Mzuzu business licence 2026/27
How to get or renew a business licence from Mzuzu City Council: the forms, the inspection, paying into the council’s FDH Bank account and what to do with the deposit slip.
- Pay at FDH Bank
- Renew by 31 March
- Inspected by Health + Planning
Quick answer: Every business in Mzuzu needs a business premises licence from Mzuzu City Council, renewed each year: 2025/26 licences expired on 31 March 2026. Fill the trading licence form, let the council’s Town Planning and Health officers inspect the premises, pay the fee into the council’s FDH Bank account 1530000176829 (Mzuzu City Council), then take or send the deposit slip to the Civic Offices to get the licence. The council has not put its 2026/27 fee list online: ask the Licensing Officer for your amount.
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How to get a business licence in Mzuzu
From Mzuzu City Council’s Trade, Occupation and Business By-laws (2018) and its 2026 renewal notice.
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Fill the trading licence form
Download the application for a trading licence from the council’s forms page or collect one at the Civic Offices. You give your name and address, the type of business, the plot number, the area and street. The by-laws say the form is filled in three copies: white for Health, yellow for Town Planning and blue for the file.
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Town Planning and Health inspect the premises
A Town Planning Officer and a Health Officer each inspect the premises and write their findings on the form. The by-laws say the inspection must be no more than 14 days before the licence is issued, so have the premises clean and ready when you apply.
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Pay into the council’s FDH Bank account
Deposit the fee at any FDH Bank branch: account number 1530000176829, account name Mzuzu City Council. Check the account name on the slip before you pay, and keep the stamped slip.
No FDH account needed: you can deposit as a walk-in customer. (See our FDH Bank guide if you want one.)
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Take the deposit slip to the Civic Offices
Send a copy of the deposit slip to the Civic Offices, or bring it in person, and the council issues the licence. The Civic Offices are off the M5, behind the Mzuzu High Court House.
Not Malawian? The by-laws say the council will not license a foreigner without a valid permit under the Immigration Act to do business in Malawi.
Renewing for 2026/27
Licences run for the council’s financial year, April to March.
In its notice of 5 March 2026, the council said all business premises licences for 2025/26 expired on 31 March 2026 and that the by-laws require every holder to renew each year by paying the prescribed fee. It reminded traders that it is illegal to operate without a business premises licence in the city.
Renewal works the same way: the trading licence form covers ‘issue/renewal’, then pay at FDH Bank and hand in the slip. Late renewals risk enforcement: in past campaigns the council has closed businesses trading without a valid licence.
- Expired
- 31 March 2026
- Pay to
- FDH Bank 1530000176829
- Account name
- Mzuzu City Council
- Then
- Deposit slip to Civic Offices
Which form do you need?
All on the council’s application forms page (Word documents).
How much is a business licence in Mzuzu?
The council has not published its 2026/27 licence fees online.
Mzuzu City Council’s ‘City Charges’ page is empty, and the only licence fee list on its website is the one in the 2018 by-laws, which is out of date (the council has raised fees since). So we do not print it here.
Ask the Licensing Officer at the Civic Offices, or phone 0888 554 471, for the 2026/27 fee for your type of business before you deposit. For a sense of how councils price licences, see the full 2026 lists for Lilongwe and Blantyre.
- Fee list online
- Not for 2026/27
- Ask
- Licensing Officer, Civic Offices
- Phone
- 0888 554 471 / 0999 554 471
Rules and penalties
From the 2018 by-laws.
You may not transfer, lend or assign your licence to anyone else, and you must show it to a council officer on request. Keep the premises clean and sanitary.
The council can withdraw a licence from anyone who breaks its conditions and confiscate goods sold against the by-laws. Breaking them is an offence: the by-laws set a fine of K2,000 or six months in prison, plus up to K200 a day while it continues.
- Transfer or lend
- Not allowed
- Show licence
- On request
- Council can
- Withdraw licence, confiscate goods
Mzuzu City Council
Visit the Civic Offices or call before you travel.
- Address
- Civic Offices, off M5, behind Mzuzu High Court House
- Post
- P.O. Box 1, Mzuzu
- Phone
- 0888 554 471 / 0999 554 471
- [email protected]
Mzuzu business licence FAQ
How do I get a business licence in Mzuzu?
Fill the trading licence form, let the council’s Town Planning and Health officers inspect the premises, pay the fee into the council’s FDH Bank account 1530000176829 and take the deposit slip to the Civic Offices.
Where do I pay for a Mzuzu business licence?
Into FDH Bank account 1530000176829, account name Mzuzu City Council. Then send a copy of the slip to the Civic Offices or bring it.
When do Mzuzu business licences expire?
At the end of the financial year. The 2025/26 licences expired on 31 March 2026.
How much is a business licence in Mzuzu?
The council has not published its 2026/27 fees online. Ask the Licensing Officer at the Civic Offices (0888 554 471).
Can I sell or pass my licence to someone else?
No. The by-laws forbid transferring, lending or assigning a licence.
Do I need a separate food or liquor licence?
Yes, if you sell food or alcohol. The council has separate forms for food, liquor and opaque beer licences.
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GuideNational IDNeeded for most applicationsSources: Mzuzu City Council notice on renewal of business and premises licences for 2026/27 (5 March 2026, on the council’s Facebook page); Trade, Occupation and Business By-laws 2018, application forms and contact page on mzuzucity.gov.mw. Checked October 2026.
