If you are seeing or hearing this, then either your browser/user agent does not support Cascading Style Sheets, or you have elected to turn them off.  You may see and/or hear immediately following this notice alerts regarding national security or the Amber Alert system that do not apply.  To see if these alerts apply, follow the links provided.  -Commonwealth of Kentucky
The national Homeland Security Advisory System's Threat Condition is currently red, meaning severe.  Check your local radio or television stations for up-to-date information.  You may also check the National Homeland Security website or the Kentucky Homeland Security website for more information.  -Commonwealth of Kentucky
The national Homeland Security Advisory System's Threat Condition is currently orange, meaning high.  Check your local radio or television stations for up-to-date information, or you may visit the National Homeland Security website or the Kentucky Homeland Security website for more information.  -Commonwealth of Kentucky
An Amber Alert has been issued.  Visit the Kentucky Emergency Management website for information.  -Commonwealth of Kentucky
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Special Licenses/Permits

Kentucky doesn't have a statewide business license that applies to all businesses, but certain types of businesses are required to have a special license or permit to legally operate their business. In some cases, more than one license may be required.  While the focus of this web page is on state licenses and permits, you should also be aware of federal licenses/permits, local licenses, environmental permits, and building/zoning permits that your business may need.

To determine if your type of business needs a special license or permit from the Commonwealth of Kentucky, search our database by keyword or browse the list below.  To search by keyword, enter a word or phrase that describes your type of business (accountant, barber, etc.) in the box below, and then click the search button.

   

