Privilege / Business License
Unless explicitly provided for in the City of Mount Holly City Code of Laws or exempt from city taxes by the North Carolina General Statutes, all businesses, trades, and professions conducting a trade, occupation, performing a service, or selling goods or services within the City are required to purchase a Privilege / Business License prior to beginning operations. For further reference please see Section 10 Licenses in the City Code.
This License is required to legally operate anywhere within the City of Mount Holly. This requirement applies to all businesses, whether operated for profit, non-profit or home based.
The Tax Collections Office issues Privilege / Business Licenses. Currently, the License tax amount is based on a flat tax rate. Should you have further questions concerning how a certain type of business is taxed, please see the contact information at the bottom of this page.
Licenses are issued on a fiscal-year basis and will expire June 30th each year, regardless of the date issued. Licenses must be renewed beginning on July 1st of each year. The renewals for businesses that have previously obtained a Privilege / Business License and are in the system will be mailed out on July 1st. The City does not mail out notices for renewals for the upcoming year until July 1st. Each respective business has until September 1st to pay the Privilege / Business License tax before interest is accrued.
In addition, all business operations housed in a building or operated at a facility must be approved by the City of Mount Holly Planning & Zoning Department and the Mount Holly Fire Inspector. Here is a copy of the Zoning Compliance Application, in which the Fire Inspector and Planning Department must approve before a Privilege / Business License is issued. Please note that if you are a builder, a general contractor or a subcontractor, the home or structure will be issued a Zoning Compliance Permit once a site plan has been approved. The builder, contractor or subcontractor would not have to get a Zoning Compliance Permit for their respective business, but they would have to obtain a Privilege / Business License to operate in the City of Mount Holly.
A City license may be required in addition to any County or State licenses already held. An application may be obtained through this site, in person or by phone at 704-951-3010. A business owner, partner, corporate officer or any other designated assignee may apply for a license in person at the Citizens Center, 2nd Floor, 400 East Central Avenue, Mount Holly, from the hours of 8 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday. If you choose to download the application form on your computer, you can check with the Tax Office to verify the tax rate for your business (704) 951-3012. Applications and payments may be dropped off at the Citizens Center, 2nd Floor or can be mailed to City of Mount Holly, Attn: Business License, P.O. Box 406, Mount Holly, NC 28120.
Notice to all Builders, Contractors and Subcontractors: The first step in receiving a Privilege / Business License from the City of Mount Holly is to complete the required application found on this page. Once you have completed the application, please call the Kim Sturgis, Tax Collector, at (704) 951-3010 to find out your tax rate. Please do not send a check or rely on information provided to you from another source until you verify it with the City Tax Office. Once the tax rate is verified, you may submit the application and cash or a check or money order (Payable to the City of Mount Holly) for the tax amount. You may pay in person, mail the check or money order (please no cash) to:
City of Mount Holly
Attn: Business License
P.O. Box 406
Mount Holly, NC 28120
Once we have received your application and payment, via mail or in person, the Tax Office will process it, and your business will have met the City’s licensure obligations. Please note that your actual Privilege / Business License will not ready upon submission of application and payment. However, it will be mailed to you within ten (10) business days. For more information please refer to the following letter.
Any changes in the business name or address must be reported to the Business Tax Collections Office within ten (10) days of the change.
A business owner, partner, corporate officer or any other designated assignee must first surrender the current license to receive a new license. The fee for a new license is five dollars ($5.00). Licenses are non-transferable.
PLEASE NOTE – Closing, Transferring or Selling Business: The Business Tax Collections Office must be notified forty-eight (48) hours in advance of a change in address, or ownership, or if business operations cease.
Should you have any questions or require additional information, please contact the Tax Office by phone at (704) 951-3010 or via e-mail at kim.sturgis@mtholly.us.
