Starting a Business in Maine Cities
City-level guides to starting a business and getting a business license in 9 Maine cities.
New to this? Start with the Maine business formation guide, then come back for the specifics.
Starting a Business, City by City
Which Maine Towns License What: No General Business License, Victualer, Peddler and Mobile Food Fees From $10 to $750Local rules, costs and first stepsRead the guide →Maine Food Sovereignty Towns: Which Local Food Licenses You Skip, What Still Needs a License, and the 2025 Kitchen ChangeLocal rules, costs and first stepsRead the guide →Maine Short-Term Rental Rules by Town: Portland, Bar Harbor, Kennebunkport, Rockland and 20 More, Fees $100 to $4,000 and CapsLocal rules, costs and first stepsRead the guide →Maine Cannabis Municipal Opt-In and Local License Fees by Town: Sanford $22,500, Caps, Bans and the 90-Day Deemed DenialLocal rules, costs and first stepsRead the guide →Maine Food Truck License Cost by Town: $270 State License Plus Local Fees From $10 and Where You Can ParkLocal rules, costs and first stepsRead the guide →Maine Victualer License Fees by Town: $25 in Millinocket to $684 in Bangor, Plus the State Eating Place LicenseLocal rules, costs and first stepsRead the guide →Maine Liquor License Town Approval and Local Fees: $10 to $2,774, Dry Towns and the 60-Day Deemed Approval RuleLocal rules, costs and first stepsRead the guide →Maine Peddler and Transient Seller License Fees by Town: $15 in Millinocket to $750 in Freeport, With No State Peddler LawLocal rules, costs and first stepsRead the guide →Maine Property Tax Mill Rates by Town and Business Equipment: Wells 6.1 to Millinocket 27.6 Mills, BETE and Retail FixturesLocal rules, costs and first stepsRead the guide →
City Business Licenses
Portland Maine Business License: Food Service $181 to $459, Liquor Classes $410 to $2,774, STR Registration Tiers and the City Minimum WageWho issues it, what it costs, how to applyRead the guide →South Portland Maine Business License: $25 Application, Mobile Vending in Two Parks, STR $200 or $400 and Cannabis Retail $1,400Who issues it, what it costs, how to applyRead the guide →Bangor Maine Business License: Victualer $248 to $684, Lunch Wagon $297, Transient Seller $513 and the 1% Short-Term Rental CapWho issues it, what it costs, how to applyRead the guide →Bar Harbor Maine Business License: No General License, STR Registration $275 With VR-2 Cap, Cruise Ship Cap of 1,000 a DayWho issues it, what it costs, how to applyRead the guide →Scarborough Maine Business License: Food Handler's $150 to $600, Mobile Food Vendor Courts and the 2026 Short-Term Rental RegistrationWho issues it, what it costs, how to applyRead the guide →Rockland Maine Business License: Victualer $50 to $150, Short-Term Rental Cap of 45 Permits, Cannabis Cap of 6 and Home Occupation LevelsWho issues it, what it costs, how to applyRead the guide →Sanford Maine Business License: Cannabis Retail $22,500 With a Cap of 8, Victualer $75, Peddler $50 and STR Primary-Residence RuleWho issues it, what it costs, how to applyRead the guide →Old Orchard Beach Maine Business License: $500 Initial and Renewal Fee, Beach Food Truck Limits and What the Town Form Still ListsWho issues it, what it costs, how to applyRead the guide →Kennebunkport Maine Business License: STR License $325 or $575 With Cap and Waitlist, Victualer $150 and Liquor $225Who issues it, what it costs, how to applyRead the guide →Greater Portland Maine Business Licenses: Portland, South Portland, Westbrook, Scarborough, Falmouth, Freeport, Gorham and Windham ComparedWho issues it, what it costs, how to applyRead the guide →Southern Maine Coast and York County Business Licenses: Kennebunk, Kittery, York, Biddeford, Saco, Wells and Ogunquit ComparedWho issues it, what it costs, how to applyRead the guide →Midcoast Maine Business Licenses: Brunswick, Bath, Topsham, Camden, Belfast, Boothbay Harbor and Damariscotta ComparedWho issues it, what it costs, how to applyRead the guide →