Anyone who engages in any temporary or transient business within Dakota County to sell goods or services is required to obtain a Transient Merchant License.
The term “transient merchant” means any person, individual, co-partnership, limited liability company, and corporation, both as principal and agent, who engage in, do, or transact any temporary and transient business in the state of Minnesota, either in one locality, or in traveling from place to place in this state, selling goods, wares and merchandise; and who, for the purpose of carrying on such business, hire, lease, occupy, or use a building, structure, vacant lot, or railroad car for the exhibition and sale of such goods, ware and merchandise.
The term “transient merchant” does not include a seller or exhibitor in a firearms collector show involving two or more sellers or exhibitors.
How to Apply
In order to apply, the following forms must be completed and accepted prior to issuing a license. The licenses are valid one year from the date of issuance and the fee is $150.00 (payable to Dakota County). The license is valid at one sale location only and not valid for more than one person, unless that person is a member of a co-partnership. The license is only valid in Dakota County.
Both forms below and a copy of the Seller's Permit must be completed and mailed to:
Dakota County PS&R
Attn: Shari
1590 Highway 55
Hastings, MN 55033
Applications
Additional Required Documents
- A Surety Bond, conditioned on the terms as stated in Minnesota Statutes, section 329.11, in an amount not less than $1,000 nor more than $3,000 made payable to Dakota County.
- An itemized list of merchandise to be offered for sale, listing:
- A description of each item
- The serial number of each item, if any
- The owner’s actual cost of each item
- A designation by number corresponding with a number to be affixed to each items by a tag which shall be kept fastened to the item at all times until sold
- A copy of the seller’s permit as issued under section 297A.83 or a written statement from the applicant stating that applicant is not offering for sale any item that is taxable under Chapter 291A.
Penalties
Any person, either as principal or agent, conducting business as a transient merchant without having first obtained a license is guilty or a gross misdemeanor:
- Engage in, do, or transact any business as a transient merchant
- Conduct any sale, sell or expose for sale any goods, wares, and merchandise
- Advertise, represent, or hold forth any sale of goods, wares, and merchandise
For more information, see Minnesota State Statutes Section 329.099 - 329.17 and Chapter 297A.83.