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 Brantley Chamber of Commerce, or the Brantley County Development Authority for professionals in Brantley 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.

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 Brantley County Building & Zoning to inquire about a license. Georgia does not have a state business license, but professional licenses are required.

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.

Contact the Brantley County Health Department for rules and regulations (912) 462-6165

Health Websites:

All businesses must comply with city, county, and school district tax requirements. For more information contact the Brantley County Tax Assessors office at (912) 462-5251.

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.

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.

Have proposed building plans reviewed by the State Fire Marshal. Any manufacturing company designing a new building or moving into an existing building should contact the State Fire Marshall’s office for review of proposed plans. State Fire Marshal Website. Engineering and Plan Review Section (404) 656-7087 engineering@mail.oci.state.ga.us

Obtain a state certificate of occupancy from the state fire marshal.

Explosives. Obtain license to use, sell, manufacture, or store explosives. Contact Hazardous Materials at (404) 656-9797 hazmat@mail.oci.state.ga.us

Safety and Fire Regulations listed on the State Fire Marshal Website

Forms from the State Fire Marshal’s office

Obtain license and regulations for radiation control, outside building noise, clinical laboratories, hospitals and nursing homes from the Georgia Department of Human Resources.

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.

State of Georgia Labor laws

Federal Labor Laws

Determine regulations concerning motorized vehicle manufacturers (new cars, heavy equipment, motorcycles, farm implements.) Department of Motor Vehicle Safety.

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.

Comply with regulations for pipelines, underground gas storage facilities, carriers who transport petroleum products. www.psc.state.ga.us

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:

Business Tax Forms

Centralized Taxpayer Registration

Income Tax Credits Forms and Information

Department of Revenue Contact Information

Local Albany Office

Register company trade name, trademarks, service marks, form a single proprietorship, partnership, limited partnership or corporation. File online. Secretary of State website

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.

Obtain licenses and regulations for water transportation, and for river facility construction

Equal Employment Opportunity Act. Comply with Regulations.

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.

Occupational Safety and Health Act. Comply with Regulations