Hey guys I have a friend who used to work on motorcycles. He had what he needed back a long time ago and is wondering what he needs to do to legally work on peoples bikes again. nothing major, just work on his friends bikes and other local stuff out of his garage. anyone have any knowledge of what he needs to do this or where he can find out? he lives in ct.
Permits to work on motorcycles
- Thread starter jonb347
- Start date
BC1
Well-known member
In california you would have to registered with the bureau of automotive repair, have a business license, be legally allowed to perform the work from your house (would be a county or city thing), have relevant insurance and all kinds of other things if you were storing chemicals (waste oil, new oil, old parts and such). probably mostly the same thing anywhere in the U.S. if you wanna be legit.
hydramatic
Well-known member
move out in the country on 28 acres...outa site, outa mind.
hell, it`s hard to buy mineral spirits anymore..
hell, it`s hard to buy mineral spirits anymore..
Gary S
Well-known member
Depends on where you live. Mineral spirits are as easy to buy here as pizza.
jaker10
Well-known member
The shop I work in only uses mineral spirits to clean parts, get it in 55 gallon drums.
Lkdelta
Well-known member
The permit office gets real mad if you ask them why they require a bribe or a pay-off to let you do your stuff.
rmc115
Well-known member
Don't forget zoning. Here in Indiana if you are zoned residential, forget working legal. Mike
buildmyown
Well-known member
Can you provide more details. If he is trying to open a legit shop out of his house then he needs to make sure he is zoned for it. Around here if you are zoned residential then you cant run a business like that out of your house. Then he would have to setup a business with the town and get tax id numbers insurance the whole works. Yes that what you mean by permits or do you mean accual permits so he can just work on bikes on the side and not have to do the whole business deal. If its the latter as far as I know there is not permits for that its not like you have to be certified.
One or two bikes in a garage shouldn't be an issue. Keep things cleaned up outside and stick to working with cash.
I had a friend in North Carolina who restored old gas pumps and soda machines for customers. The neighbors called the EPA on him for painting in his back yard. His defense was, he didn't use enough paint annually to require what the EPA was inspecting for. He was right, and the gentlemen from the EPA sat down and had some tea. The neighbors were not to happy. But he was non confrontational and had a very clean yard, house, garage, etc.
I had a friend in North Carolina who restored old gas pumps and soda machines for customers. The neighbors called the EPA on him for painting in his back yard. His defense was, he didn't use enough paint annually to require what the EPA was inspecting for. He was right, and the gentlemen from the EPA sat down and had some tea. The neighbors were not to happy. But he was non confrontational and had a very clean yard, house, garage, etc.
yousesteers
Active member
I have never heard of having to have a permit to work on anything but an air plane or helicopter I have worked on everything under the sun and never had any formal training or lisence
darkk
Well-known member
Permits and license's are Big Brothers cut...
camarotoolman
Banned
Noise is the biggest problem with m.c.s. Be respectful of your nieghbors peace and quite.
Cryptic1911
Well-known member
I wouldn't tell anyone, and don't run it as a "business". All cash, no reciepts, etc. If there is no trail of money being exchanged, then they can't bust you for working in your garage
Wastedwagesracing
Banned
- Joined
- Nov 21, 2007
- Messages
- 613
We have a few places in the township that are zoned residential but also have a commercial zoning for a building on the same property. Generally we include the building and a certain number of feet around the building for parking. This gives the people the opportunity run a legit business out of the homestead. One guy is a small engine repair, another a tractor repair, A dog breading business, and one is a dog day care. I bring this up as it might be a option that is over looked.
NHBandit
Well-known member
Never heard of needing a permit to work on motorcycles but hell, I'm just an old country boy. Here in Tennessee it's tough to buy sugar in 100lb bags though.. Damn moonshiners. You in CA or one of those places where the government regulates every breath you take ?
zmotorsports
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Agreed. When I got my business license I had to plead my case for an automotive/motorcycle/fabrication business in a residential area. I got mine without any problems but two after me the city had nothing but issues so they ended up putting a moratorium on any automotive/motorcycle/repair/fabrication businesses in a residential area.
Agree 150%.
Keep transactions cash, what business?!
I did this from the time I was in hi-school until 1997 when I decided to get my business license and to be honest, made a hell of a lot more money. However, I was always looking over my shoulder and wondering what the penalty would be if I got caught. The cost of having a business license/ tax ID and all of the related issues addressed is worth the piece of mind if nothing else.
Agree. This was the biggest issue with the two business licenses issued after mine and the reason they put the moratorium on them. Their yards were a mess with multiple non-running cars and bikes all over the place. They also had people coming and going at all hours and the neighbors had complained. These two businesses were about a mile from my place. The reason I know this is because one of my clients that I work on quite a lot of his stuff is on the city council and he informed me. He also is the one who talked me into getting my business license because he said they were kicking around the idea of not allowing businesses in the residential areas any more back in the late 90's. He told me that once a business license is issued it is next to impossible to revoke so they as a city council had decided to just stop issuing business licenses in residential areas. That is when I hurried and got mine before it was too late.
I keep my yard neat and tidy as well as never have anything outside of the shop. I work by appointment only and if I don't have room in the shop it doesn't get left until I have room. I also am respectful of my neighbors and do not run air tools or an engine past ~9:00 pm even though the noise ordinance is not until 10:00 pm. I have a great rapport with my neighbors and want to keep it that way.
I was audited two years ago and the person who performed the audit was very impressed with the yard, house and shop. The lady told me that she drove by the place twice because she didn't think she had the correct address. I tool that as a compliment as to the way I keep my home and yard.
Mike.
KPSquared
Well-known member
Clean, clean, clean. That keeps the neighbors happy. That and I HATE messy shops and refuse to get work done in one. Don't care about your ****? Then you probably don't care about mine.
If he's not worried about getting sued then just cash jobs and giver.
Other than that it's insurance, business license, taxes, blah, blah, blah.
Depends heavily on where you live.
If he's not worried about getting sued then just cash jobs and giver.
Other than that it's insurance, business license, taxes, blah, blah, blah.
Depends heavily on where you live.
Falcon67
Well-known member
X2 - well said. Messy shop/yard sends the wrong message anyway.
thanks for the responses guys. we live in CT and he is moving to maine shortly. he isn't planning on keeping a messy yard or making a lot of noise. he would probably have one or two in the garage for part time side work. i think he wants it to be legit.