Articles

Business Licenses in Madison County, KY
Madison County Planning & Building Codes

Madison County has three local governments that require a Business License; Madison County Government, City of Richmond and City of Berea. Each Government Agency requires a business license to be issued to any persons conducting business inside their County/City Limits.

Example:
If you are conducting business inside the City limits of Richmond then only a City of Richmond Business License is required; if you are conducting business OUTSIDE the City Limits of Richmond and/or Berea then you will need only a Madison County Business License. If you conduct business in each you will need a Business License from EACH agency.

Obtaining a Madison County Business License
Madison County offers an online portal to apply and renew for your Business License for Madison County Government. To apply online follow these steps:

Step 1: Visit the Madison Online Service System Click this link (Apply for Business License) 
Step 2: Complete all of the applicable fields including your username and password then hit Submit. The Planning & Building Codes office will review your application.
Step 3: Make your payment via check or cash (see details below)

You will be notified to the supplied email address once your application has been approved; once your application has been approved you will need to submit your payment of $10.00 license fee or renewal fee before the Business License becomes valid. Once your payment is received your license will become valid and a Business License Certificate will be mailed to the supplied address.

Making your payment
Payments at this time must be made via cash or check. We are currently in the process of accepting online payments for Business License Registations and Renewals along with tax payments. Information will be provided when this service becomes available!

Checks must be made payable to: Madison County Treasurer

You can mail your check or hand deliever it to:
Madison County Planning & Building Codes
321 N Madison AVE
Richmond, KY 40475

I have a Madison County Business License, Now what?
By requesting and receiving a Madison County Government Business License to operate or conduct business in Madison County (Outside the City Limits) you have now activated a process that requires additional tax information to be submitted to the Madison County Finance Office on an annual basis.

Madison County currently has a 1% net profit tax, which is due annually and if you have employees you are also required by law to file your payroll information on a quarterly basis and pay to the County a 1% Occupational Tax. Your new Business License has caused the Finance Office to open a “TAX RECORD” in your business name which requires you to file paperwork with the finance office each year, regardless of whether you make a profit from your business or not.