Effective July 1, 2015, the North Carolina General Assembly eliminated the authority of municipalities to levy a business license tax with the exception of beer, wine, and taxicabs. More information is covered in the vehicle for hire ordinance, and the detailed WPD webpage. For questions please call the Privilege License Department at 910.342.2742.
To obtain a Taxi / Limousine / Vehicle for Hire permit, you must:
- Pay the city for the cost of the permit: Taxis $15, Horse Drawn Carriage/Limousine/Pedicab $25
- Pay the city for the cost of the business license: $15 per vehicle
- Pay the FBI for the cost of your Federal Background check: $18
- Have a valid ID
- Have a letter of introduction from a taxi company
- Have a completed application
- Have a picture (will be taken by the permit administer)
- Have drug screen results (drug screening costs: $25 to $35)
To sell Beer and/or Wine:
All special one-time permit applications must be submitted to the ABC Commission no later than two weeks prior to your event. Please keep this timeline in mind when submitting your application to WPD. Completed applications will be processed in the order in which they are received. Forms can be emailed to stingcenter@wilmingtonnc.gov. Emails should have "ABC Permit Application" in the subject line. The STING center's phone number is 910.765.7822.
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Limited Special Occasion Permit: This permit is suitable for special events or occasions where alcohol will be served. Apply online or access the forms.
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Special One-Time Permit: If you need a temporary permit for a specific event or purpose (such as an auction or the sale of alcoholic beverages), you can find the application forms here.
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Retail Permits: Depending on your business structure (corporation, individual ownership, LLC, etc.), there are different retail permits available. You can explore the various retail permit application forms here.
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Commercial Permits: If you’re involved in commercial alcohol sales, there are specific permits for corporations, partnerships, and other business entities. Find the commercial permit forms here.