State Permits: Arizona
Arizona. A state known for barren deserts and hot temperatures, it makes a perfect getaway for travelers wishing to escape the cold, Midwest winters. It is also home to football, baseball and basketball teams, which makes the state a perfect place for retailers to set up shop. With the government and Wal-Mart being the top employers of the state, it is absolutely necessary to know the local and federal permits that are required for constructing buildings. Companies that are based in other states should take it upon themselves to do some research before they begin planning the building design and construction.
When preparations are beginning, it is important to send design plans in to the cities that work is going to take place. Building permits are required for any new construction project valued over $10,000 as well as any alterations to a space. If, later on down the line, you plan on changing the plumbing or mechanical fixtures, then another permit will be required. Improvement, zoning and land use are just some of the permits that a site will be expected to have in order to begin building. You may also need to apply for an alarm system permit, health permit and sign permits.
Besides obtaining building permits, Arizona retail owners will need to apply for a seller’s permits, which is necessary if you plan to sell products or services for a period longer than 30 days. Both wholesalers and retailers need to apply for a seller’s permit. Another similar license you will need to get is called the Transaction Privilege Tax License, and as the Arizona Department of Revenue explains, “The tax is on the privilege of doing business in Arizona and is not a true sales tax. Although the transaction privilege tax is usually passed on to the consumer, it is actually a tax on the vendor.” This tax license is mandatory for anyone engaging in retail sales. Permits are even necessary when re-modeling the retail store’s interior. For example, Kohl’s department store had to apply for a permit to install stockroom shelving rack systems.
Arizona is a great place to start open a retail store because of it’s year round opportunities, but make sure you apply for the proper permits so that construction can begin promptly and there is no delay to the opening of a successful store.
