License / Permit / Service Description

• Professional Majlis Bandaraya Pulau Pinang (MBPP) Business License application and local authority compliance coordination services for businesses on Penang Island. We assist with reviewing business activities, identifying the relevant licensing category, assessing premises suitability, preparing company and premises documents, coordinating uLesen applications, providing submission support, responding to additional document requests, and following up with MBPP where applicable. Our service is suitable for restaurants, cafés, retail shops, offices, boutiques, salons, workshops, warehouses, factories, hotels, service centres, shopping complex outlets, and other businesses requiring local authority licensing within MBPP's jurisdiction. We also provide administrative and compliance support for licence renewals, amendments, additional business activities, changes in premises information, advertisement licensing coordination, and related licensing matters. Licence issuance, conditions, validity, and approval remain subject to MBPP requirements and regulatory assessment.

Related Departments / Regulatory Bodies ​

• Majlis Bandaraya Pulau Pinang (MBPP) / Penang Island City Council
• MBPP Licensing Department (Jabatan Pelesenan)
• MBPP uLesen Online Licensing System
• MBPP Building Control and Planning Departments, where applicable
• MBPP One Stop Centre (OSC), where applicable
• Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM)
• Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia (BOMBA), where applicable
• Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH/KKM), where applicable
• Department of Environment (DOE/JAS), where applicable
• Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH/JKKP), where applicable
• Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP), where applicable
• Relevant premises owner, landlord, technical consultant, or other licensing authority
  

License Name ( Bahasa Malayu )

• Permohonan Lesen Perniagaan Majlis Bandaraya Pulau Pinang (MBPP)
  

Application Scenarios & Business Necessity

• A new business intends to open a shop, office, restaurant, café, or commercial premises within the administrative jurisdiction of MBPP.
• A food business requires the applicable MBPP licence for its restaurant, café, bakery, food outlet, or other food establishment.
• A retail shop, boutique, supermarket, or convenience store requires licensing for its commercial activities.
• A salon, barbershop, beauty centre, or personal care service provider requires the relevant business licence and any additional approvals.
• A company intends to establish a workshop, warehouse, factory, or industrial premises and needs to identify the appropriate MBPP licensing category.
• A business operates a shop in an eligible shopping complex and wishes to apply under the relevant uLesen category.
• A business conducts several regulated activities at one premises and needs to determine whether a Composite Licence is applicable.
• A hotel, entertainment outlet, or other specially regulated business requires additional licensing assessment.
• A company installs a business signboard or advertisement and needs to confirm the applicable MBPP advertisement licensing requirements.
• An existing business is relocating, expanding, renovating, or changing the approved activities at its premises.
• A business requires supporting approvals from BOMBA, KKM, JAS, JKKP, or other technical departments before its licence can be issued.
• An existing MBPP licensee requires licence renewal, amendments, ownership changes, or assistance responding to licensing notices.

Important Rules & Compliance Standards

• The business premises must be located within the administrative jurisdiction of Majlis Bandaraya Pulau Pinang.
• Applicants must identify the correct licence category according to the proposed business activities, premises type, and applicable MBPP requirements.
• Businesses must comply with the Local Government Act 1976 (Act 171), relevant MBPP licensing by-laws, and other applicable regulations.
• The applicant must provide valid SSM registration records and accurate business ownership or directorship information.
• Applications through uLesen must be registered and submitted by the eligible business owner, company director, or authorised organisational officeholder according to the relevant category.
• Supporting documents may include SSM records, approved building or occupation documents where applicable, premises photographs, location plans, floor layout plans, and proposed advertisement designs.
• Current assessment tax documentation may be required for certain applications, including applications involving more than one premises unit.
• MBPP's published uLesen guidance specifies a RM50 processing fee for Composite Licence applications. Annual licence charges are assessed separately and notified following approval.
• Certain eligible low-risk shops in approved shopping complexes may qualify for a specific licensing category without referral to technical departments.
• Food establishments, entertainment premises, hotels, industrial businesses, and other regulated activities may require additional technical review or inspections.
• Premises must comply with relevant planning, building use, public health, hygiene, fire safety, environmental, and operational requirements.
• Food businesses must comply with applicable food handler requirements, including relevant anti-typhoid vaccination and hygiene obligations.
• Advertisement designs and signboards must comply with applicable MBPP advertising requirements and any necessary language or technical verification.
• Licences must be displayed and used according to the approved premises, activities, and licensing conditions.
• Changes to business ownership, premises, activities, or other registered information may require licence amendment, transfer, or a new application.
• Businesses must comply with lawful inspections, document requests, corrective notices, and other regulatory directions.
• SSM registration alone does not authorise a business to operate without the applicable MBPP licence.
• Submission of an application or payment of a processing fee does not guarantee licence approval or permission to commence operations.
  

Compound & Legal Penalties

• Rejection, delay, or inability to proceed with a business licence application due to incomplete documentation or failure to meet MBPP requirements.
• Compound notices or enforcement action for operating a regulated business without the required valid MBPP licence.
• Possible statutory fines, prosecution, or other legal consequences for offences under applicable local authority licensing by-laws.
• Enforcement action for conducting business activities outside the approved licence category or at an unauthorised premises.
• Additional document requests, inspections, corrective works, or technical approvals where premises conditions are not satisfied.
• Separate enforcement action for displaying advertisements or signboards without the required authorisation.
• Possible enforcement action for failure to comply with food hygiene, food handler vaccination, or public health requirements.
• Separate penalties or regulatory action for breaches of building, fire safety, environmental, entertainment, or other applicable requirements.
• Licensing complications, reassessment, or enforcement action arising from inaccurate business information or unauthorised changes.
• Possible suspension, cancellation, refusal of renewal, or other licensing consequences where permitted by applicable law and licence conditions.
• Financial losses, additional costs, disruption to business operations, or legal liability arising from serious non-compliance.

Frequently Asked Question