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Aboveground Storage Tank Installation Accountant, Certified Public
Acupuncture Adoption Agency
Air Conditioning Contractor Airport
Airport Shuttle Alcohol Detoxification Center, Non-Medical
Alcohol Sales/Distribution/Storage/Manufacture Alcohol/Drug Abuse Prevention Program, Non-Medical
Alcohol/Drug Abuse Treatment Facility, Non-Medical Alcohol/Drug Counselor
Ambulance Service Amusement Rides & Attractions
Animal Control Shelter Animal Feed Manufacturing Facility, Commercial
Animal Technician/Technologist Architect
Art Therapist Asbestos Abatement
Athlete/Sports Agent Athletic Trainer
Auction House Operator Auctioneer
Audiologist Automobile Auction
Automobile Dealer Automobile Manufacturer/Distributor/Wholesaler
Automobile Rental/Leasing Automotive Recycling/Junkyard
Bait Dealer, Live Bank/Trust/Bank Holding Company
Barber Beauty Salon/Hairdresser
Bed & Breakfast Facility Beer Sales/Distribution/Storage/Manufacture
Billboard Advertising Bingo/Raffles/Charitable Gaming
Blaster, Explosives Boarding Home
Body Piercing Boiler Contractor/Install/Repair/Inspect
Boxing Brewery
Building Inspectors Bus Charter Service
Bus Transport Services Business Opportunity Sales
Buying Club Cab Service
Car Auction Car Dealer
Car Manufacturer/Distributor/Wholesaler Car Rental/Leasing
Carbonated Beverage/Soft Drink Manufacturing Carcass/Dead Animal Disposal
Carrying Concealed Deadly Weapons (CCDW) Carrying Concealed Deadly Weapons Instructor
Catering Service/Kitchen, Food Cemetery and Pre-Need Cemetery Merchandise Companies
Certified Public Accountant Cervid, Captive
Charitable Gaming Charitable Soliciting Non-Profit Organization
Charter Bus Service Check Casher/Deferred Deposit
Chemical Dependency Treatment Service Chemical Suppression System Design/Install
Child Care Center Child Caring Residential Facility, 24 hour
Child Placing Agency, Adoption/Foster Care Chiropractor
Cigarette Wholesaler/Subjobber/Transporter Clay/Fluorspar/Dolomite/Rock Mining
Coal Mining, Exploration, Reclamation, etc. Commercial Driver
Commercial Driver's License Training School Construction, Heavy
Contact Lens Seller Cosmetologist/Apprentice Cosmetologist
Cosmetology Instructor or Apprentice Instructor Counselor, Mental Health
Credit Union Crematory
Crude Oil/Petroleum Transporter Dairy Farm, Commercial
Dam Construction Day Care Facility, Child
Debt Adjustment/Management Demolition
Dental Hygienist/Lab/Lab Technician Dentistry
Dietitian Disabled Persons Transportation Service
Distilled Spirits Sales/Distribution/Storage/Mfr Dog Training and Shooting Area
Dredging, River Sand/Gravel Driving School and/or Driving Instructor
Drug/Alcohol Counselor Drug/Controlled Substance Manufacture or Wholesale
Ear Piercing Egg Buying/Selling/Processing
Electrical Inspector Electrician/Electrical Contractor
Elevator/Escalator/Material Lift/Chair Lift Embalming
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Instructor Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
Engineer, Professional Esthetician
Esthetics Salon Esthetics/Cosmetology Dual Instructor
Explosives Eyeglass/Ophthalmic Dispenser
Falconry Family Care Home
Family/Marriage Therapist Fertilizer Distributor
Fire Alarm Inspector Fire Protection System Design/Install/Inspect
Fireworks Fish Dealer, Live
Fisheries Transportation Fishing Tournament/Marine Event
Fishing, Commercial Fitness Center/Club, For-Profit
Food Manufacturing/Processing/Packaging Facility Food Salvage Processor or Distributor
Food Service Establishment Food Storage Warehouse
Foxhound Training Enclosure, Commercial Frozen Food Locker
Fundraising Consultant, Professional Fundraising Solicitor/Consultant, Professional
Funeral Home Establishment or Director Funeral/Burial Services, Pre-Need, Sale of
Fur Buyer or Processor Garbage Transportation
Garden Center Gasoline and Other Motor Fuels
Gasoline Station / Motor Fuels Dealer Gasoline Tank Truck
General Contractor, Construction Geologist
Going Out of Business Sale, Fire Sale, Removal Sale Grain Dealer or Grain Storage/Warehouse
Grocery or Retail Food Store Group Home, Mental Retardation/Devp Disabilities
Group Home/Institution/Shelter, Childrens Gymnasium/Athletic Center, For-Profit
Hatcheries and Dealers in Chicks and Eggs Hazardous Waste
Health Care Delivery Network Health Care Facility/Service/Major Medical Equip.
Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) Health Spa/Health Club, For-Profit
Hearing Aid/Hearing Therapist Hearing Instrument/Aid Specialist
Heating Contractor Highway Encroachment
Home Health Care Agency Home Inspector
Horse Racing Participants and Activities Hospice Services
Hospital Hotel or Motel Facility
Household Goods Carrier Hunting/Fishing Guide, Commercial
HVAC Ice Cream and Frozen Dessert Manufacturing
Insurance Interior Designer, Certified
Interpreter for Deaf Investment Advisor/Representative
Junkyard, Motor Vehicle/Automotive Laetrile Manufacturing
Land Surveyor Landfill
Landscape Architect Landscaping Service
Law Enforcement/Police Instructor Lawn Service Company/Specialty Fertilizer
Lead Hazard Detection or Abatement Services Lead Hazard Detection/Abatement Training Provider
Limestone For Agricultural Use Limestone Mining
Limousine Service Liquefied Petroleum (LP) Gas Anhydrous Ammonia (NH3) Tank Installation
Liquefied Petroleum (LP) Gas Dealer/Equipment Liquor Sales/Distribution/Storage/Manufacture
Livestock Dealer Loan Company, Consumer or Industrial
Loan, Title Pledge Lender Logging/Tree Cutting
Malt Beverage Sales/Distribution/Storage/Mfr Manufactured Home Installer/Dealer/Manufacturer
Manufactured Housing Installer/Dealer/Manufacturer Marriage/Family Therapist
Martial Arts, Mixed Massage Therapy
Mechanical Contractor, Construction Medical Facility/Service/Major Medical Equipment
Medical Laboratory Mental Health Counselor
Mental Health-Mental Retardation Center, Community Methamphetamine Cleanup Contractor
Milk Handler/Lab/Transfer Station Milk Producer/Processor/Hauler/Distributor
Milk Sampler/Weigher/Tester Mining, Surface Disturbance, Non-Coal
Mobile Home Installer/Dealer/Manufacturer Mobile Home/RV Park
Money Transmitter Monuments/Grave Stones
Mortgage Loan Company/Broker Mortgage Loan Officer/Originator
Motor Carrier Transportation Motor Vehicle Auction
Motor Vehicle Dealer Motor Vehicle Junkyard
Motor Vehicle Manufacturer/Distributor/Wholesaler Motor Vehicle Rental/Leasing
Motor Vehicle Salesperson Motor Vehicle Transportation/Delivery
Motorboat Dealer/Manufacturer Motorcycle Dealer
Motorcycle Manufacturer/Distributor/Wholesaler Moving Van Service
Mussel Harvesting/Buying Nail Salon
Nail Technician Natural Gas/Natural Gas Liquids Severing/Processing
Natural Resource Severing/Processing, Except Coal and Oil Nurse
Nursery or Nursery Dealer Nursing Continuing Education Provider
Nursing Home Nursing Home Administrator
Nursing Pool/Nursing Temporary Medical Staffing Service Nursing School
Nutritionist Occupational Therapist
Oil (Used) Collector or Recycler Oil Shale Exploration/Operations
Oil Well or Gas Well Drilling/Operation Ophthalmic/Eyeglass Dispenser
Optometrist Osteopathy
Paramedic Pastoral Counselor, Fee-Based
Pawn Shop or Pawnbroker Pay Fishing Lake
Payday Lender Peace Officer
Pest Control Operator Pesticides
Pharmaceutical/Controlled Substance Mfr/Wholesale Pharmacist/Pharmacist Intern
Pharmacy Physical Therapist
Physical Therapist Assistant Physician
Physician Assistant Plumber/Plumbing
Podiatrist Polygraph Examiner/Trainee
Primary Care Center, Medical Private College/Educational Institution
Private Foundation Private Investigator
Proprietary Schools Psychologist/Psychological Associate
Radiation Equipment Operator Radiation Producing Equipment
Radioactive Materials Rangehood Fire Protection System Design/Install
Real Estate Broker/Sales Associate Recreation/Retirement Land Sellers
Recreational Sports/Health Center, For-Profit Recreational Vehicle (RV) Dealer/Sales
Recycling Facility/Junkyard Renal/Kidney Dialysis Facility