affidavit (only required if operating in Public Right of Way)(PDF, 109KB)
• Propane Pressure Test/Leak Check Form(PDF, 93KB)

City Code and Other References

• Chapter 573: Mobile Food Vending
• Ohio Regulations Regarding Mobile Food Units
• Division of Fire Safety Guidelines
• Division of Fire Inspection Checklist
• Columbus Public Health Introduction to Mobile Food Units
• Public Health Inspection Checklist
• Columbus Public Health Website
• Columbus Revenue Information Systems Portal (to obtain Letter of Good Standing)
• License Section Inspection Requirements
• Mobile Food Trucks and Trailers Rules and Regulations(PDF, 28KB)
• Mobile Food Pushcart Rules and Regulations(PDF, 27KB)
• Requirement for Transient Vendors License (PDF, 652KB)
• Temporary Commercial Zone Permit Rules and Regulations(PDF, 526KB)
• Temporary Commercial Zone Permit - Right of Way Link
• Zoning Map - North High(PDF, 232KB)
• Zoning Map - Downtown(PDF, 255KB)
• Zoning Map - South High(PDF, 204KB)
• Zoning Map - City of Columbus

Mobile Food Vending Advisory Board

• 2026 MFV Advisory Board Meeting Schedule(PDF, 68KB)
• MFV Advisory Board Meeting Minutes 07-17-2025(PDF, 26KB)
• MFV Advisory Board Meeting Minutes 10-16-2025(PDF, 27KB)
• MFV Advisory Board Meeting Minutes 01-22-2026(PDF, 29KB)
• MFV Advisory Board Meeting Minutes 04-16-2026(PDF, 27KB)
• MFV Advisory Board Bylaws(PDF, 73KB)

• Contact Mobile Food Vending Unit

• As of April 01, 2024 Parade Permits will be issued by the City of Columbus Recreation and Parks Department. For more information click the link below:
• https://columbusrecparks.com/events/plan-an-event/

   

• Scrap Metal Dealer Application(PDF, 170KB)

City Code and Other References

• Chapter 550: Scrap Metal Dealers

• Contact License Section

• Short Term Rental Application(PDF, 377KB)
• Short-Term Rental List of Other Properties Form(PDF, 78KB)
• Non-Ohio Residence Only Background Check Procedures (Mail-in card)(PDF, 187KB)
• Non-Ohio Residence Only Background Check Procedures (Electronic via FastFingerprints)(PDF, 66KB)
• Ohio BCI WebCheck Locations
• Short-Term Rental Affidavit of Non-Operation form(PDF, 95KB)

City Code and Other References

• Chapter 598: Hotel/Motel and Short-Term Rental Operations
• Ordinance 1959-2021
• Short-Term Rental Hosts and Hosting Platforms - Requirements
• Short-Term Rental Excise Lodging Tax FAQ(PDF, 210KB)

Note: Please confirm your zoning location before applying by using the below zoning map link.

• Zoning Map - City of Columbus

• Contact Short Term Rental Unit

• VFH Driver Application(PDF, 146KB)
• VFH Owner Application(PDF, 146KB)
• VFH Mechanical Inspection Form(PDF, 99KB)
• Pedicab Inspection Form(PDF, 98KB)
• VFH Vehicle Transfer Application(PDF, 125KB)
• VFH Owner Transfer Application(PDF, 122KB)
• VFH Professional Driver Verification Form(PDF, 105KB)
• Taxicab Number Change Request Form(PDF, 97KB)
• Taxicab Identification Change Request Form(PDF, 106KB)
• Taxicab Identification Authorization Form(PDF, 104KB)
• Annual Statement of Claims and Judgments(PDF, 91KB)
• Taxicab Owner Relinquishment Form(PDF, 98KB)

City Code and Other References

• Chapter 585: Vehicle for Hire Board
• Chapter 586: Micro Transit Vehicles (MTV)
• Chapter 587: Vehicle for Hire Owner's License
• Chapter 589: Vehicle for Hire Driver's License
• Chapter 591: Taxicabs
• Chapter 592: Pedicabs
• Chapter 593: Livery Vehicles
• Chapter 594: Horse Drawn Carriages
• Vehicle for Hire Rules and Regulations(PDF, 103KB)

Vehicle for Hire Advisory Board

• VFH Advisory Board Meeting Schedule(PDF, 68KB)
• VFH Advisory Board Meeting Minutes 07-31-2025(PDF, 108KB)
• VFH Advisory Board Meeting Minutes 01-29-2026(PDF, 22KB)
• VFH Advisory Board Bylaws(PDF, 78KB)

• Contact VFH Unit