Auto Repair Shop Permit Requirements in Green Bay, WI

1. EIN (Employer Identification Number)

   Required if you have employees or operate as an LLC or corporation. Free from the IRS.

   Official government source

   Free·Immediate (online application)

   Free

   Immediate (online application)

1. Wisconsin Department of Revenue - Seller's Permit

   Required of every individual, partnership, corporation or other organization with a Wisconsin sales location making retail sales of taxable products or taxable services, with limited exceptions for wholesalers, manufacturers and certain marketplace sellers. The permit is issued through Business Tax Registration, which also covers withholding and use tax accounts. Rates: 5% state; seventy counties add 0.5%; Milwaukee County is 0.9% and the City of Milwaukee adds 2%, both effective January 1, 2024, so the rate inside Milwaukee is 7.9% - the only Wisconsin city with a municipal sales tax.

   Official government source

   $20 one-time Business Tax Registration fee, then $10 to renew every two years - it is not free. The $20 is the same regardless of how many locations need a seller's permit. DOR can additionally require a security deposit of up to $15,000 in some cases, returned after 24 consecutive months of compliance.·Register online through My Tax Account. DOR does not publish a guaranteed processing time - contact [email protected] or 608-266-2776 to check status.

   $20 one-time Business Tax Registration fee, then $10 to renew every two years - it is not free. The $20 is the same regardless of how many locations need a seller's permit. DOR can additionally require a security deposit of up to $15,000 in some cases, returned after 24 consecutive months of compliance.

   Register online through My Tax Account. DOR does not publish a guaranteed processing time - contact [email protected] or 608-266-2776 to check status.

2. Wisconsin DNR - Used Oil and Hazardous Waste

   Wisconsin auto repair shops must comply with DNR used oil and hazardous waste management standards (Wis. Admin. Code ch. NR 679). Used oil, antifreeze and other automotive fluids must be stored in appropriate containers and recycled or disposed of properly; landfilling used oil and filters is banned. This is an ongoing compliance obligation, not a one-time state registration or permit for typical small-quantity generators.

   Official government source

   No DNR registration or permit fee for typical small-quantity generators; collection, recycling and disposal are priced by private used-oil haulers and recyclers.·Ongoing compliance - no separate registration or permit application for typical shops.

   No DNR registration or permit fee for typical small-quantity generators; collection, recycling and disposal are priced by private used-oil haulers and recyclers.

   Ongoing compliance - no separate registration or permit application for typical shops.

1. City of Green Bay Office of the City Clerk — Business License

   Green Bay does not require a general/all-purpose business license. The City Clerk's office (Green Bay Municipal Code Ch. 10) licenses only specific regulated categories (e.g. Adult Entertainment, Alarm Business, Direct Seller/Solicitor, Entertainment Facility, Home-Based Businesses, Junk Collector, Massage Establishments, Mobile Food Vendor, Public Vehicle, Salvage, Secondhand Dealer, Tree & Brush Trimmer). Most business types listed here (barber shop, yoga studio, home bakery, daycare, handyman, cleaning service, photography, auto repair, electrical contractor, tutoring, nail salon, tattoo parlor, pet sitting, catering, personal trainer, hair salon, landscaping, plumbing) do NOT require a general city business license. Massage-therapy businesses need a specific Massage Establishment License, mobile-dog-grooming/pet-sitting need an Animal Establishment License, and food trucks need a Mobile Food Vendor License — each covered separately. Confirm with the City Clerk if unsure.

   Official government source

   no general license fee applies to most business types listed here·not applicable for most listed business types

   no general license fee applies to most business types listed here

   not applicable for most listed business types

2. City of Green Bay Zoning and Certificate of Occupancy

   Auto repair shops must operate in properly zoned commercial or industrial areas within Green Bay. Obtain zoning approval and a Certificate of Occupancy from the City of Green Bay Department of Community & Economic Development before opening. Brown County does not issue occupancy certificates inside the city.

   Official government source

   Certificate of occupancy $75.00; commercial/industrial zoning certificate (initial letter) $100.00; property compliance letter $30.00; reinspection $75.00 (City of Green Bay Fee Schedule). Building and trade permits for any buildout are charged separately by permit type.·Not published - confirm current review times with the City of Green Bay Department of Community & Economic Development.

   Certificate of occupancy $75.00; commercial/industrial zoning certificate (initial letter) $100.00; property compliance letter $30.00; reinspection $75.00 (City of Green Bay Fee Schedule). Building and trade permits for any buildout are charged separately by permit type.

   Not published - confirm current review times with the City of Green Bay Department of Community & Economic Development.

Official Sources

• City of Green Bay Office of the City Clerk
• Wisconsin DNR — Used Oil and Hazardous Waste

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