Albany Georgia city government building where business owners apply for occupation tax certificates

How to Get a Business License in Albany, Georgia

How to Get a Business License in Albany, Georgia

You’re starting a business in Albany. You’ve got your concept, maybe a location picked out, and you’re ready to make it official. Here’s what catches most people off guard: Albany doesn’t have a single business license. It has an Occupation Tax Certificate. And before the city’s Treasury Division will hand you one, your location must pass approval from the Planning & Development Department. This step isn’t optional. This step isn’t fast. But if you know exactly what it is and when it happens, you’ll move through the process cleanly.

This guide walks you through the full sequence—from forming your business entity to holding your certificate in hand. It’s specific to Albany, with the prerequisite steps in the right order.

What Albany Requires vs. What Georgia Requires

Here’s the first thing that confuses new business owners: Georgia has no statewide business license. None. Every bit of local licensing happens at the city or county level.

Albany, sitting in Dougherty County, requires an Occupation Tax Certificate for every business that operates within city limits or Dougherty County (depending on your location). This is a local requirement, handled entirely by the City of Albany’s Treasury Division.

But—and this is important—the Occupation Tax Certificate is not your only registration requirement. It’s separate from your state tax registration. You need both.

Your state tax registration happens at the Georgia Tax Center (GTC), managed by the Georgia Department of Revenue. That’s where you register for sales tax, employer withholding taxes, and corporate income tax if applicable. The GTC registration is free. It’s also not optional if you’re collecting sales tax or hiring employees.

Think of it this way: Georgia’s GTC handles state-level tax reporting. Albany’s Treasury Division handles local occupational licensing. You’re registering with both systems, and they don’t talk to each other. You have to manage both tracks.

The Prerequisite Chain

The order matters. Do them out of sequence and you’ll end up waiting or resubmitting paperwork. Here’s the exact sequence.

Step 1: Form your business entity. If you’re starting as an LLC (the most common choice for small business owners), file your Articles of Organization with the Georgia Secretary of State Corporations Division at ecorp.sos.ga.gov. The filing fee is $100 online. Standard processing takes 5 to 12 business days. If you need it faster, pay $100 for 2-day expedited processing or $250 for same-day.

You could form a corporation instead, which also costs $100. But unless you have a specific reason (complex ownership structure, pass-through tax advantages you’ve discussed with a CPA), an LLC is simpler and cheaper to maintain.

Step 2: Get your EIN from the IRS. An EIN (Employer Identification Number) is a nine-digit ID the IRS uses to track your business. You need one if you’re hiring employees, operating as an LLC with multiple owners, or want to keep your personal and business finances separate (which you should). The EIN is free. You can apply instantly at irs.gov/ein. You’ll receive your number immediately.

Step 3: Register at Georgia Tax Center. Go to gtc.dor.ga.gov and register for sales tax and employer withholding (if you’ll have employees). This is free. It creates your State Sales Tax ID and your Employer Withholding Account Number. You’ll need these IDs when you apply for your Occupation Tax Certificate.

Step 4: Prepare your E-Verify Affidavit and SAVE Affidavit. These are mandatory documents required by Georgia law before any city can issue a business license.

The E-Verify Affidavit (O.C.G.A. § 36-60-6) confirms your intent to use E-Verify if you hire employees. If you have 11 or more employees, you must register for E-Verify and provide your user number. If you have fewer than 11 employees, you file an exemption affidavit stating you won’t be using E-Verify. You’ll submit whichever applies to you.

The SAVE Affidavit (O.C.G.A. § 50-36-1) verifies that you are lawfully present in the United States. You’ll need to present a Secure and Verifiable Document—your driver’s license, passport, or similar ID—and have the affidavit notarized. This is not optional.

Both documents must be completed and ready before you walk into the Treasury Division.

Step 5: Get Planning & Development pre-approval. This is the step most people miss or don’t know exists. Your business location must be approved by Albany’s Planning & Development Department before the Treasury Division will issue your Occupation Tax Certificate. This is not a rubber stamp. They’re verifying that your location is properly zoned for your type of business, that the building meets code, and that your use is compatible with the neighborhood.

The Planning & Development Department is located at 240 Pine Avenue, Room 300, Albany, GA. You’ll submit information about your business and your proposed location. They’ll review zoning, building codes, and use compatibility. If your location doesn’t work, they’ll tell you before you’ve paid for an OTC you can’t use.

There’s one exception: home-based businesses that are registered and located outside Dougherty County don’t need Planning & Development approval. However, home-based businesses within Dougherty County must submit a Home Occupation Affidavit to Planning & Development instead. You still have to go through the process; the paperwork is just different.

Step 6: Apply for your Occupation Tax Certificate at the Treasury Division. Once you have Planning & Development approval (or your Home Occupation Affidavit approved), you’re ready for the final step.

Planning & Development Pre-Approval

This section deserves its own space because it’s where people stumble.

