[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6146801,"mediaKeyId","5524460-32b3c40fc9cbe44e95d1c428e99e18b0","parentId",5524460,"title","Columbia County: massage operator licenses need conditional-use approval and state credential","audioSeconds",51,"startMs",313470,"endMs",364560,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5524460-32b3c40fc9cbe44e95d1c428e99e18b0&start=313&end=364","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5524460-32b3c40fc9cbe44e95d1c428e99e18b0/thumbnail_313470.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6146801/Columbia-County/Georgia/Columbia-County-massage-operator-licenses-need-conditional-use-approval-and-state-credential","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6146801-c1a331494e61a8c3a1aeb26d82d37ef5/orig.mp4?Expires=1775481486&Signature=WLbBKHvhAXod~~oejCoLYm2dZJGGT3XYtbTjC7vkJYuuBl-9zTQgOFTdy2T9XIM2mbNDlG4eAojYrKvx84DT9RpbEfSbtbkt~6T6w9qt9Ga3T4lIRVc8TZCybxpQrkR46hwikd28I0yts7OiCcmXH2wnescScQSuyXWMZsVNok4LRrKG4xM64iSXIKbucHoYNawGO3~9ON3vVxdhAbFhz1RKIkBJQhIB-Qc5S3jyiHoI0PGNOIlQ5cqfbtEW94Adw6k4MOLW~Ha7Tc9tivf5NFBIv~yYgmwzfQw2X~0NqNwdF6zaa9wA-s41jtPAGsshDRC9V3ZbkrBV7cb6jyBu9A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-08-01T13:40:35Z","article","\"So the massage operator's licenses, they all are required to have a conditional use to allow massage on the property first. And then once they've obtained that, they can apply for a massage operator's license with us,\" Erin Hall, Columbia County licensing manager, said.

Hall said applicants must be licensed massage therapists under the State of Georgia and must live within 50 miles of the Columbia County location where they will perform massage. The county planning commission approves massage operator licenses for each location, Hall said.

The licensing manager noted that recent event disruptions make year-to-year comparisons difficult but emphasized that the licensing office follows these location and credentialing rules consistently.

Applicants seeking a massage operator license should confirm conditional-use approval with the planning commission before filing with the licensing office.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","A to Z in CC | Licensing","oneSentenceSummary","The county licensing manager described the process for massage operator licenses: a property must have conditional-use approval, applicants must be state-licensed therapists and live within 50 miles of the work location; planning commission approves licenses.","taxTitle","Columbia County, Georgia","taxId",12804,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6146805,"Columbia County explains alcohol licensing, temporary event permits and excise tax",61,148690,209825,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5524460-32b3c40fc9cbe44e95d1c428e99e18b0&start=148&end=209","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5524460-32b3c40fc9cbe44e95d1c428e99e18b0/thumbnail_148690.jpg","/articles/6146805/Columbia-County/Georgia/Columbia-County-explains-alcohol-licensing-temporary-event-permits-and-excise-tax","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6146805-bafd700dc03ba7b40bf6467efd713886/orig.mp4?Expires=1775481486&Signature=GbuyTSmGzsJxRpINAnCm8x0fu8rbd8y4IrHX4p1yuFXK~kU6wrVJ6kxvbNA9zXv27JuWLFTZ0fNfxSciN12kKlJmKhYluStcnFUD2hbJSfaVIjub21ghEcuQgv~Mp61IZmN-V9huCJj~goUzpbC9shDHCpqc1cSrM3CPJ3FYRKtDDN6B2fELCUArHJlZDClp1cr0PJLbp-6Ze61HwByIyYNDN2RsOqdubNwYDbkKQzL88HOIsuqvx40TCQ1IF2c9fZMdJaLqGAJ3Wnt~677i0hghgg6Or17jPAFq9Jg7fhpMBheE9S~2DR~8toGg8ZdpdkB6TbbFEUY-o55k3F4nrg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Erin Hall, Columbia County licensing manager, said restaurants must hold both a business license and a separate alcohol license to sell alcohol in the county. \"If you are selling or serving alcohol at a specific location, you do have to have a temporary event permit for that,\" Hall said when explaining temporary permits for single events.

