Business Licenses
A Glendale Business License is required for any person or business with a permanent physical business location in the Glendale city limits. A separate business license is needed for all separate locations in Glendale except commercial rentals. P.O. Box or PMB addresses are not physical locations and will not be accepted.
The initial license fee is $25 and is required to be renewed every year. The annual renewal fee is $25. A late penalty may be assessed if your initial application or license renewal is more than 30 days late.
*Note* Businesses subject to Transaction Privilege (Sales) Tax will need to apply for a transaction privilege tax (TPT) license in addition to applying for a Glendale Business License. To apply for a TPT license, please contact the Arizona Department of Revenue at www.azdor.gov/business.
Business License Approval Process
The Glendale Business License will be reviewed by the departments listed below for license approval. To avoid delays in the approval of a business license, please contact the Development Services Department, Planning & Zoning Division first to verify that the business location is zoned for your intended business activity. After verifying zoning, please contact the other city departments to see if any additional documents/permits are required.
Please Review BEFORE Applying for a Glendale Business License:
Is your business activity zoned for your business location?
*IMPORTANT* Before you apply for a business license, verify that your business activity is zoned for that location.
Zoning defines and provides parameters for land uses in a community. Land uses can include commercial, residential, industrial, etc. These zoning districts benefit the community by establishing design/development standards for land uses.
If you are unsure if your business location is zoned for your business, please contact the Planning & Zoning Division at phone number (623) 930-2800.
Is your business based out of your personal residence?
A Home Occupation (Home-Based Business), as defined by the Glendale Zoning Ordinance, is any occupation or profession conducted from a principal residence in a residential zoning district as an accessory use. All Home Occupations are required to obtain and maintain a Business License with the City of Glendale. Home Occupations are further described in Section 7.304 of the Zoning Ordinance(PDF, 43KB).
A Conditional Use Permit may be required for your home-based business. For more information, please review the Home-Based Business Questionnaire(PDF, 688KB). If you would like more information, please contact the Planning & Zoning Division at phone number (623) 930-2800.
Are you making any improvements to your business property?
Certain improvements may require a building permit. To confirm if your improvements require a building permit, please contact the Building Safety Division at phone number (623) 930-2800.
Has a Certificate of Occupancy been issued for your business location?
Please verify proper zoning before obtaining a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) for your business. Before applying for the business license, it is preferred that applicants contact the Building Safety Division to apply for the Certificate of Occupancy. Although you may apply for a business license first, approval of the business license is dependent on issuance of the Certificate of Occupancy for commercially zoned locations.
Certificate of Occupancy requirements:
- If any construction work (Fire, Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing or Structural) is in progress or has been completed, submit a Permit Application and Tenant Improvement plan(s). If the space area is greater than 3,000 square feet, the plans (construction documents) must be sealed by a registrant (Architect or Engineer) licensed by the State of Arizona.
- If construction work is not anticipated or was not completed, submit a Permit Application for the "No work C of O" with the future business name. Our Building and Fire Inspectors will perform field inspections to verify that no work was needed nor completed that would require building or fire permits.
Permit Application can be found at Submit Electronic Plans.
Once you are ready to submit an application and construction documents (if needed), please send an email to permits@glendaleaz.com and attach all documents. A Development Services Department representative will contact you with more information regarding the inspection scheduling procedure. If you have any questions, please contact the Development Services Department at phone number (623) 930-2800.
When you have passed all of your inspections, submit your request for the Certificate of Occupancy by sending an email to COORequest@glendaleaz.com and providing the following information:
- Project Name
- Project Address
- Building Permit #
Did your business location pass a fire/life safety inspection within the last 365 days?
As part of the license approval process, the Fire Department verifies that the business location has a current (within 365 days) passing fire/life safety inspection conducted by the City of Glendale Fire Department. If you are unsure if your business has a current fire/life safety inspection, please contact the Fire Department at phone number (623) 930-4400 or visit their Fire Prevention webpage.
Along with the Building Safety Division, the Fire Department will also verify if the business location has a Certificate of Occupancy and if building permits have been closed.
Is your business located outside of Glendale but you will be coming into Glendale to do business?
Construction contractors do not need a business license if located outside of Glendale.
If you are a mobile food vendor, door-to door peddler/solicitor, auctioneer or fortuneteller, please see the application packets at Regulatory Applications and Forms.
If you are unsure that a license is required, email taxlic@glendaleaz.com or call phone number (623) 930-3190.