Auto Repair Shop Permit Requirements in Annapolis, MD

1. EIN (Employer Identification Number)

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

   Official government source for EIN (Employer Identification Number) (opens in a new tab)

   Free·Immediate (online application)

   Free

   Immediate (online application)

1. Maryland Comptroller — Sales Tax Registration

   Required for all businesses selling taxable goods or services in Maryland (6% state rate; Maryland has no local sales taxes). Retail product sales are taxable. Some services are also taxable — notably cleaning of a COMMERCIAL or industrial building (janitorial/commercial cleaning) under Md. Tax-General §11-101(m): commercial cleaning businesses must collect 6% on the service itself, while residential cleaning is not taxable. Sales of photographs (portrait/wedding) are taxable as tangible personal property. Registration with the Comptroller of Maryland is free.

   Official government source for Maryland Comptroller — Sales Tax Registration (opens in a new tab)

   Free·Immediate (online via bFile)

   Free

   Immediate (online via bFile)

2. Maryland Department of the Environment — Oil Discharge Control (ODC) Compliance

   Auto repair shops in Maryland must comply with MDE's Oil Discharge Control requirements, including installation of oil-water separators, proper used oil storage, and regular inspections.

   Official government source for Maryland Department of the Environment — Oil Discharge Control (ODC) Compliance (opens in a new tab)

   Varies·2–4 weeks (registration)

   Varies

   2–4 weeks (registration)

1. Annapolis — No General Business License Required

   Neither the City of Annapolis nor the State of Maryland requires a general business license. The Annapolis Department of Finance does not license businesses. Annapolis licenses only specific activities (peddlers/mobile vendors, bed-and-breakfasts, rental housing, trade contractors) through the City Clerk and Licenses & Permits Division. Businesses selling goods need a Maryland trader's license from the Anne Arundel County Clerk of the Circuit Court, and opening a commercial space in Annapolis requires a Certificate of Use from Planning and Zoning.

   Official government source for Annapolis — No General Business License Required (opens in a new tab)

   $0 — no general business license exists; activity-specific licenses, if applicable, have their own fees·Not applicable

   $0 — no general business license exists; activity-specific licenses, if applicable, have their own fees

   Not applicable

2. City of Annapolis — Zoning Approval and Use and Occupancy Permit

   Auto repair shops must operate in properly zoned commercial or industrial areas. For a location inside Annapolis city limits, obtain zoning confirmation and a Use and Occupancy Permit from the City of Annapolis Department of Planning, Zoning and Building before opening. Anne Arundel County handles zoning approval and its own $50 Zoning Certificate of Use only for locations outside city limits.

   Official government source for City of Annapolis — Zoning Approval and Use and Occupancy Permit (opens in a new tab)

   City use and occupancy inspection fee under City Code 17.05.030: $0.325 per square foot for commercial space of 900 square feet or less, $300 for 901–1,800 square feet, and higher amounts for larger spaces; a zoning certificate is $50. Anne Arundel County's Zoning Certificate of Use is $50 for locations outside the city.·2–6 weeks

   City use and occupancy inspection fee under City Code 17.05.030: $0.325 per square foot for commercial space of 900 square feet or less, $300 for 901–1,800 square feet, and higher amounts for larger spaces; a zoning certificate is $50. Anne Arundel County's Zoning Certificate of Use is $50 for locations outside the city.

   2–6 weeks

Official Sources

• City of Annapolis Department of Finance
• Maryland Department of the Environment — Oil Discharge Control (ODC) Compliance

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