Hall described the permanent alcohol-license application as more intensive than a business license: applicants undergo a background check and a public-notification process. \"There's actually a yellow placard that's put outside of your business so that the public will know you're applying,\" Hall said. That placard must remain for 30 days and the application requires three advertisements in the Augusta Chronicle; permanent alcohol licenses are decided by the Board of Commissioners and the process typically takes about 45 to 60 days, Hall said.

For single-location events such as county concerts or wedding venues, the licensing office issues temporary alcoholic beverage permits that allow alcohol sales or service only at that event and location. Hall said the county issues temporary permits for community events including the Evans Market.

Hall also said Columbia County collects a 3% monthly excise tax on distilled spirits sold by restaurants. \"Our restaurants in Columbia County who serve distilled spirits pay a 3% excise tax monthly on the distilled spirits that they sell,\" she said.

Hall advised applicants to plan ahead because of the notice and review periods and to expect the permanent-license review to take roughly one to two months.","County licensing manager described requirements for a permanent alcohol license, temporary event permits, public-notice rules and a 3% excise tax on distilled spirits sold by local restaurants.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6146810,"How to start a business in Columbia County: business licenses, zoning and renewals",306,240,307070,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5524460-32b3c40fc9cbe44e95d1c428e99e18b0&start=0&end=307","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5524460-32b3c40fc9cbe44e95d1c428e99e18b0/thumbnail_240.jpg","/articles/6146810/Columbia-County/Georgia/How-to-start-a-business-in-Columbia-County-business-licenses-zoning-and-renewals","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6146810-961c58dee2532cfa6853b2bd3c761c9f/orig.mp4?Expires=1775481486&Signature=mztbo2BYAsZCevt2JGKzksqPY8wfbDVDcUPOB8qpqfEPINzZnfKTMapPw0ao373dtvJn7UOZlxfwORwWHlLexdS9Zm1B81Q915tX6~uJT565axdkrOPDzR-dymeo4uXekp-0M3KI7Z1TTgDCRQz1~IioImFAivWDBs~w4QcE1Nk~tkHOx6OH3RH0Xhe3oaMqiDGZ27ObVQxJ-zO0P2fFy2llDLmAEoZbIqyt-Q0CAaEyDOFZrOv6ieb4CrYNkCY4PIt96v5iKPFTP~DAndMpp0DN2~SIPOrjg5Embyozxw34vyGtC4LXeJRjscURg4eCZr~MOViapPHWbIHPmgh0pA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Erin Hall, Columbia County licensing manager, said the foundational requirement to operate in the county is a business license, often called an occupational tax. \"The most common type that we have that every business has to have to operate in Columbia County is actually a business license, which a lot of people also refer to as your occupational tax because you pay the occupational tax as part of the business license process,\" Hall said.

The licensing office issues business licenses for commercial, home-based and mobile operations. Renewals are annual: the office sends renewal notices by Dec. 15 and licenses are due without penalty by Jan. 31, making December through February the busiest season for the staff. Hall said the county receives roughly 600 new business license applications a year under normal conditions and has about a 96% occupational tax collection rate.

The licensing staff urged prospective business owners to check zoning before signing a lease. \"If it's a commercial business in a commercial location, usually they're checking their zoning. And that's something that we encourage everyone, if you can do it before you sign a lease, to check-in with us and we can make sure that you have the proper zoning for the business you want to operate,\" Hall said. County staff can also request a cursory review from the water-utility and environmental compliance teams to confirm whether the site can support water-intensive activities such as car washes or nail salons.

Mobile food vendors and temporary vendors at events must hold a Columbia County business license in addition to any required health- or agriculture-department approvals. Hall said county staff routinely assist with intake and collections during the renewal surge and that two licensing documents must be notarized.

Leah Claybrook serves as the licensing office's primary customer service representative and handles intake and excise-tax collection, Hall said. The licensing and permitting teams share workspace and cross-support one another during peak periods.

For more information or to begin an application, Hall said applicants may visit the licensing office in Building A at the county government complex.","Columbia County licensing staff outlined what new and existing businesses must do to obtain and renew business licenses, key timing, zoning checks and utility reviews, and annual collection performance.","actionData","errors"]

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Columbia County: massage operator licenses need conditional-use approval and state credential

Columbia County explains alcohol licensing, temporary event permits and excise tax

How to start a business in Columbia County: business licenses, zoning and renewals