Business Licenses

City/County Business License Department
P.O. Box 1449
12 West Liberty Street (Liberty Center)
Sumter, SC 29150

(803) 774-1601

Hours of Operation: 8:30am - 5pm, Mon - Fri

Wendy Melton, Business License Specialist                   803-774-1623

Stacy Craven, Business License Specialist                    803-774-1625

Business License Fax Line                                           803-774-1688

Ordinances (PDF*)

The Business License Department serves the City of Sumter and Sumter County. All operating Businesses in the City of Sumter and Sumter County must possess a Business license.

The City renewals are mailed in January and due by the 15th of February.
The County renewals are mailed in February and due by the 15th of March.

Applying for a license is completed in the Business License Department at 12 West Liberty Street.

1. You must complete an Application and a Clearance Form which is sent to the planning department for approval from the Zoning Department, Building Inspections Department, and the Fire Department.
2. Once the clearance form is received back by the license department you will be notified to return and purchase your license.
3. Current Postings - LLR - Updates

The License Department employs two licensed Inspectors. Inspectors are responsible for delinquent licenses, contacts with new businesses and new constructions. Working closely with the planning department makes it simple to locate new construction and or businesses

The Business License Department is proud to serve the Citizens of Sumter City and County.

South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation

Hair Braiders Must Be Licensed by State Cosmetology Board:

State law requires that hair braiders be licensed by the South Carolina Board of Cosmetology. To protect the health of consumers, Board investigators will be visiting Sumter County to ensure compliance by area businesses and individuals.

By law, hair braiders must have cosmetology licenses posted conspicuously for customers to view. They must follow sanitary procedures, including:

• Sterilizing equipment (combs, brushes, etc.)
• Keeping containers holding sterilizing solution covered.
• Having hot and cold running water.

The health implications for the public using unlicensed hair braiders include contracting diseases such as head lice, ringworm, impetigo and communicable diseases that spread through open sores.

Licensure information is available by contacting the Sough Carolina Board of Cosmetology, 110 Centerview Drive, Columbia SC 29210, 803-896-4585. Or you may go on the Internet to the Board's Web site at www.llr.state.sc.us/pol/cosmetology.

During a check for compliance by businesses in Myrtle Beach in July 2002, investigators identified five unlicensed businesses performing hair braiding on customers in unsanitary conditions. The Cosmetology Board issued cease and desist orders to the five businesses.

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