Unless otherwise noted, no person shall engage in any of the businesses, activities or conduct regulated by Chapter 250, City of Jacksonville Ordinances, without a permit issued by the Tax Collector. Unless otherwise stated within Chapter 250, City of Jacksonville Ordinances, responsibility for the administration of this Chapter is vested in the City of Jacksonville, Neighborhoods Department.

The Duval County Tax Collector’s Office also issues Local Business Tax Receipts required for any business, occupation, or profession operating within The City of Jacksonville or Duval County. Information specifically relating to Local Business Tax Receipts can be found here.

Please Note: A Local Business Tax Receipt (LBT) is not a license, permit, or registration, and it is separate from any licenses, permits, or registrations required by the State of Florida.

 

When is a Vendor Permit Required?

If your business activity falls into one of the categories below, a Vendor Permit is required in addition to your Local Business Tax Receipt:

• Auctioneer

(Auctions must give the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office at least 12 hours prior notice before commencement.)

• Sidewalk Vendor / Downtown Sidewalk Vendor
  (Specific insurance requirements apply, insurance must also insure the City of Jacksonville. Sidewalk Vendors operating downtown must obtain approval from the Downtown Investment Authority first.)

A transient merchant who does not have a permanent local address in the City of Jacksonville shall deposit with the Tax Collector a $1,000 bond, shall execute the permit application under oath, and shall disclose the names and residences of all persons financially interested in the business.

• Street Vendor
  (Selling goods/services from a vehicle authorized by law to travel on public streets. Prohibitions and restrictions apply.)
• Residential Solicitor / Residential Peddler
  (Approaching or calling on residents at their private homes. Limitations apply. Uninvited soliciting prohibited.)
• Sidewalk Café / Downtown Sidewalk Café 

(Serving food or beverages at tables on the sidewalk adjacent to a restaurant or café. Sidewalk Cafés operating downtown must first obtain approval from the Downtown Investment Authority. Sidewalk Cafés operating outside of downtown must first obtain approval from the Public Works Department, Building Inspection Division.)

• Special Events Vendor  

(Participating in any City-designated special event. These permits ARE NOT issued by the Tax Collector, they’re issued by the Office of Special Events for the City of Jacksonville - Link.)

• Ice Cream Truck

(These permits ARE NOT issued by the Tax Collector, they’re issued by the Office of Consumer Affairs for the City of Jacksonville - Link.)

• Feeding of the Homeless

(These permits ARE NOT issued by the Tax Collector, they’re issued by the Office of Consumer Affairs for the City of Jacksonville - Link.)

• Charitable Solicitations

(These permits ARE NOT issued by the Tax Collector, they’re issued by the Public Works Department for the City of Jacksonville - Link.)

 

Mobile Food Dispensing Vehicles (MFDVs)

The State of Florida, through the  Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), licenses all Mobile Food Dispensing Vehicle (MFDVs), including food trucks, hot dog carts, temporary commercial kitchens, and similar operations.

Important: A state-issued MFDV license is required before a Local Business Tax Receipt can be issued by the City of Jacksonville/Duval County.

 

As of July 2020, the Duval County Tax Collector’s Office no longer issues vendor permits for MFDVs. (F.S. 509.102)

Learn more about food truck requirements: www.coj.net/food-trucks.aspx

 

Vendor Permit Checklist

A checklist of required documents for vendor permits can be found here. 

 

Where to Apply

All Vendor Permits are issued in person at our Downtown Office:

Duval County Tax Collector’s Office
 231 E. Forsyth Street
 Jacksonville, FL 32202

 

NO VENDOR PERMITS WILL BE PROCESSED AFTER 3:30 PM. Please do not wait until the last second to obtain your permit.

 

When applying for a Vendor Permit, you may need to provide the following:

• Corporation registration or Fictitious Name registration from Sunbiz
  F.S. § 865.09
• State license for your profession (e.g., DBPR, FLDACS, DOH)
• Government-issued photo ID
• Social Security Number or Federal Employer Identification Number (FEID)
  F.S. § 205.0535(6)

 

Please note: The material provided is for general information purposes only. While it is current at the time of publication, changes to the County Code or State Law may invalidate some of this information. In the event of a conflict between this guide and the Code, the Code prevails. Not all possible applications of the Vendor Permit requirements are discussed herein. 

 

Contact Us

For questions or additional information call (904) 255-5700, option 3 or email lbtdept@coj.net.