What permits do you need to open a retail store in Dakota County Mn?

Off-Sale Intoxicating Liquor License — exclusive liquor stores (outside city limits)

For a store outside city limits that sells packaged liquor. The county's intoxicating liquor page says the off-sale license "can be issued to store that only sells intoxicating liquor and 3.2 percent malt liquor at the licensed premises", and Ordinance 101 §9 subd. 1 confines it to exclusive liquor stores in the county's unorganized territory or in a town exercising powers under Minn. Stat. §368.01, subd. 1 or 1a, with the approval of the Commissioner of Public Safety. In a town, the town board must adopt a resolution supporting the license, a public hearing must be held (the county page: "A public hearing will be held by the Board of Commissioners before this license is approved."), notice must go to interested parties and to any city within three miles, and Ordinance 101 §12 requires a certified town-board consent resolution. The fee, as published on the county's intoxicating liquor page (last updated 07/17/2026), is $800 for the license year Jan. 1 to Dec. 31 — the maximum annual county off-sale fee under Minn. Stat. §340A.408, subd. 3(b). The State of Minnesota issues the license after county approval. The county published a recommended 2027 fee schedule (public notice dated Sept. 3, 2026; County Board public hearing Oct. 6, 2026; proposed to take effect Jan. 1, 2027); the figure here is the one the county's own page shows for the current period.

Precious Metal Dealer License

A precious metal dealer that buys used or secondhand items made of gold, silver or platinum needs this county license. The county's page describes a dealer as any person, partnership or corporation — "like pawn shops, coin shops, or jewelry stores" — that buys used items containing precious metals, meaning anything made of at least 1 percent gold, silver or platinum, and the license allows buying only at the addresses listed on it. Under Minn. Stat. §325F.736 the dealer must hold each purchased item for at least 14 days before selling or altering it, and during that time the item must stay at the dealer's shop or another safe spot within Dakota County. The fee is a county fee: §325F.733, subd. 2 provides for "a license fee in an amount determined by the board of county commissioners", and the county's precious metal dealer page (last updated 06/04/2026) states "Fee: $84", with a term of one year from the date of issue. The county published a recommended 2027 fee schedule (public notice dated Sept. 3, 2026; County Board public hearing Oct. 6, 2026; proposed to take effect Jan. 1, 2027); the figure here is the one the county's own page shows for the current period.

Transient Merchant License

A transient merchant, as the county's page defines one, is "A person who sells and delivers goods from a temporary location. This could include a building, structure, vacant lot or railroad car." A retail seller running a temporary sale needs this license; peddlers and solicitors (door-to-door sellers) are directed by the county page to the city instead. The license is valid at one sale location only, is not valid for more than one person unless that person is a member of a co-partnership, and is valid only in Dakota County. The fee of $150 is set by statute (Minn. Stat. §329.11) and the county's transient merchant page (last updated 07/03/2026) shows the same $150 with a one-year term; §329.11 also requires a surety bond of not less than $1,000 nor more than $3,000. The county page states that anyone who does business as a transient merchant without a license is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.

Shared with other businesses in Dakota County Mn

• Retail Tobacco License — Dakota County Public Services & Revenue, $944 for a two-year license; license period Jan. 1, 2026 to Dec. 31, 2027 ("Partial period licenses are pro-rated."), two years; the current license period runs Jan. 1, 2026 to Dec. 31, 2027. Also required for restaurants and coffee shops; what it involves is set out on the coffee shops page.
• 3.2% Malt Liquor License — On-Sale or Off-Sale (outside city limits) — Dakota County Public Services & Revenue, $290 a year for each license type (on-sale $290; off-sale $290), January to December, as published on the county's 3.2% malt liquor page, annual; one year from January to December. Also required for restaurants and coffee shops; what it involves is set out on the coffee shops page.
• Hazardous Waste Generator License — Dakota County Environmental Resources Department, As the county's hazardous waste license page puts it: "All generators pay a base fee plus each generator pays a gallonage fee, which is calculated on each incremental gallon." The dollar rates are not published on that page or on the license application form; the county invoices the license after the annual report is filed. Contact Environmental Resources, 952-891-7557, for the current amounts., annual; full generators renew each year by filing the annual hazardous waste report by Jan. 31, then paying the invoice; minimal generators file a one-time registration. Also required for auto repair shops, contractors and trades, salons and barbers and veterinary clinics; what it involves is set out on the salons and barbers page.