AFTER You Sign Your Lease but BEFORE You Move In
Register your LLC, corporate name or fictitious name with the Florida Department of State at
www.sunbiz.org. If you are using a DBA, you must register it also.
The name on the application for your state license must be identical to the name you registered with the FL Department of State. Verify the state requirements with a customer service representative in the City’s Licensing Office (239) 574-0430. This could help avoid delays.
Apply for a Business Tax Receipt (BTR), formerly Occupational License, and a Certificate of Use (CU) at the Zoning Counter at City Hall (239) 574-0553.
One application form handles both – you can print the
application form here and submit it at the Department of Community Development's License Tax Division. The Zoning customer service representative will tell you what inspections will be necessary for the CU.
If your business constitutes a Change of Use for that location, you will be referred to the Building Division for a Cape Coral building permit.
The Fire Department does the final inspection – call the Division of Life Safety at (239) 242-3264. Click here for general information about
Fire Inspections.
Apply at the Building Division at City Hall for a Cape Coral building permit: : (239) 574-0546
You need a Cape Coral building permit if a Change of Use has been determined. A minimal fee of $26.00 is due at time of submittal.
You need a building permit if you intend to prepare the space involving more than paint, flooring or other minor repairs.
The Building Division will explain what is required for a Change of Use permit. If substantial work is needed in the building, a contractor will need to submit the permit application with additional documents. Whoever applies for the Cape Coral building permit must be present for all inspections.
Permit Fee Schedule
For building questions please call the Building Division at (239) 574-0546.
Our goal is to save you time and money.
The Licensing customer service representative will call you when your Certificate of Use/Business Tax Receipt is ready to be issued. At that time, the customer service representative will notify you of the fees due for your Cape Coral Business Tax Receipt (BTR). You may come in to pick up your paperwork or pay for it by phone and have it mailed to you.