IF YOU ARE ESTABLISHING A LOCATION IN MESQUITE, YOU MUST CHECK WITH BOTH THE BUILDING AND PLANNING DEPARTMENTS REGARDING YOUR LOCATION BEFORE YOU PROCEED ANY FURTHER!
A tenant improvement permit is required for any new business location in the City. Your location must be approved for zoning as well.
1. Complete the City’s business license application.
2. If you are operating the business under a fictitious name, the Fictitious Firm Name form, which contains instructions for filing, must be filed with the Clark County Clerk’s Office and a copy of the filed form attached to the business license application. The fictitious firm name can be filed in Mesquite, and instructions are on the form.
IF YOU ARE INCORPORATED, a copy of the business name under the corporation must be attached to the application. Forms must be notarized.
3. You will need a copy of the Nevada Department of Taxation business license registration form. This form must be filed with the Department of Taxation in Las Vegas. If you have employees, you must also file with Employment Security and E.I.C. A copy of the filed forms must be attached to the City application. Taxation forms are filed at the Grant Sawyer Government building in Las Vegas, by mail or on the internet at www.tax.state.nv.us.
4. Contractors must attach a copy of their Nevada State contractor license to the business license application, as well as proof of E.I.C. coverage. A separate business license is required for each contractor category. The fee is $250.00 annually.
5. For some businesses, such as gaming, liquor, science practitioner, pawnbroker, second hand dealer, transient merchant, and some other licenses, a background investigation is required. The investigation papers must be completed and returned to the City Clerk’s office, where payment for the investigation will be receipted. The investigation may take from 3 days up to 6 weeks to complete, with costs varying from $75.00 to $175.00, depending upon the nature of the business.
TEMPORARY LICENSES ARE NOT AVAILABLE WHILE AWAITING INVESTIGATION RESULTS, EXCEPT BY SPECIAL ACTION
6. All transient merchants, either door-to-door or vendors holding sales at casinos, parking lots, etc., in addition to the requirements listed above, must provide proof that they have a Nevada Department of Taxation permit. Door-to-door vendors are required to wear, on their person in plain sight, an identification badge provided by the Mesquite Police Department which signifies their compliance with City Code requirements.
7. Your business license fees will be paid on either a ‘set’ fee or ‘gross fee schedule’ (fees are set by the Municipal Code Title 2) depending on the type of business. You will be notified by mail when your license fees are due.
8. If you wish to file for a business to be conducted in your home, a separate form is required, in addition to the business license application. Certain criteria must be met in order to obtain a home occupation license.
A $50.00 investigation/application fee is required for city staff to make the determination of whether your business will qualify. This is a one-time fee due at time of application.
9. There are several state agencies which may become involved with your business license application, or who may contact you after you have received a city license. Here are a few examples:
- Any garage, or dealer in automobiles, trailers, horse trailers, or vehicles of any kind, whether new or used, must have first obtained a license from Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles before a city license is issued.
- Financial institutions must first be licensed through the State Financial Institutions Division of the Department of Business and Commerce before a city license is issued.
- Restaurants, or any place or person selling food of any kind, are required to have a permit from the Southern Nevada Health District before a city license is issued.
10. Other permits from State or City agencies may be required, depending upon the nature of the business.
11. Any business involving people-moving must first have a permit from the TRANSPORTATION SERVICES AUTHORITY in Las Vegas. Their phone number is 702 486-3303. TSA regulates passenger transportation such as limousines, buses, vans, shuttles, tow trucks, tour buses, & moving and storage companies.
12. Contact the City Clerk’s Office, Business License Division, at 702-346-5295, if you need additional information.
