Business Licensing & Operations in Plymouth, MN (2026)
7 verified business licensing & operations rules for Plymouth, Minnesota, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Adult Entertainment
Any sexually oriented business in the City of Plymouth, from an adult bookstore to an escort agency, needs a City license under Code Section 1175.05 before opening, with a 90-day grace period for businesses already operating when the ordinance took effect. Zoning Section 21195.03 separately keeps every such principal use at least 250 feet from residentially zoned property and 500 feet from a school.
Plymouth Sexually Oriented Business License
Significant RestrictionsPlymouth City Code § 1175.05
Subd. 1.A Sexually Oriented Business may not be operated without a valid license, issued by the City for the particular type of business. A Sexually Oriented Business existing on the date of the enactment of this Section must obtain a license within 90 days or close doing business.
Massage Establishments
In the City of Plymouth, no one may run a massage business or practice massage on the public without two separate City licenses: a therapeutic massage enterprise license and an individual massage therapist license. City Code Section 1135.07 makes operating or practicing without either license unlawful, and the Public Safety Director's office runs a national criminal background check on every therapist before granting one.
Plymouth Massage Enterprise and Therapist License
Significant RestrictionsPlymouth City Code § 1135.07
A.Therapeutic Massage Enterprise License. It shall be unlawful for any person or entity to own, operate, engage in, or carry on, within the City, any type of massage services to the public for consideration without first having obtained a therapeutic massage enterprise license from the City pursuant to this section.B.Massage Therapist License. It shall be unlawful for any individual to practice...
Tobacco Retail License
Plymouth caps new tobacco and vape retail licenses at zero under City Code Section 1150.03, so only businesses licensed before the ordinance's adoption date can keep selling tobacco, tobacco devices, or electronic delivery devices like e-cigarettes and vape pens. Existing licensees must renew every year by November 15, and no new retailer may open, or renew, within the City's 500-foot Tobacco License Buffer around schools, playfields, and park amenities.
Plymouth Tobacco and Vape Retail License
Heavy RestrictionsPlymouth City Code § 1150.03
Subd. 1.License Required. ... No person shall sell or offer to sell any tobacco-related product without first having obtained a license to do so from the City. Subd. ... 15.Tobacco License Buffer. (1)Operations.(a)No tobacco license establishment making retail sales to customers may operate, and no license will be issued, within the Tobacco License Buffer. ... (2)Measurement.(a)The Tobacco Lice...
Secondhand Dealers
In the City of Plymouth, anyone who buys, pawns, or resells previously used personal property must hold a City pawnbroker license under City Code Section 1160.03 before opening, because the pawnbroker definition in Section 1160.02 expressly extends to any business that buys personal property previously used, rented, or leased. The annual license runs $8,000, set by Section 1010.01, Subd. 9.
Plymouth Secondhand and Pawnbroker Dealer License
Significant RestrictionsPlymouth City Code § 1160.02; § 1160.03; § 1160.10; § 1160.13(A); § 1010.01, Subd. 9
A. Pawnbroker License Fee $8,000.00 ... Pawnbroker. ... A person who loans money on deposit or pledge of personal property or other valuable thing; who deals in the purchasing of personal property or other valuable thing on condition of selling that same back again at a stipulated price; or who loans money secured by chattel mortgage or on personal property, taking possession of the property or...
Pawnbrokers
Every pawnbroker doing business in the City of Plymouth needs a City license under Code Section 1160.03, backed by a $10,000.00 surety bond and mandatory daily reporting of every transaction to the Police Department through the state Automated Pawn System. Pawn shops may only open between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., and pledged items must sit on a mandatory 120-day hold before they can be sold.
Plymouth Pawnbroker License
Significant RestrictionsPlymouth City Code § 1160.03
No person shall exercise, carry-on, or be engaged in the trade or business of pawnbroker within the City unless such person is currently licensed under this Section. Persons engaged in the business of pawnbroker on the effective date of this Section must receive a license within 60 days or cease doing business.
Auto Repair on Residential Property
Plymouth flatly prohibits auto repair as a home occupation for any vehicle that isn't registered to a resident of the home or a close relative. Section 21145.04, Subd. 4(a) lists auto repair among the activities no home occupation, permitted or licensed, may ever conduct for outside customers.
Plymouth Bans Home-Based Auto Repair for Others
Heavy RestrictionsPlymouth City Code § 21145.04, Subd. 4(a)
Subd. 4.Prohibited Home Occupation Activities. (a)Auto repair, whether for consideration or not, of vehicles which are not registered to a resident of the dwelling, or to a son or daughter, sibling, parent, grandparent, or grandchild of a resident on the property.
Towing Companies
In the City of Plymouth, only a City-contracted towing contractor may impound vehicles ordered removed by police under City Code § 1310.11. Contractors must sign a contract of no more than three years, post a $10,000 surety bond, and carry defined liability insurance before towing a single City-ordered vehicle.
Plymouth Towing Contractor Bond and Fee Rules
Significant RestrictionsPlymouth City Code § 1310.11, Subds. 3, 6
No person shall act as towing contractor for the City before entering into such a written contract with the City, and filing with the City Clerk a bond in the sum of $10,000.00 which corporate surety, conditioned upon (1) the proper handling and safekeeping of impounded vehicles, accessories, and personal property during the period of impounding prior to delivery thereof to the City and the own...
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