Event Planning Permit Requirements in Atlanta, GA

1. EIN (Employer Identification Number)

   Required if operating as a business entity (LLC or corporation) or if you have employees. Free from the IRS. You will need an EIN to open a business bank account and sign vendor contracts professionally.

   Official government source

   Free·Immediate (online application)

   Free

   Immediate (online application)

1. Georgia Business Registration

   Event planning businesses organized as an LLC, corporation, or partnership must register with the Georgia Secretary of State Corporations Division. In Georgia there is no state-level DBA. A sole proprietor or partnership using a trade name registers it with the Clerk of Superior Court in the county where the business is located and publishes notice in the county legal organ. An LLC provides personal liability protection, which matters when coordinating large events.

   Official government source

   $110 to file Articles of Organization (LLC) or Articles of Incorporation (corporation) - a $100 filing fee plus a $10 service charge, the same online or on paper - effective September 6, 2025. Every LLC and corporation then owes a $60 annual registration, due April 1 each year. Source: Georgia Secretary of State Corporations Division Filing Fees Schedule.·7-10 business days for online filings; about 15 business days for paper filings. Optional expedited review costs $120 (two business days), $275 (same day), or $1,200 (one hour) on top of the filing fee.

   $110 to file Articles of Organization (LLC) or Articles of Incorporation (corporation) - a $100 filing fee plus a $10 service charge, the same online or on paper - effective September 6, 2025. Every LLC and corporation then owes a $60 annual registration, due April 1 each year. Source: Georgia Secretary of State Corporations Division Filing Fees Schedule.

   7-10 business days for online filings; about 15 business days for paper filings. Optional expedited review costs $120 (two business days), $275 (same day), or $1,200 (one hour) on top of the filing fee.

2. Georgia Sales Tax Permit (if applicable)

   Georgia taxes retail sales of tangible personal property plus a short enumerated list of services - accommodations, in-state transportation of individuals, sales of admissions, and charges for participation in games and amusement activities (O.C.G.A. 48-8-2(31), 48-8-30(f)(1)) - together with specified digital products since January 1, 2024. Event planning and coordination are not on that list, so planning fees are not taxable. If you sell tangible goods such as decor, supplies, or floral arrangements, those sales are taxable at the rate where the buyer takes delivery (8.9% in the City of Atlanta).

   Official government source

   Free. Georgia charges no fee to register for a sales and use tax number through the Georgia Tax Center.·Register online at the Georgia Tax Center; the Department of Revenue emails the tax account number within about 15 minutes of submission.

   Free. Georgia charges no fee to register for a sales and use tax number through the Georgia Tax Center.

   Register online at the Georgia Tax Center; the Department of Revenue emails the tax account number within about 15 minutes of submission.

1. Atlanta General Business License

   Event planning businesses operating in Atlanta must obtain a general business license from the city. The application requires your business entity information, primary business address, and description of services. If you work primarily from home coordinating events elsewhere, a home occupation permit may also be required. Renewed annually.

   Official government source

   For tax year 2026: $191 annual registration fee + $50 flat tax + $25 per employee (first employee exempt) + a gross-receipts tax of (gross receipts - $10,000) / $1,000 x the NAICS tax-class rate. The registration fee was $75 for tax year 2025 and prior. Source: Atlanta Municipal Code Sec. 30-62 / Office of Revenue fee page.·1–2 weeks

   For tax year 2026: $191 annual registration fee + $50 flat tax + $25 per employee (first employee exempt) + a gross-receipts tax of (gross receipts - $10,000) / $1,000 x the NAICS tax-class rate. The registration fee was $75 for tax year 2025 and prior. Source: Atlanta Municipal Code Sec. 30-62 / Office of Revenue fee page.

   1–2 weeks

2. Atlanta Special Event Permit (for events in public spaces)

   When coordinating events that use Atlanta public parks, streets, plazas, or other public venues, a Special Event Permit is required from the city. As the event planner, you may be responsible for obtaining this permit on behalf of your client. Permit requirements typically include event details, expected attendance, proof of general liability insurance ($1M minimum), and sometimes a site plan or traffic management plan.

   Official government source

   $50–$500 depending on event size, venue, and city fee schedule·2–6 weeks (apply at least 30 days in advance for most events; 60+ days for large events)

   $50–$500 depending on event size, venue, and city fee schedule

   2–6 weeks (apply at least 30 days in advance for most events; 60+ days for large events)

3. Fulton County Temporary Use / Special Event Permit (if applicable)

   Virtually all of Fulton County is now incorporated. Fulton County Public Works states that it provides planning, zoning, permitting and inspections only for the Fulton Industrial Business District - an industrial corridor in western Fulton County - while all other former unincorporated territory became part of the City of South Fulton and the other Fulton cities. A county temporary use permit therefore almost never applies to an event in or around Atlanta. Event planners should instead check with the city hosting the event - in Atlanta, the Mayor's Office of Special Events.

   Official government source

   Fees vary by city; confirm with the city hosting the event·2–4 weeks

   Fees vary by city; confirm with the city hosting the event

   2–4 weeks

Official Sources

• Atlanta Business Licensing
• Georgia Secretary of State — Business Registration
• IRS EIN Application

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