The Planning & Development Department is at 240 Pine Avenue, Room 300, Albany, GA. Their job is to ensure your proposed business location complies with local zoning, building codes, and land-use regulations.

Almost all businesses need this approval. The exception is a home-based business that’s registered and located outside Dougherty County. If you’re running a consulting business from your home in a neighboring county and you don’t have customers visiting, you might not need Planning & Development pre-approval. But if you’re in Dougherty County and operating from home, you need a Home Occupation Affidavit—which is Planning & Development’s way of pre-approving your home-based use.

What does Planning & Development check?

  • Is your location zoned for your type of business? A restaurant can’t open in a residential zone. A hair salon might be allowed in a mixed-use zone but not in a manufacturing district.
  • Does your building meet the building code for your use? This varies by business type.
  • Is your use compatible with the area? Are you creating noise, traffic, or other impacts that conflict with neighboring properties?

You’ll need to provide information about your business—what you do, how many employees you’ll have, your hours of operation—and your proposed address. Planning & Development will review these details against zoning maps and code.

This step is not fast. Budget 5 to 10 business days for Planning & Development to review and respond. If there’s an issue, they’ll tell you. If everything is fine, they’ll provide written approval or a notation in your file confirming approval.

This approval (or affidavit) must be completed before you submit your Occupation Tax Certificate application to the Treasury Division. The Treasury Division will not process your application without it.

Applying at the Treasury Division

Once you have your Planning & Development approval in hand, you’re ready to apply for your Occupation Tax Certificate.

The City of Albany Treasury Division is located at 240 Pine Street, Suite 150, Albany, GA 31702. Phone: (229) 431-2118.

You’ll submit an application that includes:

  • Your business name
  • Your business location (street address)
  • The nature of your business (what you do)
  • Your EIN
  • Your State Sales Tax ID (from the Georgia Tax Center)
  • The number of employees you’ll have
  • Your name and home address

You’ll also submit copies of:

  • Your driver’s license
  • Your E-Verify Affidavit
  • Your SAVE Affidavit (notarized)
  • Your Planning & Development approval letter or Home Occupation Affidavit approval

Payment is due at the time you submit your application. The Treasury Division accepts VISA and MasterCard. Cash and checks are not options—bring plastic or pay online if you apply by mail.

The Treasury Division will calculate your fee based on your business type and number of employees. They can tell you the exact fee over the phone at (229) 431-2118 before you apply, so you know what to expect.

Once your application is complete and payment is processed, your Occupation Tax Certificate is issued. You can pick it up in person or have it mailed to you.

Fee Structure

Your Occupation Tax Certificate fee depends on your business type and size.

For most businesses, the fee is based on the number of employees and your gross receipts. The formula varies by business classification. A retail store with two employees has a different fee than a construction company with five.

There are two major exceptions:

Professional practitioners (lawyers, doctors, CPAs, dentists, accountants, and other state-licensed professionals) can pay a flat $400 per practitioner instead of the gross-receipts-based calculation. This is allowed under O.C.G.A. § 48-13-9(c). If you’re a licensed professional, ask the Treasury Division about this option—it’s almost always cheaper.

Insurance agencies and companies pay a flat $150 fee.

For every other business, you’ll need to contact the Treasury Division at (229) 431-2118 and provide information about your business type and expected number of employees. They’ll calculate your specific fee. This is not a guess—get the exact number before you apply.

Renewal and Compliance

Your Occupation Tax Certificate is valid for one calendar year. It expires on December 31.

You must renew every year. The deadline is January 31. If you renew after January 31, you’ll pay a late penalty on top of your renewal fee.

The Treasury Division will mail renewal forms to your business address at the beginning of each year. You don’t have to wait for the form—you can request one early by calling (229) 431-2118.

When you renew, you’ll also need to submit an affidavit verifying your status for “City Public Benefit.” This affidavit must be signed and notarized. It’s similar to the SAVE Affidavit you submitted with your original application—it confirms your lawful presence and good standing.

If you miss the January 31 deadline, penalties apply immediately. Pay your renewal as soon as the deadline approaches. Missing renewals three years in a row can result in administrative dissolution of your business license.

If your business changes—your address moves, your business structure changes, you hire significantly more employees—contact the Treasury Division to update your certificate. Some changes require a new application; others can be amended. Call (229) 431-2118 to ask what applies to your situation.

Start with your entity formation at ecorp.sos.ga.gov. Get your EIN. Register at the Georgia Tax Center. Prepare your affidavits. Get Planning & Development approval. Then walk into the Treasury Division with all your paperwork and pay your fee. Your Occupation Tax Certificate will be in your hands.

The Planning & Development step is the one that surprises people. It’s not instant, and it’s not automatic. But it’s not complicated either. You’re just confirming that your location works for your business type. Once you know that step exists and do it in the right order, everything else flows.