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Business Licensing & Operations in Muncie, IN (2026)

5 verified business licensing & operations rules for Muncie, Indiana, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.

Verified from official government sources

Adult Entertainment

In the City of Muncie, Sec. 150.28 of the zoning code bars a new adult entertainment business from locating within 500 feet of two other such businesses or within 500 feet of a church, school, public building, public land, or the boundary of any residence or farming zone, and bans public display of sexual material visible from outside.

Muncie Adult Business Spacing Rules

Significant Restrictions

Muncie City Code § 150.28

The establishment of any adult entertainment business shall be prohibited if such business is within 500 feet of two other such businesses or within 500 feet of the property line of any church, school, public building, or public land or the boundary line of any existing residence zone or farming zone. The distance between one adult entertainment business and another adult entertainment business...

Massage Establishments

In the City of Muncie, operating a massage establishment or working as a massage therapist or employee requires a license from the city controller under § 118.02, and the business must sit in a CB, BC, BV, MT, IL, or II zoning district under § 118.03(A). Operator licenses cost $500.00 semiannually, therapist licenses $100.00, and employee licenses $50.00 under § 118.08.

Muncie Massage Establishment License Required

Significant Restrictions

Muncie City Code §§ 118.02, 118.03(A), 118.08

(A)No person shall give or administer a massage without first obtaining a license from the city controller as provided in this chapter.(B)Each person who operates, conducts, owns, or maintains a massage establishment shall obtain an operator's license. ... (A)No massage establishment shall be located other than within a district that is zoned under the following zoning classifications: CB, BC, ...

Pawnbrokers

Anyone conducting a pawnbroker business in the City of Muncie must first obtain a $50.00 annual "Pawnbroker License" from the city controller under Muncie City Code § 115.08. The license dates from January 1 each year regardless of when it's purchased, and pawnbrokers must also keep detailed transaction records and report daily to the Muncie Police Department.

Muncie Pawnbroker License Required

Some Restrictions

Muncie City Code § 115.08

No person shall conduct, maintain or engage in the business of a pawnbroker or of keeping a secondhand store unless such person shall have first procured a license from the city controller. Every person conducting, maintaining, or engaging in the business of a pawnbroker or of keeping a secondhand store shall pay an annual license fee of $50.00. Such license shall be designated as "Secondhand S...

Auto Repair on Residential Property

In the City of Muncie, Muncie City Code § 150.222(C)(3) bars any home occupation from an accessory building or structure, which rules out running an auto-repair business from a detached garage. Section 150.222(C)(7) then bans noise, vibration, fumes, or odors detectable off the lot, standards a repair shop with power tools and solvents is unlikely to meet.

Muncie Home Occupations Barred From Garages

Significant Restrictions

Muncie City Code § 150.222(C)(3),(7)

(3)No accessory building or structure shall be used to house a home occupation. ... (7)No equipment or process shall be used which creates noise, vibration, glare, fumes, odors or electrical interference detectable to the normal senses off the lot. In the case of electrical interference, no equipment or process shall be used which creates visual or audible interference in any radio or televisio...

Towing Companies

In the City of Muncie, towing companies that remove abandoned vehicles under city authority may not charge more than $35.00 for the tow, and storage of the vehicle is capped at $4.26 per day, under Muncie City Code § 76.01. The rate cap sits in the city's stand-alone Abandoned Vehicles chapter, adopted by the Common Council in 2022.

Muncie Abandoned Vehicle Towing Fee Cap

Some Restrictions

Muncie City Code § 76.01

Charges allowed for towing of abandoned vehicles shall not exceed $35.00. Charges allowed for the storage of any abandoned vehicle may not exceed $4.26 per day.