Business Licenses

Business License Information

The purpose of Sikeston's business licensing service is to provide a registry of businesses in the Sikeston city limits. It is also intended to protect the interests of legitimate businesses in the City from unfair competition with businesses operating in violation of federal, state, and local laws. This program is not intended to impose any form of taxation on the business community nor to collect in fees more money than is necessary to recover the administrative costs of processing an application for the issuance or renewal of a business certificate. 

If you have a question as to whether a particular business has a valid city license, contact our office at 471-2193.

Many downloads on this page are in .PDF format.  To install FREE Adobe Reader please go to www.Adobe.com and click on the button that reads "Get Adobe Reader". 

Business Occupational Licenses

Merchants
Carnival/Circus
Contractor

Electrician
Handyman
Mowing/Lawncare
Painter
Plumber
Itinerant Vendor (Peddler)

Merchant License - Valid July 1 - June 30  Top of page

  • Complete and submit a Business License Application Form along with a $25.00 building inspection fee.  (Please make checks payable to City of Sikeston).  Included with this form is an Emergency Notification Information form to be completed and mailed to Sikeston Department of Public Safety or emailed to collector@sikeston.org. 
  • Provide a copy of your Missouri Retail Sales License
  • Provide a Certificate of "No Tax Due" from Department of Revenue
  • Pass inspection by Building Code Enforcement Officer
  • Pay license fee based on the type of business. It is the business owner's responsibility to renew the license.  A 10% penalty will begin September 1 for late renewals.

Carnival/Circus License Top of page


Contractor License - Valid July 1 - June 30    Top of page

Electrician License - Valid July 1 - June 30  Top of page

Handyman License - Valid July 1 - June 30  Top of page

  • A Handyman license will be issued to all individuals who wish to engage in "minor general construction" within the City of Sikeston.
  • Minor general construction work shall be defined as entering, annually, into at least one but not more than five (5) contracts for the repair, construction or remodeling of improvements upon real estate wherein the charges, costs or worth of said repair, construction or remodeling, including materials and labor, shall not exceed thiry-five hundred dollars ($3,500) for each contract.
  • Building Permits shall be required for all construction projects engaged in by one qualifying and licensed.  No more than five (5) permits shall be issued to any such licensee per year.
  • Pay license fee of $25.00 per year. It is the business owner's responsibility to renew the license. A 10% penalty will begin September 1 for late renewals.

Mowing/Lawncare License - Valid July 1 - June 30  Top of page

  • A Mowing/Lawncare License will be issed to individuals who wish to mow yards or do yard work in the City of Sikeston.
  • Complete and submit a Business License Application Form
  • Provide proof of Worker's Compensation Insurance if you have five (5) or more employees
  • Pay License Fee of $25 per year.  It is the business owner's responsibility to renew the license.  A 10% penalty will begin September 1 for late renewals

Painter License - Valid from July 1 - June 30  Top of page 

  • Submit proof of Worker's Compensation Insurance if one (1) or more employees or required by State of Missouri
  • Pay license fee of $25.00 per year.  It is the business owner's responsibility to renew the license. A 10% penalty will begin September 1 for late renewals.

Plumber - Valid from July 1 - June 30  Top of page

  • Submit proof of Worker's Compensation Insurance if one (1) or more employees or required by State of Missouri
  • Pay license fee of $25.00 per year.  It is the business owner's responsibility to renew the license. A 10% penalty will begin September 1 for late renewals.

Itinerant Vendor (Peddler) License - THIS PROCESS TAKES A MINIMUM OF TWENTY-EIGHT (28) DAYS TO COMPLETE  Top of page

  • An Itinerant Vendor is any person engaged in selling, or offering for sale, food, beverages, merchandise, or services for from a stand, motor vehicle, or from his person, on the streets or sidewalks; or from temporary or transient sales locations within Sikeston; or while going from place to place within Sikeston; and includes any person defined as "itinerant vendor",  "solicitor", "peddler", "hawker", & "huckster".
    [Summarized from
    Ordinance #5594]
  • Obtain and complete in full an Itinerant Vendors License Application Packet.  This must include the following information, attachments & payments (forms are included in packet):
    • Pay application fee of $33.00
    • Complete and sign Request for Criminal Record Check
    • Attach fingerprint form to application. [Fingerprints to be taken by the Dept. of Public Safety, 215 N. New Madrid St, Sikeston]
    • Attach photograph of applicant.  Must be 2" x 2".  Applicant is responsible obtaining thier own photograph.  DPS or City Hall personnel will NOT take & print photographs.
    • Credentials of the firm or business for which applicant does business authorizing applicant to act as a representative.
    • Sign Power of Attorney Acknowledgement of Service of Notice of Process form.
    • Obtain and submit proof of $1,000 Surety Bond.
  • Badge will be issued at City Hall. Upon approval of application pay ID Badge fee/deposit* of $20.00.  *Upon return of badge within 14 days of expiration of license, $15.00 will be refunded.
  • Pay applicable license fee.
    • 1 day - $2.00
    • 3 Consecutive days - $4.00
    • 1 Month - $8.00
    • 1 Year - $25.00

EXEMPTION:  Nationally sanctioned and locally affiliated not-for-profit organizations (i.e.:  Kiwanis, Lions, Elks, churches, Boy and Girl Scouts and like organizations).

IMPORTANT:  The City Manager may suspend the license of an itinerant vendor, where in his sole opinion and until such time as may be heard publicly and reinstated by the City Council, the business license was obtained by false representation upon application, the vendor is engaging in deceptive business practices, or is conducting or operating the business in a manner as to endanger substantially the public peace, health, safety, or welfare of the citizens of Sikeston, MO.

Miscellaneous Information:

5,000 Dollar ($5,000) Indemnity Bond:  Before any contractors shall be issued a license to build, he shall first obtain and post with the City Collector an acceptable indemnity bond in the amount of five thousand dollars, with City of Sikeston as Obligee.  The bond saves the city harmless against violations and that all work performed shall be done in accordance with building (BOCA) codes. back to Contractor |  Top of page

2,000 Dollar ($2,000) Bond:  Before any electricians or plumber shall be issued a license, he shall first obtain and post with the City Collector an acceptable electrical or plumber bond in the amount of two thousand dollars each, with City of Sikeston as Obligee.  The bond saves the city harmless against violations and that all work performed shall be done in accordance with building (BOCA) codes. back to Contractor | Electrician | Top of page

Certificate of General Liability Insurance:  No permit shall be issued for the construction or for the repair or alteration of the exterior of any building or structure, unless a certificate of insurance with public liability insurance of one million dollar ($1,000,000.00) combined single limit, with City of Sikeston as holder. back to Contractor | Top of page

Workmens Compensation Insurance: Required if there are one or more employees.  Work Comp Insurance shall be at least one hundred thousand dollars for each person, and one hundred thousand dollars for each accident on bodily injury liability. back to Contractor | Electrician | Painter |PlumberTop of page 

No license shall be issued to any person until the Business License Application Inspection form has been completed by authorized personnel and the amount prescribed therefore has been paid to the city collector, and no license shall in any case be assigned or transferred. [Code 5.04.120]

All persons, firms or corporations engaged in any business or occupation for which a license is required by the terms of Chapter 5.04 of City code and all persons, firms or corporations actually obtaining any such license for any business or occupational activity enumerated, shall, at any time during the business hours of said business or occupation, permit the City Manager, his authorized delegate or any Public Safety Officer of the City make an inspection of the business, and the activities for which  said license has been issued; to insure license is current and correct with respect to conforming to the reason of issuance and that no significant public health or safety hazard exist. [Code 5.04.161]