City Licenses

General City Licenses include licenses such as haulers, bowling alleys, tree trimmers, pool tables and video games. These licenses are annual and run from January 1st to December 31st. Notices about license renewals are sent out in mid-November. The associated license fee must be paid to the Finance Department at City Hall or pay online (choose Misc Clerk Fees for online payment). Please note that certain licenses require proof of insurance and that the City be listed as an additional insured on the insurance policy.

•  Download General City License application (PDF)

Commercial Animal Establishments include kennels, pet shops, groomers, breeders, riding stables, animal auctions and circuses, carnivals and performing exhibitions that include animals. These licenses are annual and run from January 1st to December 31st. Notices about license renewals are sent out in mid-November. The associated license fee must be paid to the Finance Department at City Hall or pay online (choose Misc Clerk Fees for online payment). Please not that certain licenses require proof of insurance and that the City be listed as an additional insured on the insurance policy. 

• Commercial Animal Establishment License application (PDF)

All massage therapy businesses are required to obtain a Massage Therapy Business City License (including any massage business or service offered in conjunction with or as a part of any health club, health spa, resort or health resort, gymnasium, athletic club or other business). Each massage business shall obtain a separate permit and each permit is only valid for one location. Massage therapy business licenses are valid for one year from the date of issuance. For both new applications and renewals, the applicant must complete the following steps in order to for their application to be considered for approval by the City Council:

1. Complete the Massage Therapy Business Application for City Permit (PDF) (required for every owner or officer, as well as every person who directly or indirectly manages or controls the business).

2. Provide proof of liability insurance in the amount of $1,000,000.00

3. Provide proof of all State of Iowa Massage Therapy Licenses for every massage therapist at the business.

4. Provide a valid photo ID for all applicants.

5. Complete any inspections as required by the Police, Fire or Building and Neighborhood Services Departments.

6. Pay the associated license fee to the Finance Department at City Hall or pay online (choose Misc Clerk Fees for online payment).

Any person whose business consists primarily of buying personal property subject to the right of repurchase or redemption, or of receiving actual possession of personal property as security for loans with or without a mortgage or bill of sale is considered a pawnbroker and is required to obtain a City license. Pawnbroker licenses are valid from one year from the date of issuance.  

For new applications and renewals, the applicant must complete the Pawnbrokers Application for City License form (PDF), a DCI Background Check form (PDF), and pay the associated license fee to the Finance Department at City Hall or pay online (choose Misc Clerk Fees for online payment). 

Any person or business operating or maintaining a junk yard or the dealing of junk within the City are required to obtain a permit from the Clerk's office. These licenses are annual and run from January 1st to December 31st. Notices about license renewals are sent out in mid-November. The associated license fee must be paid to the Finance Department at City Hall or pay online (choose Misc Clerk Fees for online payment). Junk and Salvage Operations are also required to have a Special Use Permit and are restricted to certain zoned areas of the City. 

• City application for Junk and Salvage Operations (PDF)

Peddler and Solicitor licenses pertain to the selling of goods door-to-door or upon the street. In addition to completing the Peddler or Solicitor City License application (PDF), applicants also need to complete a DCI Background Check form (PDF), provide proof of $1,000,000 of general liability insurance, and provide proof of retail sales tax permit issued by the Iowa Department of Revenue. The associated license fee must be paid to the Finance Department at City Hall or pay online (choose Misc Clerk Fees for online payment). Door-to-door solicitors are able to operate from 10AM - 6PM and all other licensees are able to operate from 8AM - 10PM.

Transient Merchant licenses are for vendors/applicants that will only be selling goods for a specified period of time (e.g., 1 day, 1 week, 3 weeks). These licenses are generally issued for the period of time that the applicant will be conducting sales and are not renewed on an annual basis. In addition to completing the Transient Merchant City License application (PDF), applicants also need to complete a DCI Background Check form (PDF), provide proof of $1,000,000 of general liability insurance, and provide proof of retail sales tax permit issued by the Iowa Department of Revenue. The associated license fee must be paid to the Finance Department at City Hall or pay online (choose Misc Clerk Fees for online payment). Merchants are able to operate from 8AM - 10PM.

Food Truck (mobile food vendor) licenses are for self-contained food establishments that are readily movable, such as food trucks or pushcarts. In addition to completing the Food Truck City License application (PDF), applicants also need to complete a DCI Background Check form (PDF), provide proof of $1,000,000 of general liability insurance, provide proof of retail sales tax permit issued by the Iowa Department of Revenue, provide proof of a valid DIA Food Truck license, and complete a fire inspection of the unit/s with Building & Neighborhood Services. The associated license fee must be paid to the Finance Department at City Hall or pay online (choose Misc Clerk Fees for online payment). 

Applicants wishing to operate a limousine or taxi cab business must apply for City license for a Vehicle for Hire Business. These business licenses are annual and run from January 1st to December 31st. Notices about license renewals are sent out in mid-November. For both new applications and renewals, the applicant must complete the following steps in order to for their application to be considered for approval by the City Clerk’s office:

1. Complete the Vehicle for Hire Business Application for City License (PDF), including providing all information on owner/s of the business and the vehicles that will be operated by the business.

2. Complete a DCI Background Check form (PDF).

3. Provide current year ASE Certified Vehicle Inspection Reports for each vehicle used for the business (PDF).

4. Provide proof of automobile insurance in the amount of $1,000,000.00 for each vehicle used for the business (Iowa Code §325A.6(2)).

5. Provide a copy of the business insignia used to designate motor vehicles used for the business.

6. Pay the associated license fee to the Finance Department at City Hall or pay online (choose Misc Clerk Fees for online payment).

Applicants wishing to be a limousine or taxi cab driver must apply for a City license for a Vehicle for Hire Driver’s License. These licenses are valid for one year from the date of issuance. In order to avoid a lapse in licensure, applicants should apply to renew their city license at least 30 days before their expiration date listed on their photo ID. For both new applications and renewals, the applicant must complete the following steps in order to for their application to be considered for approval by the City Clerk’s office:

1. Complete the Vehicle for Hire Driver’s Application for City License (PDF).

2. Complete a DCI Background Check form (PDF).

3. Provide proof of a valid Iowa driver’s license.

4. Pay the associated license fee to the Finance Department at City Hall or pay online (choose Misc Clerk Fees for online payment).

A Pollinator Garden Permit are for gardens, with specified limits abounded and delineated by an appropriate decorative fence, brick wall, railroad tie boundary, or other boundary, planted with flowers and grasses native to Iowa or the Midwest. Any interested party must fill out the Application for Natural Planting Area Permit to have a Pollinator Garden. There is not associated fee with this permit. This is a one-time application, no renewal required. 

Pollinator Gardens must use plants native to Iowa or to the Midwest and recommended by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, such as

Noxious Weeds, such as those listed in Iowa Code 317, are not permitted in any Pollinator Garden. Those include, but may not be limited to: