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

Transient Merchant License

The county's Business Licenses page states: "Any out-of-state business coming into Washington County to sell goods or services must have a Transient Merchant License. The license is valid for one year. It is only valid at the location listed on your original application." It lists "Pay the fee: $150" and "$3,000 surety bond is required." The $150 fee is statutory: Minn. Stat. §329.11 provides that a transient merchant "shall pay to the treasurer of such county a license fee of $150, and shall give bond to the county in an amount to be determined by the county treasurer, which shall be not less than $1,000 nor more than $3,000," and that "Such license shall be good for a period of one year from the date of its issuance." The county is the issuer. Applicants file the transient merchant application, appointment of the county auditor, certification of compliance and SPC1 form, with a list of the merchandise to be sold and a notarized statement. Contact Washington County Property Records and Taxpayer Services at 651-430-6175, 14949 62nd Street North, Stillwater, MN 55082.

Tobacco Retail License

Ordinance 216 §1.2 states: "This ordinance is applicable in any unorganized territory of the county and in any town or home rule charter or statutory city which does not license and regulate retail tobacco sales. Retail establishments licensed by a town or city to sell tobacco are not required to obtain a second license for the same location pursuant to this ordinance." The county's Tobacco Retail Sales page lists the places under the county's jurisdiction: "Afton, Baytown Township, Birchwood, Denmark Township, Grant, Grey Cloud Township, Lake Elmo, Lakeland Shores, Mahtomedi, May Township, Pine Springs, St. Mary's Point, Stillwater Township, West Lakeland Township, Willernie", and directs a business elsewhere in the county to contact the city clerk of its location for licensing information. The page asks retailers to notify the county within 30 days of intent to open; a pre-licensing inspection is scheduled within 7 business days, and licenses are valid only for the premises and person named. Under Ordinance 216 §4, "The license fee will be established annually by the County Board." Contact Washington County Public Health and Environment at 651-430-6655 or PHE@washingtoncountymn.gov.

Precious Metal Dealer License

The county's Business Licenses page states: "You need a Precious Metal Dealer License to buy, sell, or trade precious metals in Washington County" and "Pay the fee: $25 Payable by cash (in person) or check. Do not mail cash." Applicants complete the private-data and public-use applications, notarize the application, and provide proof of workers' compensation insurance coverage or an affidavit of sole proprietorship. The amount is a county-board fee, not a statutory one: Minn. Stat. §325F.733 subd. 2 directs each applicant to pay "a license fee in an amount determined by the board of county commissioners of the county to be necessary to cover the expenses of administering this licensing function," and subd. 4 provides that "A precious metal dealer license shall be valid for a period of one year from the date of its issuance." Contact Washington County Property Records and Taxpayer Services at 651-430-6175, 14949 62nd Street North, Stillwater, MN 55082.

Cannabis and Hemp Retail Registration

A store selling cannabis, lower-potency hemp edibles, THC beverages or any consumable product containing THC or CBD registers with the county after obtaining its state license or endorsement from the Office of Cannabis Management. The county's Cannabis and Hemp Retail Sales page states: "Washington County handles cannabis and hemp retail registration for businesses located in the following cities and townships: Afton, Denmark Township, Landfall, Marine on St. Croix, May Township, West Lakeland Township" and "If your business is in any other city in Washington County, you must apply directly with that city." The same page states: "Washington County does not review or provide any zoning certification." Ordinance 219 §4.1 sets the fees "pursuant to Minnesota Statute § 342.22, subd. 2." The county's figures equal the caps in that subdivision: an initial fee of "$500 or up to half the amount of the applicable initial license fee under section 342.11, whichever is less" and a renewal fee of "$1,000 or up to half" the renewal license fee; Minn. Stat. §342.11 sets the lower-potency hemp edible retailer's initial and renewal license fees at $250 each, so the hemp cap is $125. Under §342.22 subd. 2 the initial fee includes the first annual renewal. Sales must occur from a fixed, permanent retail location. Contact Washington County Public Health and Environment at 651-430-6655 or PHE@washingtoncountymn.gov.

Shared with other businesses in Washington County Mn

• Alcohol License (six townships) — Washington County Property Records and Taxpayer Services, The county's Business Licenses page lists no alcohol license fee; contact Property Records and Taxpayer Services at 651-430-6175 for the current amount., annual; renewals are processed by December 31 each year. Also required for restaurants; what it involves is set out on the restaurants page.