Mobile openings and ribbon cuttings for fall 2026 from the Mobile Chamber calendar, plus how to get a city business license. Revenue Department: 251-208-7462.
Last checked Oct. 17, 2026. This roundup is rebuilt each month. Sources: the Mobile Chamber calendar and the City of Mobile’s business license page.
This is our first monthly roundup of businesses opening, expanding and celebrating in Mobile. Each listing comes from a ribbon cutting, the business’s own announcement or a public record; we do not list a business from a rumor or a review site.
Starting a business in Mobile
- Business license: City of Mobile Revenue Department, 251-208-7462, revenue@cityofmobile.gov
- Zoning clearance and signs: Build Mobile Planning and Zoning, 251-208-5895, planning@cityofmobile.org
- Building permits and certificates of occupancy: Build Mobile permitting, 251-208-7602
- Ribbon cuttings: Mobile Chamber, 251-433-6951
Ribbon cuttings coming up
From the Mobile Chamber calendar:
| Date | Business | Address |
|---|---|---|
| 4 to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20 | Ward Scott Morris Architecture Inc. | 230 Dauphin St. |
| 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5 | AdoptionRocks | 6001 Grelot Road, Suite H |
| 4 to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11 | Storylight | 857 Hillcrest Road |
Storylight is a book and gift boutique that Jessica Lee started as a mobile unit in fall 2025, selling romance and contemporary fiction and “bookish” merchandise. She is opening a storefront at 857 Hillcrest Road in November, according to the chamber’s listing.
Ribbon cuttings are a free service the Mobile Chamber offers member businesses for openings, expansions and open houses. The chamber posts a ribbon cutting guide and registration form.
Getting a city business license
A license is required for anyone doing business from, into or within the City of Mobile and its police jurisdiction. From the city’s business license page:
- Check your location with the city’s MyPlace tool to see whether you are in the city or its police jurisdiction.
- Get a zoning clearance from Build Mobile. It must be attached before the city will process your application.
- Gather documents: a photo ID and a signed citizenship form for a sole proprietor; recorded articles of formation and an officer’s photo ID for an LLC, corporation or nonprofit.
- Pick your business type. Some types have extra steps: convenience stores need Mobile County Health Department and fire inspection reports, apartment complexes a fire inspection, contractors an Alabama Home Builders license and a surety bond, and alcohol sellers a state ABC Board license first.
Renewals: every license expires Dec. 31. Renewals are due Jan. 1 and delinquent after Jan. 31; the city adds a 15% penalty in February and 30% from March 1, plus interest.
Food businesses also need a permit from the Mobile County Health Department; see our restaurant inspections guide.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
How do I get a business license in Mobile, Alabama?
Apply online with the City of Mobile Revenue Department after confirming your location with the city’s MyPlace tool and getting a zoning clearance from Build Mobile. Call the Revenue Department at 251-208-7462.
When are Mobile business licenses due?
All City of Mobile business licenses expire Dec. 31. Renewals are due Jan. 1 and delinquent after Jan. 31, with a 15% penalty in February and 30% from March 1, according to the city.
What new businesses are opening in Mobile this fall?
The Mobile Chamber lists ribbon cuttings for Ward Scott Morris Architecture at 230 Dauphin St. on Oct. 20, AdoptionRocks at 6001 Grelot Road on Nov. 5 and Storylight, a book and gift shop, at 857 Hillcrest Road on Nov. 11.
How do I get my new Mobile business listed here?
Send the business name, address, opening date and a link to its own announcement through our contact page. We list openings from the business’s own announcement or an official record.
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