Application for Itinerant Business License

Please complete the online form below and print or email the PDF to yourself to be printed. You will need to have the completed PDF notarized. After finishing, bring the completed and notarized application to the Office of the City Clerk at 320 Broadway in Hannibal, MO for license issuance.

New Ordinance

On May 20, the City Council adopted a new Ordinance creating a 100-setback requirement for itinerant merchants operating “open air” (not within an enclosed building). The setback involves outdoor displays placement of workers, sales inventories, and display vehicles. The 100‐foot setback only pertains to outdoor locations near any 4‐lane highway, four lane street, or signalized intersection. The issue is purely one of safety. 

The purpose of this law is to prevent outdoor sales activities (inventories, displays, workers, etc.) from obstructing motorist’ line‐of sight, avoid motorist distractions at busy corridors & intersections, allow motorists to see vehicles emerging from side‐streets, and ensure safety to the outdoor merchants themselves. 

The new law states that any business… which is located within 100 feet of a four‐lane highway, four lane streets, or signalized intersection shall:  

  1. Be located in a permanent structure; and
  2. Not place items for exterior sale or display within 100 feet of ANY four‐lane highway, four lane street, or signalized intersection, nor place such items for exterior sale or display in any fashion so as to obstruct the view of traffic along main corridors or intersecting streets, unless said business is located in Zones E1 or H, as defined in the Code of the City of Hannibal, or
  3. If located in Zone E1 or H as defined in the Code of the City of Hannibal, not place items for exterior sale or display within 10 feet of the traveled roadway, exclusive of parking areas of any four‐lane highway four lane street. Or signalized intersection, nor place such items for exterior sale or display in any fashion so as to obstruct the view of traffic along main corridors or intersecting streets.   

This section shall not apply to businesses participating in a special event of duration of seven consecutive days or less, which has been approved by the city council.  

This ordinance creates a 100‐foot setback requirement – it is not a prohibition. We ask that you cooperate with us as a Hannibal business owner, or as an itinerant merchant selling goods or services from the exterior premises of a Hannibal business. If you have questions about this law, please contact the Hannibal Police Department at 573-221‐7111.