Business, Vendor and Gaming Licenses

For additional information on any of the licenses below, call (585) 428-6617 during regular business hours (Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.), or visit City Hall, 30 Church Street, Room 100A, Rochester, NY 14614.

Amusement Center

Purpose: This license is required for any establishment which operates games or machines that take in money for amusement.


Fee: $325; There is a $10 fee for replacement of a lost license. Make checks payable to the "City of Rochester."


Applicants must apply for a Certificate of Zoning Compliance number in room 121B, prior to submitting application to the Clerk's Office.

Expires on January 31 of each year; Approvals are required by the City's Zoning Office, Police and Fire Departments and the Neighborhood Service Center.
Applications may require two to four weeks processing time.

Download an Amusement Center Application.

Amusement Games

Purpose: This license is necessary for a business that sells or rents games and machines for amusement purposes.

Fee: $25 per machine. There is a $10 fee for replacement of a lost license. Make checks payable to the "City of Rochester."

Expires January 31 of each year; Approval is required by the Police Department.
Applications may require two to four weeks processing time.

Download an Amusement Game Application.

Animal & Poultry License

Purpose: This license is required for persons or businesses keeping certain legal live animals or fowl.


As of June 15, 2021: Fee: $75 for a two-year license. There is a $10 fee for replacement of a lost license. Make checks payable to the "City of Rochester."


Animal and poultry licenses are good for a period of up to two years.  The license will cover the permit year it is purchased in, or the remaining portion of that year, and will expire at the end of the following permit year. Permit years conclude on June 30.  

Approval is required by the Police Department.  Applications may require two to four weeks processing time.

Download an Animal and Poultry Application

Auctioneer

Purpose: This license is required for any company or individual who offers goods for sale to the highest bidder.

Fee: $210; a $1,000 surety bond is also required. There is a $10 fee for replacement of a lost license. Make checks payable to the "City of Rochester."

Expires December 31 of each year; Approval is required by the Police Department.
Applications may require two to four weeks processing time.

Download an Auctioneer Application.

Billiard Room

Purpose: This license is required for a business that offers three or more billiard tables.

Fee: $250; $10 is charged to replace a lost license. Make checks payable to the "City of Rochester."

Applicants must apply for a Certificate of Zoning Compliance number in room 121B, prior to submitting application to the Clerk's Office.

Expires January 31 each year; Approval is required by the City Zoning's Office,  Police and Fire Departments.
Applications may require two to four weeks processing time.

Download a Billiard License Application.

Bowling Center

Purpose: This license is required for a business that offers bowling lanes for entertainment purposes.

Fee: For businesses with one or two alleys, the fee per alley is $10; for businesses with more than two alleys, the fee per alley is $7. There is a $10 fee for replacement of a lost license.
Make checks payable to the "City of Rochester."

Applicants must apply for a Certificate of Zoning Compliance number in room 121B, prior to submitting application to the Clerk's Office.

Expires December 31 of each year; Approval is required by the City's Zoning Office and the Police Department.
Applications may require two to four weeks processing time.

Download a Bowling Center Application.

Entertainment Center License


Purpose: This license is required for any business or establishment that offers entertainment to customers, such as nightclubs.

Occupancy:                                            Fee:

0-49 persons                                        $100* annual

50-99 persons                                      $275* annual

100-249 persons                                  $425* annual

250+ persons                                       $500* annual

 

*An additional $100 fee will be charged to any establishement with an Entertainment Center License serving hard liquor, and not those serving just beer and wine.

Make checks payable to the "City of Rochester."

Applicants must apply for a Certificate of Zoning Compliance number in room 121B, prior to submitting application to the Clerk's Office.

Expires January 31 of each year; Approval is required by the City's Zoning Office, Police and Fire Departments.
Applications may require two to four weeks to processing time.

Download an Entertainment Center Application.

Going Out Of Business License


Purpose: This license is required for any business that will be conducting a going-out-of business sale.

Fee: $500 for thirty days; $50 for a 30day extension. Make checks payable to the "City of Rochester."

Applicants must submit two copies of the inventory, a copy of the ad in the newspaper, the name of a contact person and the days and hours the sale will take place.

Download a Going Out of Business Application.  

Junk Dealer License

Purpose: This license is required for persons or businesses conducting the business of a junk dealer, which includes the buying and selling of papers, rages, old metals, glassware, and rope.

