Business Licensing & Operations in Flint, MI (2026)
6 verified business licensing & operations rules for Flint, Michigan, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Adult Entertainment
Group A adult businesses in the City of Flint need Planning Commission approval and cannot locate within 1,000 feet of a residential district, school, park or church, or within 2,000 feet of another regulated use.
Flint Adult Business Spacing Rules
Significant Restrictions§ 50-164(a)
An application to establish a group “A” special regulated use shall not be approved if the proposed location is within 1,000 feet of any residentially zoned district, mobile home park, K through 12 school, park or church. (b) Group “B” special regulated uses (§ 50-161). An application to establish a group “B” special regulated use shall not be approved if the proposed location is within 30...
Massage Establishments
The City of Flint treats massage establishments as a Group A special regulated use: opening one requires Planning Commission approval, a standalone building, and distance from homes, schools, parks and churches.
Flint Massage Establishment Zoning Permit
Significant RestrictionsFlint, MI Code of Ordinances § 50-161(b)(1)-(2)
Uses subject to these controls are as follows: (1) Group "A" — Special regulated uses: Adult bookstore ... Massage establishments Steam baths ... (2) Group "B" - Special regulated uses: Liquor stores Pawnshops Tattoo establishments
Tattoo & Body Modification
Flint classifies tattoo establishments as a Group B special regulated use, needing Planning Commission approval and keeping them at least 300 feet from homes, schools, parks and churches.
Flint Tattoo Establishment Zoning Rules
Significant RestrictionsFlint, MI Code of Ordinances §§ 50-161(b)(2), 50-164(b)
(2) Group "B" - Special regulated uses: Liquor stores Pawnshops Tattoo establishments ... Group "B" special regulated uses (§ 50-161). An application to establish a group "B" special regulated use shall not be approved if the proposed location is within 300 feet of a residentially zoned district, mobile home park, K through 12 school, dedicated park or church.
Secondhand Dealers
Anyone buying, selling, or exchanging secondhand goods in the City of Flint is a licensed secondhand or junk dealer, subject to City Council approval and detailed recordkeeping rules.
Flint Secondhand and Junk Dealer License
Significant RestrictionsFlint City Code § 12-55
Any person, corporation, partnership, copartnership or firm whose business in whole or in part is that of purchasing, selling, exchanging, storing or receiving secondhand articles of any kind is declared to be a secondhand dealer or junk dealer; provided, that this definition shall not apply to retail merchants who repossess their own merchandise sold on a title retaining contract or chattel mo...
Pawnbrokers
Pawnbrokers operating in the City of Flint must pay a license application fee, secure a City-issued license, and comply with Michigan's pawnbroker statutes before doing business.
Flint Pawnbroker Licensing Requirement
Significant RestrictionsFlint City Code § 12-53.1
It shall be unlawful for any person, corporation, partnership, copartnership or firm, to engage in the business of pawnbroker, secondhand dealer, junk dealer, auto salvage dealer or scrap iron and metal processor or recycler in the City without first paying a license application fee as fixed by Chapter 26 of this Code, securing a license and otherwise complying with this article and the regulat...
Towing Companies
Flint bars wreckers from towing a vehicle off a public street or private property without the owner's consent or police authorization, under the Chapter 12 Article XIV wrecker and towing service rules.
Non-Consent Towing Rules in Flint
Significant RestrictionsFlint, MI Code of Ordinances § 12-109 (Illegal Towing)
Except when a wrecker and towing service or operator is acting as an agent in a legal repossession of a vehicle it shall be unlawful: (a) For any wrecker or towing service or operator to tow or otherwise move a vehicle from any area or portion of a public street without either the consent of the owner or custodian thereof, or authorization by the police or other designated official of the City ...
Looking for Genesee County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Flint city rules.
Business Licensing & Operations in Genesee County →