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.