Fee: $300. There is a $10 fee for replacement of a lost license. Make checks payable to the "City of Rochester."

Expires May 31 of each year; Approval by the Police Department is required.
Applications may require two to four weeks processing time.

Download a Junk Dealer License Application.

Junk Yard Operator

Purpose: This license is required for any person, firm or corporation who operates a junkyard, including auto wreckers and scrap processors.

Fee: $300. There is a $10 fee for replacement of a lost license. Make checks payable to the "City of Rochester."

Applicants must apply for a Certificate of Zoning Compliance number in room 121B, prior to submitting application to the Clerk's Office.

Expires May 31 of each year; Approvals are required by the City's Zoning Office, Police and Fire Departments.
Applications may require two to four weeks processing time.

Download a Junk Yard Operator Application.

Scrap Processor

Purpose: This license is required for any person, association, partnership or corporation operating from a fixed location where machinery and equipment are used for processing old rope, copper, tin and lead, wood trim, rubber, rags, bottles, paper, bagging, sacks, parts of machinery, parts of stoves and scrap metal of kinds.

Fee: $300. There is a $10 fee for replacement of a lost license. Make checks payable to the "City of Rochester."

Applicants must apply for a Certificate of Zoning Compliance number in room 121B, prior to submitting application to the Clerk's Office.

Expires May 31 of each year; Approvals are required by the City's Zoning Office, Police and Fire Departments.
Applications may require two to four weeks processing time.

Download a Scrap Processor Application.

Pawnbroker License

Purpose: This license is required for an establishment that makes loans on pledged property (a collateral loan broker), offering for sale items after the time to redeem the items has expired.

Fee: $250; a $10,000 surety bond is required. There is a $10 fee for replacement of a lost license. Make checks payable to the "City of Rochester."

Applicants must apply for a Certificate of Zoning Compliance number in room 121B, prior to submitting application to the Clerk's Office.

Expires May 31 of each year; a one-year surety bond is required. Approvals are required by the City's Zoning Office, Police and Fire Departments and the Neighborhood Service Center.
Applications may require two to four weeks processing time.

Download a Pawnbroker Application.

Secondhand Dealer License


Purpose: This license is required for an establishment that purchases used goods, such as antiques, jewelry, used cars, or electronic equipment, and sells them to the public.

Fee: $200. There is a $10 fee for replacement of a lost license. Make checks payable to the "City of Rochester."

Applicants must apply for a Certificate of Zoning Compliance number in room 121B, prior to submitting application to the Clerk's Office.

Expires May 31 of each year; Approvals are required by the City's Zoning Office, Police and Fire Departments.
May require two to four weeks processing time.

Download a Secondhand Dealer Application.

Sexually Oriented Business License

Purpose: This license is required for an individual or business that operates an establishment involving nudity or sexually-oriented materials.

Fee: $425 for businesses containing up to 2,400 square feet; $475 for those over 2,400 square feet. There is a $10 fee for replacement of a lost license. Make checks payable to the "City of Rochester."

Applicants must apply for a Certificate of Zoning Compliance number in room 121B, prior to submitting application to the Clerk's Office.

Expires January 31 each year; Approvals are required by the City's Zoning Office, Police and Fire Departments and the Neighborhood Service Center.
Applications may require two to four weeks processing time.

Download a Sexually Oriented Business Application

Sexually Oriented Business Manager/Employee License

Purpose: This license is required for an individual if he or she works in an establishment that involves nudity or sexually-oriented materials.

A Government issued Photo ID is required.

Fee: $40. There is a $10 fee for replacement of a lost license. Make checks payable to the "City of Rochester."

Expires January 31 each year; Approval is required by the Police Department.
Applications may require two to four weeks processing time.

Download a Sexually Oriented Business Manager/Employee Application

Solicitor's License

Purpose: This license is necessary if an individual or business is offering the sale of merchandise or services on City streets and sidewalks. A background check is required and applicants must meet all fire safety requirements. 

The application fee is $7 and will be deducted from the cost of the permit.

