Business License in Arizona: Who Issues It, Cost & Steps
If you're trying to get a general business license in Arizona, the state is not who you file with. This is issued locally, and the rules change at the city line. Here's how to find the right counter, and what the process generally looks like once you do.
What we verified for Arizona
Every figure in this box was found on the page linked underneath it, by machine, on 9 August 2026 — we publish no number we could not locate on the government page we cite. It is the part of this page that is actually about Arizona; the process, documents and ranges further down are the national pattern.
- Issuing office
- Arizona Department of Revenue (ADOR)
- Fee
- $12
Source
- TPT License | Arizona Department of Revenue: https://azdor.gov/business/transaction-privilege-tax/tpt-license (checked 9 August 2026)
Arizona requires a separate business license from both the state and your city, and both cost money.
If you sell products or services subject to transaction privilege tax (sales tax) in Arizona, you must get a state TPT license from the Arizona Department of Revenue and a separate city/occupational license from each city where you operate. The state charges $12 per location.
- You need licenses from two different government agencies: the state ADOR and your city or cities.
“If a business is selling a product or engaging in a service subject to TPT, that business will likely need a license from the Arizona Department of Revenue (ADOR) and a TPT, or business/occupational license, from the city or cities in which the business has a base or operation.”
https://azdor.gov/business/transaction-privilege-tax/tpt-license - The state charges $12 per location for a TPT license, and you must pay separately for each city license.
“The cost for each license per location is $12.”
https://azdor.gov/business/transaction-privilege-tax/tpt-license - Even if you only work special events in Arizona, you must get a state license and a separate city license for each city where you work.
“Even vendors who only do business for special events in Arizona are required to have a license. The state license fee remains $12 no matter how many special events a vendor attends. However, a separate city license fee is required for each city unless a vendor is currently licensed for the city in which an event will be held.”
https://azdor.gov/business/transaction-privilege-tax/tpt-license - You apply for a state TPT license by submitting a Joint Tax Application (Form JT-1/UC-001) to the Arizona Department of Revenue.
“As soon as the businesses commence operations in Arizona, they must register with both agencies at the same time by completing an Arizona Joint Tax Application (Form JT-1/UC-001) and submitting it to the ADOR's License & Registration Section.”
https://azdor.gov/business/transaction-privilege-tax/tpt-license - You cannot process your application without a Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN), so you must get one from the IRS first.
“Your application cannot be processed if you do not record your Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) in the section of the form provided for this purpose. If you do not have a Federal EIN, contact the Internal Revenue Service to apply.”
https://azdor.gov/business/transaction-privilege-tax/tpt-license - Multiple locations with the same ownership can be consolidated into one license to file a single return instead of separate returns.
“If the ownership is the same, the locations can be consolidated under one license number to allow the taxpayer to file a single return.”
https://azdor.gov/business/transaction-privilege-tax/tpt-license - You can file your license application and access your account online through AZTaxes.gov.
“File your business taxes, apply for a license, or pay the majority of taxes online at AZTaxes.gov.”
https://azdor.gov
Sources (each one opened and read on 2026-09-15)
- TPT License: https://azdor.gov/business/transaction-privilege-tax/tpt-license
- Arizona Department of Revenue: https://azdor.gov
Who issues a Business License in Arizona
This is a local permit. It is issued by your city or county, not by the state of Arizona. The state office listed underneath handles a related filing — it does not issue this permit.
- Arizona — the state revenue or taxation department (handles state tax registration and permits)
https://azdor.gov
Finding your local office
Start with the city your address sits in — the relevant department is usually called Planning, Building, Community Development, or Business Licensing. If your address is unincorporated, the county performs that role instead. Calling the main switchboard and asking who handles this is usually faster than searching.
Starting point for anything else in Arizona: the state business portal, https://ecorp.azcc.gov. It is a starting point, not the issuer of this permit.
The general US process
This sequence is the shape the process takes across the US. It is not a list of Arizona requirements, and no step here should be read as one — the issuing office named above sets the actual requirements.
- Step 1: Work out which government actually licenses you. In most of the country this is the city; unincorporated addresses are usually licensed by the county; a few states also run a statewide business licence.
- Step 2: Check the zoning for your address before paying anything — a licence does not override zoning.
- Step 3: Apply through that office. Larger cities almost all have an online portal; smaller ones may still be paper.
- Step 4: Expect the fee to be flat, or scaled to gross receipts or headcount, depending on the jurisdiction.
- Step 5: Display the licence if the issuing office asks you to.
- Step 6: Put the renewal date in a calendar. Renewal notices are not guaranteed.
What varies: whether a licence is required at all, who issues it, how the fee is calculated, and whether the state has its own layer on top.
Documents usually asked for
A typical list, not an Arizona checklist.
- EIN or SSN
- Business name/DBA filing
- Physical address
- Description of business activities
Related permits in Arizona
Business License in states bordering Arizona
Rules stop at the state line — same permit, each state bordering Arizona:
See Business License in all 50 states & DC →
Frequently asked questions
Who issues a business license in Arizona?
Arizona Department of Revenue (ADOR). Your city or county — not the state.
How much does a business license cost in Arizona?
The Arizona figure is $12. That was found on the government page linked at the top of this page, not written by us. For comparison, the typical US range is $25–$500.
How long does it take to get a business license in Arizona?
Typical US processing is 3–30 days, and expedited handling is often available for a fee. The issuing office publishes its own turnaround, and that is the number to trust.
What is Arizona-specific on this page: the issuing office, every figure in the verified Arizona box, each one located on the government page it cites, 7 Arizona facts, each quoted off the government page beside it. Everything else — the numbered process, the document list, the cost and timeline — is the general US pattern, not an Arizona rule, and is labelled that way above. Requirements, fees and deadlines are set by the issuing office; confirm with it before you file or pay.