Cleveland, OH · Cuyahoga County
Carriage Business and Vehicle License Application
This application is for businesses seeking Cleveland licenses to operate horse-drawn or other specified carriages that carry passengers for hire on public streets or public and partially public places.
- licensed online notary
- ~15 min average
- Notarized PDF emailed
What you’ll need
- Government-issued photo ID
- Webcam-enabled device (laptop or phone)
- This form, ready to upload as a PDF
What this form is
Cleveland requires a Carriage Business License and a license for each carriage vehicle used to carry passengers for hire in the places described on the form. The four-page application collects business, ownership, applicant, vehicle, and, when applicable, horse information; applicants must also submit supporting documents, pay fees, and provide a signed, notarized application. These annual licenses expire on March 31.
Who needs it
Businesses seeking to operate qualifying passenger-for-hire carriages in Cleveland must submit this application, along with a separate operator license application for each individual operator.
Why it needs a notary
The application has a sworn statement and jurat: the applicant signs the application before a notary public, who administers the oath and completes the notarial block.
How to get this notarized
- 1
Download The Application
Download Cleveland’s Carriage Business and Vehicle License Application and its information and instruction sheet.
- 2
Complete The Application
Fill in the business, applicant, ownership, vehicle, and applicable horse information, and gather the required supporting documents and fees.
- 3
Book An Online Notary
Book a commissioned online notary to notarize the application’s sworn statement.
- 4
Sign On Video
Sign the application before the notary during your online video session and complete the oath.
- 5
Submit To The City
Send the completed application, supporting materials, and fees to Cleveland’s Division of Assessments and Licenses in person, by mail, or by email.
Preview the form
The blank PDF straight from Cleveland. Look it over, then upload your filled copy to start the notary session.
You’ll need ID and a webcam.
A licensed online notary will join you on video, verify your government-issued ID, witness your signature, and apply their seal. You’ll receive the notarized PDF by email when the session ends.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I submit the carriage license application?
- Complete and sign the application, then submit it with the required documents and fees in person, by mail, or by email to Cleveland’s Division of Assessments and Licenses.
- Do I need to notarize the application?
- Yes. The instruction sheet requires a completed, signed, and notarized application. The applicant swears to the application’s answers before a notary public.
- Can I sign this application with a commissioned online notary?
- Ohio law authorizes online notarization by a commissioned online notary, and Ohio recognizes qualifying notarial acts performed by authorized officers. Confirm with the city or village if unsure whether it will accept your electronically notarized application.
- What documents and fees must I submit?
- The checklist calls for a valid driver’s license copy, insurance certificate for each vehicle, route maps and schedule, rates and charges, vehicle or horse photographs, and a veterinary certificate for each horse-drawn carriage. Fees are $150 per business license and $70 per vehicle license.