Apply for or Renew a Business License

Auctioneers/Estate Sales 
Any Auctioneer or Estate Sale Company conducting a sale within the City shall obtain an Occupational License. Licenses may be issued on a daily or annual basis.

Automobile Dealers 
Automobile Dealers are issued Occupational Licenses based on the number of cars sold per year.

Building Contractors 
Including, plumbers, electricians, HVAC, roofers, landscapers, tree trimmers, concrete contractors etc., located within City limits shall obtain an Occupational License.

Disposal/Trash Hauler License 
Any person or entity who performs the act of collecting, removing and transporting solid waste of any type from the generation, storage, or collection point, whether on a one-time or on-going basis, requires a Disposal/Trash Hauler license. No City Disposal/Trash Hauler License shall be issued to any person who has not first obtained any necessary or applicable license or permit from Johnson County. Seven per cent (7%) of gross receipts shall be paid monthly to the City to cover costs of enforcement and administration.
SUPPLEMENTAL FORM: Disposal - Trash Hauler Application 

Home Occupations 
Type I home occupation means a business, profession, occupation or trade conducted, wholly or in part, within a single-family or a two-family dwelling unit or within a structure accessory to a single-family or two-family residential building in which an employee or customer routinely visit the residence. Examples include but are not limited to: counseling, tutoring, musical instruction, contractor office, and hair cutting/styling. 

Type II home occupation means an economic activity involving no routine customers or employees on the premises. A Type II home occupation has no discernible impact on the surrounding neighborhood and can occur in any typical dwelling unit. Examples include but are not limited to: writer, accountant, consultant, and computer programmer. Type II home occupations do NOT require a Merriam Business License.  

Out-of-City Contractors 
Building contractors including, plumbers, electricians, HVAC/Mechanical, roofers, landscapers, tree trimmers, concrete contractors etc., performing work within City limits shall obtain an Occupational License.

In addition, contractors providing General residential and Commercial construction, HVAC/Mechanical, plumbing, electrical, fire protection, roofing, and swimming pool work requires a Johnson County Contractors License (JCCL). Fences and driveway flatwork do not require a JCCL. Details regarding the JCCL program can be obtained by contacting their office at 913-715-2233.

A Building Permit is required for most construction projects performed by a contractor and/or home owner who must be residing in the home and will require an affidavit. 

Retail Stores, Restaurants, Grocery and Convenience Stores 
Restaurants selling alcohol requires a Drinking Establishment License in place of an Occupational License.

Retail Stores, Restaurants, Grocery and Convenience Stores selling Cereal Malt Beverages (CMB) requires an additional Cereal Malt Beverage License.

Mobile Food Vendors/Food Trucks

Any Mobile Food Vendor/Food Truck offering food and/or beverage for sale from a mobile food unit requires a Mobile Food Vendor License. Mobile food vendors are not allowed to vend on city owned property or public rights-of-way, unless part of a city approved event. All mobile food vendor operations must occur on a paved surface and are prohibited from vending within 150 foot radius from the main entrance of a brick and mortar restaurant.

SUPPLEMENTAL FORM: Food Truck application(PDF, 136KB)

Landlords
All persons engaged in the business of owning and leasing or of leasing single-family dwellings, multi-family dwellings, two-family dwellings, and all other rental property shall pay an occupational license fee. No license shall be issued until such fee has been paid to the city clerk.

In the event real property is offered for lease for the first time after commencement of any license year, the owner or the leasing agent shall, within 30 days thereafter, file the declaration and pay the applicable occupational license fee.

In accordance with federal and state law, the City reserves the right to conduct biennial inspections of each property used wholly or in part for residential purposes to determine compliance with all city regulations, including applicable fire, safety and building codes; provided, however, that nothing herein contained shall limit the City from making more frequent inspections at the request of any property owner, tenant, user, occupant or other interested party.

Transient Merchants 
(Door to Door sales) means a person who, for profit (whether as agent, contractor, employee, or principal), sells goods, produce, flowers, plants, merchandise, wares, or services, or seeks a donation for any cause and enters onto or into any private or public property, with or without permission of property owner, for the exhibition or sale of such goods, produce, flowers, plants, wares, merchandise, or services.
SUPPLEMENTAL FORM: Transient Merchant Application

Occupational License for Nonprofit Enterprises
The city clerk shall issue an Occupational License, without the payment of any license fees or other charges therefor, to any person or organization for the conduct or operation of a nonprofit enterprise, either regularly or temporarily, when he/she finds the applicant operates without private profit, for a public, charitable, educational, literary, fraternal, or religious purpose. A copy of the 501c3 form may be required.

Every licensee and permit holder shall register with the city all employees who will mix, sell, serve, or dispense Cereal Malt Beverages (CMB) or alcoholic liquor on the Employee Registration Form within five days after each employee begins work for the licensee or permit holder and upon each renewal of a CMB, drinking establishment, retail liquor store, or caterer's license.

Employee Registration Form Instructions

Any retail business selling Cereal Malt Beverage (CMB) must also hold a valid CMB License.

