Business Licenses

Congratulations on opening a new business in Calvert County!

To obtain a license, you must first determine what type of license you need, if any. The Clerk's Office issues several types of licenses on behalf of the Comptroller of Maryland and the Calvert County Government. The Clerk's Office will be happy to provide information regarding any of the licenses we issue and to assist with any of your procedural questions. Contact us at (410) 535-1600 ext. 2264. However, we cannot provide any legal advice or be responsible for determining the type of license you should purchase.

You can quickly obtain access to information on the permits and licenses you may need to start, relocate, or expand a business in Maryland by using the following links:

Maryland Business Resources (includes startup information and an alphabetized list of all State licenses and permits)
Comptroller of Maryland - Business Information and Services (includes business license tips, frequently asked questions, employer withholding information, tax registration)
Department of Assessment and Taxation (contains information on how to obtain a trade name)
Maryland Business License Express Online Portal
Maryland Business Licenses Online (Calvert does not currently process applications online, but you may enter your information on this website and print your application. It is required for you to obtain the necessary approvals from Planning & Zoning, Assessment & Taxation and the Treasurer. Locations listed below.)

How to Apply
If you determine that you need a license that is issued by the Clerk of the Circuit Court, you will need to appear in person to process the business license application. Currently, applications are processed only in an E-License format by presenting the information in person. You may begin the process by presenting the information online through E-License, but you must still visit our office to process the application. Our office is located at the Courthouse, 175 Main Street, Prince Frederick, MD 20678.

1) Complete the application by providing the following information to the Clerk:

Type of license for which you are applying
Owner's name (Individual, Corporation, etc.)
Location address
Mailing address
Social Security Number or Federal Tax Identification Number
Phone Number
Worker's Compensation Policy Number or Certificate of Compliance Corporate ID Number and number of employees (if applicable)
Amount of inventory, if applying for a Trader's License
Number of Vending Machines, if applying for a Vending Machine License
VIN number of vehicle, if applying for a Junk Dealer's License

Planning & Zoning - must approve ALL new licenses and any changes of business location address. Planning & Zoning is located in the County Services Plaza, 150 Main Street, Prince Frederick, MD 20678 (410) 535-2346
Assessment & Taxation - located across from the Courthouse in the Louis L. Goldstein State Office Building, 2nd floor, 200 Duke Street, Prince Frederick, MD 20678. (443) 550-6840
Calvert County Treasurer's Office - located 1st floor, Courthouse, 175 Main Street, Prince Frederick, MD 20678. (410) 535-1600 ext. 2272

4) Pay required license fees to the Clerk of the Circuit Court- cash, check, Visa, or Mastercard accepted.

General Information
Courtesy copies of the applications for retail sales tax and trade name registration are available upon request. Please contact the appropriate issuing agency for more information about those applications or for information about other types of licenses not issued by the Clerk of the Circuit Court.

Scrap Metal Licenses
Please read the memo from the Comptroller of Maryland regarding Scrap Metal Licenses.

Tobacconists and Other Tobacco Products Retailers
For more information regarding our 2 new license types, please read the following handouts from the Comptroller's Office:
TT-13 (frequently asked questions)
TT-68 (House Bill 88 - Other Tobacco Products Retailers, Tobacconists)

Trader's license fee is based on the wholesale value of your retail inventory. Please refer to the following chart for the fees. All licenses include a $2.00 issuing fee for each type of license.

Trader's License Fees - All Counties Excluding Baltimore City
INVENTORY AMOUNT			FEE
0	to	1,000	15
1,001	to	1,500	18
1,501	to	2,500	20
2,501	to	4,000	25
4,001	to	6,000	30
6,001	to	8,000	40
8,001	to	10,000	50
10,001	to	15,000	65
15,001	to	20,000	80
20,001	to	30,000	100
30,001	to	40,000	125
40,001	to	50,000	150
50,001	to	75,000	200
75,001	to	100,000	250
100,001	to	150,000	300
150,001	to	200,000	350
200,001	to	300,000	400
300,001	to	400,000	500
400,001	to	500,000	600
500,001	to	750,000	750
750,001 and over			800

A contractor or subcontractor who holds a license under the Maryland Home Improvement Law may still be required to hold a construction license issued by the Clerk of the Circuit Court.

Transient Vendors License
Please read our memo for Transient Vendors.