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Establishing a Business
Good business practice suggests that a company engage an attorney or accounting firm to handle procedures for setting up its organization - obtaining and satisfying all permits, licenses, and other regulations. Contact the Camilla Chamber of Commerce, Pelham Chamber of Commerce, or the Mitchell County Development Authority for professionals in Mitchell County who can help you.
Remember there are also many incentives available to help your business.
The following is a general overview of Georgia’s regulatory picture. This is meant to be a guide only. Review the regulations that will apply to your business and consult your professional for more information.
Local Requirements
Business Licenses
A business license may be required for your business. Contact the city business licensing department that the business is located in. If located outside the city limits, contact Mitchell County Building & Zoning to inquire about a license. Georgia does not have a state business license, but professional licenses are required.
- Within Camilla City Limits (229) 336-2220
- Within Pelham City Limits (229) 294-7900
- Within Baconton City Limits (229) 787-5511
- Within Sale City City Limits (229) 336-7885
- All other locations in Mitchell County (229) 336-2060
Planning & Inspection Guidelines
Zoning - The local zoning department can provide information on the zoning of your property and assist you with complying with the ordinance.
Building Permits - All building permit requirements are set locally. Contact the local permitting office for the building code requirements, Certificate of Occupancy, and information on other local licenses as required.
- Within Camilla City Limits 229 336-2220
- Within Pelham City Limits 229 294-7900
- Within Baconton City Limits 229 787-5511
- Within Sale City City Limits 229 336-7885
- All other locations in Mitchell County 229 336-2060
Health Department Regulations
Contact the Mitchell County Health Department for rules and regulations (229) 336-2055
Health Websites:
Clerk of Superior Court
Real Estate Transactions
- Real Estate purchases - Record warranty deeds, real estate transfer tax and recording fees
- Real Estate purchase (if financed) - Record warranty deed and security deed (mortgage), pay real estate transfer tax, recording fees, and intangibles tax on security deed
- Contact: (229) 336-2022
Comply with Tax Requirements
All businesses must comply with city, county, and school district tax requirements.
For more information contact:
Mitchell County Tax Assessors office (229) 336-2005
Mitchell County Tax Commissioner office (229) 336-2010
State Requirements
Notify creditors when purchasing an
established business
If an established business is to be purchased, its creditors must be notified beforehand according to a timetable spelled out in Georgia Code, Chapter 109 A-6.
Georgia Department of Agriculture
Businesses must comply with state required standards from the Georgia Department of Agriculture for:
- Weights and Measurements used by manufacturers and dealers. Contact Weights and Measures Section
- Livestock purchase, sale, movement, slaughter, or processing. Contact Animal Industry division.
- Agricultural commodity (other than livestock), purchase, warehouse storage, or sale. Contact Marketing Division
- Food processing, handling, labeling, storage, distribution, wholesale, and retail sales. Contact Consumer Protection Division.
- New food plant construction or new construction on existing structures. Contact Consumer Protection Division
- Poultry hatcheries. Contact Consumer Protection Division
- Commercial beekeepers, pesticide applicators and contractors, commercial seed producers and dealers, vegetable and horticultural plant producers, commercial feed manufacturers, dealers and distributors. Contact Plant Industry Division.
- Petroleum products manufacturers or dealers. Contact Fuel Oil Laboratory.
- Visit the Georgia Department of Agriculture Website for any other regulations that may apply to your business.
State Fire Marshal
Georgia Department of Human Resources
Obtain license and regulations for radiation control, outside building noise, clinical laboratories, hospitals and nursing homes from the Georgia Department of Human Resources.
Georgia Department of Labor
- Safety Engineering - Comply with construction, operation, and safety requirements for high-voltage electric lines, elevators, boilers, pressure vessels, and for certain glass installation in buildings open to the public. Contact Inspection Division. Forms
- State unemployment insurance - Obtain unemployment insurance tax forms and identification numbers. Online unemployment information for employers.
- Minimum Wage Law - Obtain and comply with regulations. Companies that do not fall under federal minimum wage law jurisdiction are subject to Georgia minimum wage law requirements.
- Equal Pay for Equal Work Act. Obtain and comply with regulations. Companies that do not fall under federal equal pay law jurisdiction are subject to Georgia equal pay law requirements.
- Find other information on Georgia Department of Labor regulations including child labor laws and workers compensation at their online labor law reference site.
Georgia Motor Vehicle Commission
Determine regulations concerning motorized vehicle manufacturers (new cars, heavy equipment, motorcycles, farm implements.) Department of Motor Vehicle Safety.
Georgia Department of Natural Resources
- Air Quality Control Act and Regulations. Obtain construction and operating permits if operation may result in air pollution. Contact Environmental Protection Division (EPD) - Air Protection Branch Air Protection Regulations
- Water Supply Quality Control Act, Water Quality Control Act, Groundwater Use Act and regulations. Obtain permits for sewage treatment system construction or modification, industrial waste treatment, sewage and waste discharge into waterways, water supply systems, underground water withdrawal and National Pollution Discharge Elimination System. (EPA has delegated authority to issue NPDES permits to the state). Contact EPD.
- Landfills, solid waste collection and disposal systems, hazardous waste systems. Submit plan and obtain permit to operate. Contact EPD.
- Online guide from EPD: Includes downloadable EPD forms and technical regulatory information from the Environmental Protection Division.
- Georgia Surface Mining Act and regulations. Obtain permit for any surface mining activity. Contact Land Reclamation section.
- Commercial Fishing, live bait dealers, commercial breeders, commercial fish hatcheries, fishing lakes operated for a fee, wholesale fur companies. Contact Game and Fish Division.
Georgia Public Service Commission
Comply with regulations for pipelines, underground gas storage facilities, carriers who transport petroleum products. www.psc.state.ga.us
Georgia Department of Revenue
- Obtain income tax number, sales tax number, and instructions for employee withholding tax, sales and use tax, corporate income tax. Employers Tax Guide. Centralized Taxpayer Registration Sales And Use Tax Division
- Obtain motor fuel permit and file quarterly report for any vehicle having more than two axles. Motor Fuel Tax Unit Information.
- Register and file quarterly report for all two-axle vehicles meeting any of the following criteria: gross weight over 18,000 pounds, passenger vehicle seating nine passengers and driver, or pulls trailer. Motor Fuel Tax Unit
- Obtain highway use permit and file quarterly report for vehicles domiciled and registered in these states or provinces: Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Ontario, Oregon and South Dakota
- Department of Revenue online information:
Georgia Secretary of State
Register company trade name, trademarks, service marks, form a single proprietorship, partnership, limited partnership or corporation. File online, Secretary of State website
Georgia Workers Compensation Board
State Workers Compensation. Firms with three or more employees must carry workers’ compensation insurance with a licensed insurance company or qualify as a self insurer.
Federal Requirements
US Army Corps of Engineers
Obtain licenses and regulations for water transportation, and for river facility construction
US Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission
Equal Employment Opportunity Act. Comply with Regulations.
US Internal Revenue Service
Obtain a businessman’s kit, custom prepared for any company from the nearest US Internal Revenue Service Office (Albany, Georgia 229-430-8401). Kit contains data and forms for: employer identification number, income (business and employee withholding), social security, federal unemployment insurance and other federal taxes. Online tax information for businesses
US Department of Labor, OSHA
Occupational Safety and Health Act. Comply with Regulations
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