Peachtree Corners Business License: Application Process

If you're setting up shop in Peachtree Corners, Georgia, you don't apply for a "business license" in the generic sense, the city issues what Georgia law calls an Occupation Tax Certificate, and most people just call it a business license. This guide walks through who needs one, what the city and Gwinnett County both require, and how to actually get the paperwork done without wasting a trip to City Hall.

Do You Need a Peachtree Corners Business License?

If you operate a business with a physical location, employees, or regular business activity inside Peachtree Corners city limits, you almost certainly need a peachtree corners business license (occupation tax certificate) before you open your doors or start invoicing customers. This applies to:

• Storefronts and retail businesses located in Peachtree Corners
• Home-based businesses operating from a Peachtree Corners address
• Professional service providers (consultants, contractors, agencies) with a business address in the city
• Restaurants, salons, and other consumer-facing businesses

Even single-member LLCs and sole proprietors working from a home office in Peachtree Corners typically need to register, though home occupation rules add extra zoning review (more on that below). If you're strictly remote with no Peachtree Corners GA address, say, an out-of-state LLC that happens to have a client here, you likely don't need a local license, but confirm with the city if you're unsure.

Step 1: Form Your Legal Business Entity First

Before applying for any peachtree corners business permit, your business needs to legally exist. For an LLC or corporation, that means filing with the Georgia Secretary of State's Corporations Division:

• Where to file: Georgia Secretary of State eCorp portal
• Georgia LLC filing fee: $100 online ($110 by mail)
• Processing time: Typically 5-7 business days online; expedited options available for an added fee

Sole proprietors and general partnerships don't file formation paperwork with the state, but if you're operating under a name other than your own legal name, you'll need to register a trade name (DBA) with the Gwinnett County Superior Court Clerk's office, since Peachtree Corners is unincorporated in the sense that DBA filings run through the county, not the city.

Step 2: Get Your Georgia Tax Registration

Most businesses need a Georgia sales tax number or state tax registration before the city will process an occupation tax certificate. Register through the Georgia Tax Center:

• Where: Georgia Tax Center (Department of Revenue)
• Cost: Free to register
• You'll need this if you sell taxable goods or certain services, and the city will often ask for your sales tax number on the license application

Step 3: Confirm Zoning Compliance

Peachtree Corners will not issue an occupation tax certificate until your business location is confirmed to be zoned for your intended use. This step trips up more new business owners than any other part of the process.

• Commercial locations: The city checks your address against its zoning map to confirm your business type is allowed there
• Home-based businesses: Peachtree Corners has a home occupation ordinance that limits things like customer traffic, signage, employee counts, and noise. Expect additional questions on the application if you're working from home

Contact the Peachtree Corners Community Development Department before signing a lease or committing to a location if you have any doubt about zoning. Fixing a zoning mismatch after you've already signed a lease is expensive and slow.

Step 4: Submit the Occupation Tax Certificate Application

Peachtree Corners handles business licensing through its Finance Department. The application typically requires:

• Legal business name and any DBA/trade name
• Business entity documents (Articles of Organization/Incorporation, or DBA certificate)
• Federal EIN (or SSN for certain sole proprietors)
• Georgia sales tax number, if applicable
• Business location address and, for home-based businesses, homeowner/landlord acknowledgment
• Number of employees and estimated gross revenue (Georgia occupation tax certificates are commonly calculated using a combination of a base fee and a per-employee or gross-receipts component, set by local ordinance)
• Description of business activity (NAICS code)

Because occupation tax fee structures and exact dollar amounts are set by city ordinance and can change from year to year, don't rely on a number you find secondhand, confirm the current fee schedule directly with the City of Peachtree Corners Finance Department or their website before budgeting for it. Expect the base occupation tax fee for a small business to fall in a modest two- or three-figure range, with the final amount depending on your business classification and size.

Where to Apply

Applications are processed through Peachtree Corners City Hall. Check the city's official website for the current online portal, since many Georgia municipalities have moved occupation tax renewals and new applications to an online system in the past few years:

• City of Peachtree Corners: peachtreecornersga.gov

Step 5: Industry-Specific Permits and State Licenses

Depending on what you do, a general occupation tax certificate isn't the whole story. Common add-ons for Peachtree Corners GA businesses include:

• Food service: Gwinnett County Health Department permit, plus Georgia Department of Agriculture inspection for certain food businesses
• Alcohol sales: Separate city alcohol license application, reviewed by City Council, in addition to a Georgia Department of Revenue alcohol license
• Contractors and trades: State licensure through the Georgia Secretary of State's licensing boards (electrical, plumbing, HVAC, general contracting) is required before the city will issue a local permit for that trade
• Professional services: Attorneys, accountants, real estate agents, cosmetologists, and similar professions need their Georgia state professional license active before applying locally
• Signage: A separate sign permit is usually required any time you install exterior signage, even if your occupation tax certificate is already approved

Renewal and Ongoing Compliance

Occupation tax certificates in Georgia municipalities are typically renewed annually, often with a deadline early in the calendar year. Late renewal usually triggers a penalty, so mark your calendar as soon as your first certificate is issued. If your gross revenue or employee count changes significantly year to year, expect your renewal fee to be recalculated accordingly, since many Georgia cities tie the fee to business size.

Common Timeline

Step	Typical Timeframe
Entity formation (LLC/Corp) with the state	5-7 business days online
Georgia tax registration	Same day to a few business days
Zoning verification	Varies; confirm before leasing
City occupation tax certificate review	Typically 1-3 weeks, longer if additional inspections are required

Build in extra time if your business requires a health inspection, fire marshal sign-off, or alcohol license, those add-on approvals routinely take longer than the base occupation tax certificate itself.

Costs to Budget For

• Georgia LLC/Corp formation: $100-$110
• Georgia sales tax registration: Free
• Peachtree Corners occupation tax certificate: Varies by business size and classification; confirm current fees with the city Finance Department
• Industry-specific permits (health, alcohol, contractor): Varies widely by category

Final Notes

The most common reason new business owners get stuck in Peachtree Corners is skipping the zoning check before signing a lease, or trying to apply for the occupation tax certificate before their state entity and tax registration are finalized. Do those in order and the rest of the process moves quickly.

This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or tax advice. Business licensing requirements, fees, and deadlines change, and your specific situation may involve additional local, county, or state requirements not covered here. Consult a licensed Georgia attorney or CPA, and verify current requirements directly with the City of Peachtree Corners and Gwinnett County before making filing decisions.