Vending, Amusement, and Service Machine Business

Vending, Service, and Amusement Machines located within the City of St. Louis are required to purchase one (1) decal per coin slot to be placed on each machine that is located within the City Limits.

Any establishment that contains three (3) or more coin-operated amusement devices is subject to special requirements as an Arcade unless already required to secure a neighborhood consent petition under another license.

• EXAMPLES OF VENDING MACHINES:
  Soda, candy, cranes (toys), food, cigarettes, etc. Any machine in which you deposit money or a token and receive a product.
• EXAMPLES OF AMUSEMENT MACHINES:
  Video games, pool tables, pinballs. Any machine in which you deposit money or token for amusement purposes.
• EXAMPLES OF SERVICE MACHINES:
  Scales, ball cleaning, lockers, blood pressure readers. Any machine in which you deposit money or a token and receive a service.

If you still have questions about your business type, please contact our office at 314-622-4528 to find out the appropriate steps that you will need to follow to obtain a business license for the City of St. Louis.

 

Step 1: File Application with BPS

Arcades must file a written application and a plat or drawing of the proposed premises. These premises may not be within 500 feet of an elementary school.

St. Louis City Ordinance 56788
St. Louis City Revised Code Chapter 8.16.040

The above information is to be filed with:

Board of Public Service
Permits Section
City Hall Room 425
1200 Market St.
St. Louis, MO 63103
(314) 622-3313

Step 2: Neighborhood Consent

Obtain neighborhood consent petition forms from:

Zoning/Permits Section
City Hall Room 400
1200 Market St.
St. Louis, MO 63103
(314) 622-3666

St. Louis City Ordinance 57294

Step 2: Complete GBL form and visit our office

Download the Vending Machine Decal application here

Download the Amusement Machine Decal application here

Download the Service Machine Decal application here

Arcade Businesses are only required to only obtain vending decals, but if they provide other products or services for sale they must also have a graduated business license.

Visit the License Collector’s office in Room 104 of City Hall in person. For your convenience, you may download the Graduated Business License application and fill it out in advance.

Step 3: Obtain Statement of Clearance

In addition to visiting the License Collector’s office, you will also need to obtain a clearance from the Collector of Revenue’s office at the location below:

City Hall Room 410
1200 Market St.
St. Louis, MO 63103
(314) 622-3291

St. Louis City Ordinance 63454
St. Louis City Revised Code Chapter 8.02.010 - Statement of Clearance requirement

Step 4: Obtain Occupancy Permit

You must also obtain an Occupancy Permit from the Building Division at the location below:

Building Division
Department of Public Safety
City Hall Room 425
1200 Market St.
St. Louis, MO 63103
(314) 622-3313

 

FEES: per coin slot

• $10.00 Vending- (10 cents or more)
• $3.00 Vending- (5 cents to 9 cents)
• $1.00 Vending- (1 cent to 4 cents)
• $10.00 Amusement
• $10.00 Service (10 cents or more)
• $3.00 Service (5 cents to 9 cents)
• $1.00 Service (1 cent to 4 cents)

License year: July 1 through June 30

 

Once all clearances and payments are received, you will be able to obtain your license to do business in the City of St. Louis.

 

If you pay by check, the license application may be held for several working days until the check clears.

A separate Graduated Business License is required for each business location or trade name (St. Louis City Ordinance 52030).

Please visit our general information page to get more important information that you will need to know before obtaining your business license.

For more information about the License Collector's Office other resources and services, please visit our office home page. Once you are there, you will find a list of links to the various other resources and services provided by our office.