New Britain, CT Business License: The $25 New Business License and Zoning Compliance Letter

If you plan to sell goods from a business location in New Britain, you will likely need the city's New Business License. It costs $25. The step most first-time owners underestimate is the paperwork that comes before it: a Zoning Compliance Letter signed by the Building Department. This guide covers the process in the order you should do it, so you do not end up at the Town Clerk's counter missing the one signature you needed.

This article is informational, not legal or tax advice. Ordinances can be amended, and the City departments can tell you how the rules apply to your exact business. If your situation is complicated, such as a multi-owner entity, a food operation, or a site with lease restrictions, talk with a qualified attorney or CPA before you sign a lease or buy equipment.

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Connecticut has no general state business license

Connecticut does not issue one general business license for every company. Registering your entity with the Connecticut Secretary of the State through Business.CT.gov is a registration, not a license. A Sales and Use Tax Permit from the Department of Revenue Services is a tax registration. Licensing depends on your trade and is issued by agencies such as the Department of Consumer Protection, the Department of Public Health and the Insurance Department, and local zoning and health approvals apply on top of that. The New Business License is the local piece for a wholesale or retail business operating in New Britain.

What the New Business License covers

New Britain requires a New Business License under city ordinances 14-146 and 14-147 for any wholesale or retail business that sells or exhibits goods for immediate sale. The fee is $25, and the license must be displayed at the business. If your business sells only services and no goods for immediate sale, ask the Building Department whether the license applies to you instead of assuming either answer.

Materials and information to gather

Your legal entity name and type. If you formed an LLC, the name is on your Certificate of Organization. That filing costs $120 with the Secretary of the State, and the LLC Annual Report costs $80 each year.
The trade name you will use publicly. A trade name is the assumed or "doing business as" name. Check whether it is available with the free Business.CT.gov business records search.
The street address where the business will operate, plus the owner's name and address.
A clear description of what you sell, how customers reach you, whether you plan outdoor or vehicle sales, and whether any part of the work happens at home.
Fee money for two filings: $25 for the New Business License and $20 for the trade name certificate. Confirm with the Town Clerk which payment methods they accept.

Step-by-step: getting your New Business License

Confirm the license applies to you. Decide whether you sell goods for immediate sale at wholesale or retail. If you do, plan on the license. If you are unsure, call the Building Department before you spend money on other filings.
Choose and check your trade name. Search Business.CT.gov first to see whether the name is already registered. A trade name is not filed with the Secretary of the State. It is filed with the town clerk of the town where the business is primarily transacted, which here is the New Britain Town Clerk.
Get the Zoning Compliance Letter signed by the Building Department. This comes first. The Town Clerk expects the signed letter when you file. Describe the business and the site accurately, because the letter depends on what you actually do at that address. Ask the department how long its review takes, since this guide does not list a processing time.
Check for a separate permit for outdoor or vehicle sales. Outdoor sales and vehicle sales need a permit from Licenses, Permits and Inspections on the 4th floor of City Hall. Do this before you plan a sidewalk table, a parking lot sale or a vehicle display.
File at the Town Clerk. Bring the signed Zoning Compliance Letter. File the New Business License ($25) and the trade name certificate ($20) at the same visit. Trade name certificates issued since January 1, 2025 cost $20 and are valid for 5 years.
Display the license. Post it where customers can see it and keep a copy in your records. The ordinance requires display, so do not keep it in a drawer.
Handle state registrations and licenses. If you sell taxable goods or services, you need a Sales and Use Tax Permit from the Department of Revenue Services, which carries a $100 registration fee and must be displayed at each location. Separately, check with the state agency that covers your trade, such as the Department of Consumer Protection, to see whether you need a state license.
Return the license when you close. If a business closes with a going-out-of-business sale, the license must be returned to the Town Clerk.

Home businesses, food trucks and food operations: check first

This guide does not state settled figures for home occupation limits, food truck fees or food licensing. Check with the New Britain Building Department for home occupation rules, and check with the New Britain Health Department for food licensing, food truck requirements and any fees. Do not assume a home business or a food vehicle follows the same path as a storefront. Ask for the written answer before you buy equipment or sign a vehicle lease.

Fees at a glance

Item	Cost	Where it is filed or paid
New Business License	$25	New Britain Town Clerk
Trade Name Certificate	$20 (since January 1, 2025, valid 5 years)	New Britain Town Clerk
Zoning Compliance Letter	Check with the Building Department	New Britain Building Department
Outdoor or vehicle sales permit	Check with Licenses, Permits and Inspections	4th floor, City Hall
Sales and Use Tax Permit registration	$100	Department of Revenue Services
LLC Certificate of Organization	$120	Secretary of the State
LLC Annual Report	$80 each year	Secretary of the State

Common mistakes to avoid

Filing the trade name with the Secretary of the State. Trade names go to the Town Clerk. A Business.CT.gov search does not reserve a trade name for your use in New Britain.
Going to the Town Clerk before the Zoning Compliance Letter is signed. Get the signature first, then file.
Treating a Business.CT.gov registration as a license. Forming an LLC does not satisfy the New Business License requirement.
Letting a trade name go unfiled. Failure to file a trade name can bring a fine of up to $500 under CGS 35-1.
Using a name you never filed. If the name on your sign, website or invoices is not the trade name on your certificate, fix the filing before you advertise it.
Skipping the outdoor or vehicle sales permit. A tent, sidewalk table or car lot sale can need its own permit from Licenses, Permits and Inspections.
Not returning the license when you close. A going-out-of-business sale triggers the return requirement.

Tips that save a second trip

Call the Building Department before you sign a lease. A zoning answer is far cheaper to get before you commit to a site.
Bring a one-paragraph business description to the Building Department. It helps the department answer your use question accurately.
Check the expiration date on any older trade name certificate. Certificates issued before the new fee and term took effect expire December 30, 2029.
Ask the Town Clerk about payment methods and whether they need separate checks for the license and the trade name certificate.
Keep copies of everything. Keep the signed letter, the filed license and the trade name receipt together in your business records.

What to expect after you file

When the paperwork is complete, you should leave the Town Clerk with a filed New Business License and trade name certificate that you can display and use. This guide does not publish processing times for the Building Department or the Town Clerk, so ask both offices what to expect. Approval depends on your site, the zoning that applies to it and the ordinances in effect when you file. Nothing here guarantees that your location or business type will be approved.

Official resources

Connecticut Secretary of the State, Business Services Division: https://portal.ct.gov/sots/business-services/bsd
Business.CT.gov online business search: https://service.ct.gov/business/s/onlinebusinesssearch
Trade names information: https://business.ct.gov/knowledge-base/articles/trade-names
Department of Revenue Services: https://portal.ct.gov/drs
Sales tax permit information: https://portal.ct.gov/drs/sales-tax/tax-information

For New Britain's Building Department, Health Department, Town Clerk and Licenses, Permits and Inspections office, confirm current contact details and forms through the City of New Britain before you visit.

Final note: This article is informational, not legal or tax advice. Before you form an entity, sign a lease or start selling, consult a qualified attorney or CPA about your specific situation.