CMB means any fermented but undistilled liquor brewed or made from malt or from a mixture of malt or malt substitute or any flavored malt beverage, as defined herein, but doesn't include any such liquors which is more than 3.2 percent alcohol by weight. Application forms are specific to the typ of business/organization applying for the license. CMB Licenses are valid until December 31 of each licensing year.

SUPPLEMENTAL FORMS:

• CMB Corporate Application
• CMB Firm, Partnership or Association Application
• CMB Individual Application
• Employee Registration From

Drinking Establishment License

Any restaurant or bar selling alcohol must obtain a Drinking Establishment License. All applications for new or renewal city licenses shall be submitted to the city clerk for approval. Upon presentation of a state license and city license application, payment of the city license tax and a determination that the proposed location of the drinking establishment doesn’t conflict with or violate any city zoning or alcoholic beverage ordinances, the city clerk shall issue a city Drinking Establishment License for the period covered by the state license.

Alcohol means alcohol, spirits, wine, and beer (as those terms are defined in K.S.A. 41-101 et seq.), and every liquid or solid, patented or not containing alcohol, spirits, wine or beer, capable of being consumed as a beverage by a human being, but doesn’t include Cereal Malt Beverage (CMB).

SUPPLEMENTAL FORMS:

• Drinking Establishment Application
• Employee Registration From

Caterers License

It's unlawful for any person licensed by this state as a caterer to offer for sale, sell and serve alcoholic liquor for consumption on unlicensed premises, which may be open to the public, within the city, without having in such person's possession a valid, unexpired and unrevoked Caterer's License issued by the city. Upon presentation of a state license and the city license application, payment of the city license tax, unless waived for a limited city license, and a determination that there are no conflicts with any alcoholic beverage ordinances of the city, the city clerk shall issue a city license for the period covered by the state license.

SUPPLEMENTAL FORMS:

• Caterer Application
• Employee Registration From

Retail Liquor Store

License Any person desiring to obtain a license or renew an existing Retail Liquor Store license shall make application with the city clerk. Such application shall be accompanied by the biennial license tax and a copy of the Retail Liquor License issued by the state. Upon application to the city clerk, presentation of a state license and payment of the city biennial license tax, and a determination that the proposed location of the retail establishment does not conflict with or violate any city zoning or alcoholic beverage ordinances, the city clerk shall issue a Retail Liquor License for the period covered by the state license. This license period will run concurrent for the period covered by the state license.

SUPPLEMENTAL FORMS:

• Retail Liquor Store Application
• Employee Registration From

Every applicant for a license to maintain, operate or conduct a massage therapy establishment shall file a written application with and provided by the city clerk. And shall accompany the application with the annual filing fee as set forth in the City's schedule of fees.

Verification of zoning requirements Once an application for a Massage Therapy Establishment is received, the Planning Department will verify that the proposed location meets the City’s zoning requirements.

After zoning verification, the Police Department will conduct an investigation into the truth of the statements set forth in the application and the qualifications of the applicant for the license.

Upon completion of the investigation and it’s determined that the applicant qualifies for the license, and the license fee is paid, a Massage Therapy Establishment License will be issued. All licenses expire December 31 of the licensing year. Find complete regulations in Merriam Code of Ordinances Section 14-111.

SUPPLEMENTAL FORMS: 

•  Massage Business Application(PDF, 68KB)
• Apply Online

License Requirements

It’s unlawful for any person to conduct massage therapy or in-office massage therapy unless he has a valid massage therapist license issued by the City.

To obtain a Massage Therapist License an applicant must submit the following documentation:

1. Written application.
   Any person who desires to perform massage therapy within city limits shall file a written application with and provided by the city clerk and shall accompany the application with the annual filing fee as set forth in the City's schedule of fees.
2. Verification of age.
   Written evidence that the applicant is at least 18 years old. (A copy of a state issued I.D.)
3. Educational requirements by certified transcript
   An applicant shall provide proof that the applicant has successfully completed a course of instruction made up of not less than 500 hours of instruction in the theory, method, or practice of massage from a National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) approved school;
   or
   Has passed the national certification examination for therapeutic massage and bodywork.
4. CPR and first aid training.
   An applicant shall provide proof of current certification in first aid and in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) by the American Heart Association or the equivalent.

Upon receipt of an application and other required documents for a massage therapist license, the city clerk shall immediately forward a copy of such application to the Police Department to determine whether information contained in the application is accurate and to investigate whether the applicant is qualified to be issued a massage therapy license.

After the investigation is complete and it’s determined that the applicant qualifies for the license, the license fee is paid. The applicant will then be fingerprinted by the Police Department and pay a fingerprint fee. Fingerprint fees must be paid in person at the time of the fingerprinting. Once the fingerprinting is completed, a Massage Therapist License and photo identification card will be issued. All licenses expire December 31 of the licensing year. Find complete regulations in Merriam Code of Ordinances Section 14-176.

SUPPLEMENTAL FORMS:

• Massage Therapist Application(PDF, 68KB)
• Apply Online