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Rutherford County

Rutherford County Clerk, Business Tax Department

In short

Rutherford County Clerk, Business Tax Department issues 3 permits we publish for Rutherford County, last verified 2026-10-08. Each carries the fee as the agency publishes it, with a link to the schedule it was read from.

What this agency issues

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Transient Vendor Permitonly if it applies to youRutherford County Clerk, Business Tax Department$50 per 14-day period, paid before the first day of business14 days from the beginning date2026-10-08
County Beer Permit (outside city limits)only if it applies to youRutherford County Clerk, Business Tax Department$250 non-refundable application fee, plus a $100 annual beer privilege tax (pro-rated in the first year, paid January 2–31 each year to the County Clerk)continues until the business ends, changes ownership, relocates or changes its name; the $100 privilege tax is annual2026-10-08
County Business License (Standard or Minimal Activity)only if it applies to youRutherford County Clerk, Business Tax Department$15 county license per location (county-only; a city license inside Murfreesboro, Smyrna, La Vergne or Eagleville is a separate fee paid to the city)standard license: one year, renewed at no cost when the state business tax return is filed and paid; minimal activity license: re-apply and pay $15 every year2026-10-08

Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.

About each permit

Transient Vendor Permit

A 'transient vendor', as defined on the County Clerk's Business Information page, is a person who brings stocks of merchandise into temporary premises and exhibits them to the public for sale; the definition excludes selling by sample, brochure or catalog for future delivery and sales made on a residence owner's prior invitation. The county's Transient Vendor Permit Application states 'PERMIT WILL BE ISSUED UPON RECEIPT OF $50.00 FEE', payable to the Rutherford County Clerk, and that the permit expires 14 days from the beginning date; the Clerk's page says the permit 'is Valid for Only Fourteen (14) Days'. The Tennessee Department of Revenue's June 2026 Business Tax Manual sets the fee at $50 for each 14-day period in each county or municipality where the vendor sells, paid in lieu of business tax under T.C.A. § 67-4-710(a)(2), and notes that sellers of services are not transient vendors. A pop-up seller inside a city also deals with that city.

County Beer Permit (outside city limits)

A business selling beer (not more than 8% alcohol by weight) in Rutherford County outside the limits of any city applies to the Rutherford County Beer Board, whose business is handled in the County Clerk's office (the Revenue manual says the privilege tax for a business inside a city is paid to the official named by that city). The county's current Standard Beer Permit Application, linked from the Clerk's Beer Permits page, requires a $250 non-refundable application fee payable to the Rutherford County Clerk and a $100 annual privilege tax paid between January 2 and January 31, pro-rated in the first year. These match T.C.A. § 57-5-104 as stated in the Tennessee Department of Revenue's June 2026 Alcohol Tax Manual: a $250 beer permit application fee 'regardless of jurisdiction' and a $100 local privilege tax remitted to the county clerk for businesses outside the incorporated limits of any city or town. The county form also requires a separate $70 check to Main Street Media for the required public notice, a county business license, a certificate of occupancy from County Building Codes, and compliance with a 600-foot distance from the nearest church, school or public gathering place; the applicant appears in person at the Beer Board meeting. A special event permit (up to 30 days) uses the county's separate Special Event application with the same $250 application fee.

County Business License (Standard or Minimal Activity)

As published on the Rutherford County Clerk's Business Information page, any business in Rutherford County with gross income over $3,000 in a tax year needs a Rutherford County business license, and 'The fee for your first license is $15.00'. Businesses with gross income between $3,000 and $99,999 may take a minimal activity license, which the Clerk's page says costs $15 a year, is renewed and paid each year at the Clerk's Office, and carries no state business tax return; at $100,000 or more the standard license applies and renews automatically once the business tax returns are filed and paid to the Tennessee Department of Revenue. The Department of Revenue's June 2026 Business Tax Manual sets the same $15 standard and minimal activity license fee under T.C.A. § 67-4-723. The $15 is the county license only: the Clerk's page states that a business inside the city limits of Murfreesboro, Smyrna, La Vergne or Eagleville 'must also obtain a city business tax license from the respective city recorder's office'. The Clerk's page also says state law requires the current license to be displayed in the place of business. Veterinary practices: under T.C.A. § 67-4-708(3)(C)(xiv), as explained in the Revenue manual, services in the practice of veterinary medicine are exempt, but a veterinarian who sells grooming services, animal food, medicine, collars, leashes or other goods is liable for business tax on those sales and needs the license. Apply online at tncountyclerk.com or at the Clerk's offices (319 N. Maple St., Murfreesboro; Blackman; Smyrna); call (615) 898-7800.

Contact

Jurisdiction
Rutherford County
Phone
(615) 898-7800

Contact details are taken from the agency’s own site or its published fee schedule. Where we have not verified a phone number we leave it blank rather than guess.

Sources

Every fee and term above was read from one of these government pages on the date shown.

  1. County Clerk — Beer Permits (standard and special event applications)Rutherford County Clerk · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-08
  2. County Clerk — Business Information (business license, minimal activity license, transient vendor permit)Rutherford County Clerk · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-08
  3. Rutherford County Beer Permit Application — Special EventRutherford County Beer Board / County Clerk · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-08
  4. Rutherford County Beer Permit Application — StandardRutherford County Beer Board / County Clerk · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-08
  5. Rutherford County Business License ApplicationRutherford County Clerk · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-08
  6. Rutherford County Transient Vendor Permit ApplicationRutherford County Clerk · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-08
  7. Tennessee Alcohol Tax Manual (June 2026) — beer permit application fee and local privilege taxTennessee Department of Revenue · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-08
  8. Tennessee Business Tax Manual, June 2026Tennessee Department of Revenue · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-03

Other offices serving Rutherford County

The full permit list for this jurisdiction

Industry permit lists that include this agency

Tennessee jurisdictions

Commercial Compliance Hub publishes information, not legal advice. Requirements change — confirm anything you rely on with the issuing agency before you file.