 Non-Food Vending (Chapter 62)

  Center City Outside Center City
License Fee       $750            $250
Special Event Annual License Fee       $100            $100
Three Day Solicitor License Fee       $56            $56

 

 Food Truck Vending (Chapter 60)   

  Center City Outisde Center City
License Fee     $1000          $330
Special Events Annual License Fee     $100          $100
Three Day Solicitor License Fee     $56          $56

Food Cart Vending (Chapter 60)   

  Center City Outside Center City
License Fee     $750         $250
Special Events Annual License Fee     $100         $100
Three Day Solicitor License Fee     $56         $56

 

Food Trailer Vending (Chapter 60)  

All food trailer vendors shall pay an annual fee based on one of the following three options:

  1. $100 for vending at private events pursuant to Chapt. 60-10 and at events conducted on private property pursuant to a temporary zoning permit issued pursuant to Zoning Code Chapt. 120-149 (A)(10);
  2. $100 for vending only at special events authorized in accordance with Chapt. 60-9; or
  3. $150 for vending at all events fitting within either of the two categories described in clauses (a) and (b) above.  

 Chapter 60 Food Trucks, Trailers and Carts 

Any food vendor wishing to vend at one or more Special Event and does not have a license shall apply to the City Clerk for a Temporary Food Cart Permit and pay a fee of $100 for a permit valid for the calendar year. Any food vendor wishing to vend at a single Special Event and that does not have a license shall apply to the City Clerk for a Three Day Temporary Food Permit and pay a fee of $56 for a permit valid for that event. Such a permit shall allow vending only during and at the location of a Special Event. All food truck and food trailer vendors shall pay a fee of $24 for each identification badge, except for one badge issued with the license at no cost. There is a $10 fee for each replacement license or identification badge. Make checks payable to the "City of Rochester".

Expires December 31 each year; $1,000,000 comprehensive liability insurance coverage and NYS sales taxpayer certificate is required; to vend food, a New York State Health Department permit is required.

Approval is required by the Police and Fire Departments. Applications may require two to four weeks processing time.

Taxicab Driver's License

Purpose: This license is required for any individual who will be operating a cab on the City streets.

As of July 1, 2018: Fee: $50. The fee for a Taxi Driver lost picture is $50 and the fee to replace a lost certificate is $10. Make checks payable to the "City of Rochester."

Expires June 30 each year; The following must be provided: the appropriate driver's license classification, documentation that establishes citizenship or employment eligibility, four two-inch by two and one half inch photos, and New York State Department of Motor Vehicles driver's abstract obtained within ten days of application; Approval by the Police Department is required.
Applications may require two to four weeks processing time.

Taxi Hackplate

Purpose: This license is required for any individual or business to operate a taxicab business on the City streets.

As of July 1, 2018: Fee: The application fee is $55, and an additional $295 is due when the application is approved. The fee for a Taxicab Replacement Hack Plate is $60 and the fee to replace a lost certificate is $10. Make checks payable to the "City of Rochester."

Expires June 30 each year; The following must be provided: documentation that establishes citizenship or employment eligibility. All documents must be listed in the same person's or business name. Approval by the Police Department is required.

Applications may require two to four weeks processing time.

Download a Taxi Hackplate Application.

Hotel/Motel

Purpose: This license is required to operate a courtesy vehicle for hotel/motels on City streets.

Fee: The application fee is $550 annually. The replacement fee for lost or stolen plates is $60 and the fee to replace a lost certificate is $10. The following must be provided. A copy of incorporation papers, insurance and registration. All documents must include the same person or business owner's name. Make checks payable to the "City of Rochester."

Expires June 30 each year; Approval by the Police Department is required.
Applications may require two to four weeks processing time.

Download a Hotel Motel Van Application.

Taxicab Livery

Purpose: This license is required for any individual or business that will be dispatching a minimum of ten cabs to operate in the City of Rochester.

Fee: $240. There is a $10 fee for replacement of a lost license. Make checks payable to the "City of Rochester."

Expires June 30 each year. The following must be provided: documentation that establishes identity and employment eligibility. All documents must be listed in the same person's or business' name. Approval by the Police Department is required.
Applications may require two to four weeks processing time.

Download a Taxicab Livery Application.

Towing License

Purpose: This license is required for any individual or business that will be moving a motor vehicle by another vehicle for hire.

Fee: $350. There is a $10 fee for replacement of a lost license. Make checks payable to the "City of Rochester."

Applicants must apply for a certificate of zoning compliance number in room 121B, prior to submitting application to the Clerk's Office.

Expires August 31 each year; Approval is required by the City's Zoning Office, Police and Fire Departments.
Applications may require two to four weeks processing time.

Download a Towing Application.