Business License in Utah: Who Issues It, Cost & Steps
If you're trying to get a general business license in Utah, 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.
Utah business licenses are handled by two separate agencies depending on what you're registering.
The Utah Department of Commerce Division of Corporations handles business entity formation and filings, while the Utah State Tax Commission handles tax account registration and business license renewal. You'll need to work with both agencies for a complete business setup.
- File your business entity formation with the Division of Corporations, not the tax commission.
“Form a New Business Form a Corporation, Limited Liability Company (LLC), Partnership, Business Trust, DBA, and more.”
https://corporations.utah.gov - Most business filings with the Division of Corporations are processed immediately, but allow 5-7 business days if your filing requires manual review.
“While most filings are processed immediately, please allow 5 to 7 business days for those requiring manual review, including filings submitted using "Submit a Paper Filing", filings with attachments, those needing Utah State Tax Commission reviews, or name conflict evaluations.”
https://corporations.utah.gov - You must register separately for a tax account with the Utah State Tax Commission using form TC-69.
“Apply for a tax account(s) and/or License - TC-69”
https://tax.utah.gov - All fees charged by the Division of Corporations for business filings are non-refundable.
“All fees are non-refundable.”
https://corporations.utah.gov - The Utah State Tax Commission office in Salt Lake City is open Monday-Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM and is closed on all state holidays.
“Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Closed on all state holidays”
https://tax.utah.gov
Sources (each one opened and read on 2026-09-15)
- Utah Division of Corporations: https://corporations.utah.gov
- Utah State Tax Commission: https://tax.utah.gov
Who issues a Business License in Utah
This is a local permit. It is issued by your city or county, not by the state of Utah. The state office listed underneath handles a related filing — it does not issue this permit.
- Utah — the state revenue or taxation department (handles state tax registration and permits)
https://tax.utah.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 Utah: the state business portal, https://corporations.utah.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 Utah 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 Utah checklist.
- EIN or SSN
- Business name/DBA filing
- Physical address
- Description of business activities
Related permits in Utah
Business License in states bordering Utah
Rules stop at the state line — same permit, each state bordering Utah:
See Business License in all 50 states & DC →
Frequently asked questions
Who issues a business license in Utah?
Your city or county — not the state.
How much does a business license cost in Utah?
We don't publish an Utah figure we haven't verified. The typical US range is $25–$500. The office named above has the real number for your address.
How long does it take to get a business license in Utah?
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 Utah-specific on this page: the issuing office, 5 Utah 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 Utah 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.