Business License in Connecticut: Who Issues It, Cost & Steps
If you're trying to get a general business license in Connecticut, 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 Connecticut
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 Connecticut; the process, documents and ranges further down are the national pattern.
- Issuing office
- Connecticut Department of Revenue Services (DRS)
- Fee
- $100
Source
- Sales and Use Tax Information | Connecticut Department of Revenue Services: https://portal.ct.gov/drs/sales-tax/tax-information (checked 9 August 2026)
Connecticut requires a $100 Sales and Use Tax Permit even for one-day sales at craft shows or flea markets.
Connecticut's Department of Revenue Services (DRS) issues Sales and Use Tax Permits to anyone selling goods, services, or operating lodging in the state. You must register through myconneCT before you legally operate, with specific rules for temporary vendors and contractors.
- You must get a Sales and Use Tax Permit if you sell goods, rent/lease goods, sell taxable services, or operate any lodging business in Connecticut.
“You must obtain a Sales and Use Tax Permit from DRS if you intend to engage in any of the following activities in Connecticut: Sale, rental, or lease of goods; Sale of a taxable service; or Operating a hotel, motel, lodging house, or bed and breakfast establishment.”
https://portal.ct.gov/drs/sales-tax/tax-information - Even one-time vendors at temporary events like craft shows or flea markets must obtain a permit and display it visibly.
“You must obtain a Sales and Use Tax Permit from DRS if you will be selling at a flea market, craft show, trade show, antique show, fair, etc. in Connecticut even if you will only be making sales for one day. You must display the permit prominently at your booth or table.”
https://portal.ct.gov/drs/sales-tax/tax-information - The registration fee for a Sales and Use Tax Permit is $100.
“There is a $100 fee for registering to collect sales and use tax.”
https://portal.ct.gov/drs/sales-tax/tax-information - Building contractors and subcontractors must obtain a permit before providing any services, even if services are not taxable.
“All building contractors, including subcontractors, must obtain a Sales and Use Tax Permit from DRS prior to providing any services, even if the services provided are not taxable or if the contract is with a tax-exempt entity.”
https://portal.ct.gov/drs/sales-tax/tax-information - Operating without a permit exposes you to criminal penalties up to $500 in fines or 3 months imprisonment, plus daily civil penalties of $250 for the first day and $100 per subsequent day.
“Failure to obtain a tax permit will result in a fine of not more than $500 or imprisonment of not more than three months, or both, for each offense. Civil penalties will be imposed for failure to obtain or renew a seller's permit. A penalty of $250 applies for the first day the person engages in business without a seller's permit, and a penalty of $100 for each following day that the person engages in business without a seller's permit.”
https://portal.ct.gov/drs/sales-tax/tax-information - Each business location requires its own separate Sales and Use Tax Permit.
“If you will have more than one location, you must register to obtain a Sales and Use Tax Permit for each location.”
https://portal.ct.gov/drs/sales-tax/tax-information
Sources (each one opened and read on 2026-09-15)
- Sales and Use Tax Information: https://portal.ct.gov/drs/sales-tax/tax-information
Who issues a Business License in Connecticut
This is a local permit. It is issued by your city or county, not by the state of Connecticut. The state office listed underneath handles a related filing — it does not issue this permit.
- Connecticut — the state revenue or taxation department (handles state tax registration and permits)
https://portal.ct.gov/drs
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 Connecticut: the state business portal, https://business.ct.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 Connecticut 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 a Connecticut checklist.
- EIN or SSN
- Business name/DBA filing
- Physical address
- Description of business activities
Related permits in Connecticut
Business License in states bordering Connecticut
Rules stop at the state line — same permit, each state bordering Connecticut:
See Business License in all 50 states & DC →
Frequently asked questions
Who issues a business license in Connecticut?
Connecticut Department of Revenue Services (DRS). Your city or county — not the state.
How much does a business license cost in Connecticut?
The Connecticut figure is $100. 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 Connecticut?
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 Connecticut-specific on this page: the issuing office, every figure in the verified Connecticut box, each one located on the government page it cites, 6 Connecticut 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 a Connecticut 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.