The Commercial Affairs Section is responsible for promoting local economic development in a town in accordance with statutes governing trade. It deals with licensing of businesses and ensures compliance with the Trade Act, Liquor Act & Industrial Development Act and their regulations. It also issues hawkers and street vending certificates. 

HOW DO I OBTAIN THE SERVICE

The applicant will have to come to Commercial office whereby he will enquire about the type of licence he wants to apply for. The applicant will then be advised to submit proof of land ownership, either by presenting a title deed (in case of plot owner) or lease agreement (renting the premises).

HOW DO I APPLY FOR SERVICE

The applicant must present themselves to the Commercial office with the above mentioned requirement (lease agreement and title deed). Then the zoning forms will be filled for confirmation of land use by the Physical Planning office and if approved the applicant will be given application forms in which he will have to submit back to Commercial Office together with some requirements as per the Acts. Health and Fire inspectors will then inspect the premises for compliance to their statutes e.g. Public Health Act, Fire regulations. All these information will then be compiled and presented to the Local Licensing Committee and Liquor Control Authority for consideration.

The applicant is then invited to the Trade licensing committee meeting on a set date so as to present his application.

     CITIZENS

When applying for trading licences, in case of individuals, one should submit a valid certified copy of Omang or Registration of Business name (optional) and completed application forms.

For wholly owned citizen companies, all company documents must be submitted.  Forms like Form 2, 2A, B, C, D, & 3 (new companies) or Form 2 (for old companies) and form 13 & 14 for change of directorship. Certified copies of Omang for directors and manager, Certificate of Incorporation, share certificates and company resolution also have to be submitted.

In case of Liquor licenses there should be a proof of publication in the Government gazette or private newspapers

     NON CITIZENS

Non citizens are advised to submit their company documents such as the ones like for the locals, completed application forms, valid work and residence permits for all directors.

    ISSUANCE OF TRADE AND LIQUOR LICENSES

Trade and liquor licences are issued on weekly and monthly basis respectively.

All these licenses are renewed annually and here only renewal forms are completed and the above procedures being followed.

-         INDUSTRIAL LICENSES AND REGISTRATION CERTIFICATES

The procedure for acquiring these licenses are just the same as other trading licences but for the industrial licenses there have to be an Environmental Impact Assessment report that has to be submitted together with application forms.

The Registration certificates are issued to small and medium scale entrepreneurial citizens only.

-         HAWKER AND STREET VENDORS CERTIFICATES

The applicant must bring certified copy of ID, 2 passport size photos and P30.00 certificate fee.  These certificates are only issued to citizens and issued every working day, provided the applicant submit all relevant documents.

  COST INVOLVED IN OBTAINING THE SERVICE

There are different types of licences with different fees. There is a P100.00 application fee for each fresh application and then license fee after approval by the Licensing committees.

 WHERE CAN I GET THE INFORMATION

Customers can acquire information from:

  Commercial Offices (Admin Block) 2610 570  - 2622241    Ext: 417/622/423

-         Customer service Office (BOTSA Fa) Council’s toll free number:  0800 600 746