How to Get a Business License in Utah (2026)

Q: Does Utah require a statewide business license?

No. Utah has no single statewide general business license. Instead, most cities and counties require a local business license, and you register your entity and tax accounts with the state through the OneStop Business Registration.

Q: Where do I get a business license in Utah?

You get a general business license from the city or county where you operate. You register the business itself and its tax accounts with the state through the OneStop Business Registration, and get a professional license from DOPL if your trade requires one.

Q: Do I need a Utah sales tax license?

Yes, if you sell taxable goods or certain services in Utah, or exceed $100,000 in Utah sales as a remote seller. You apply using Form TC-69 through the Tax Commission's Taxpayer Access Point at tap.utah.gov.

Q: What is a DOPL license in Utah?

The Utah Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL) licenses regulated occupations and professions under Utah Code Title 58 - trades like contractors, cosmetologists, and health professionals. A DOPL license is separate from any local business license.

Q: How much does a Utah business license cost?

Local business license fees are set by each city or county and vary, so there is no single statewide amount. Forming the LLC costs $59 with the Division of Corporations, and professional licensing fees vary by profession.

Fact-checked by the LegalGlass editorial team against primary sources · Published Aug 6, 2026 · Last updated Aug 6, 2026

Utah has no single statewide general business license. Instead, most businesses obtain a general license from their city or county, register the entity and tax accounts with the state through the OneStop Business Registration, get a Utah sales tax license (Form TC-69) if they sell taxable goods, and obtain a DOPL professional license if their trade is regulated.

Quick Answer

Statewide license?: No general statewide business license
General license: From your city or county (local)
State registration: OneStop Business Registration (businessregistration.utah.gov)
Sales tax license: Form TC-69 - Utah State Tax Commission
Professional license: Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL), Title 58
Form the LLC: Certificate of Organization - $59

Does Utah Require a Statewide Business License?

No. Utah does not issue a single statewide general business license that every company must hold. Licensing in Utah is layered: the state handles entity registration and tax accounts, cities and counties issue general business licenses for operating locally, and the Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL) licenses regulated occupations. That means "getting a business license in Utah" usually involves more than one office. Before licensing, you typically form the entity - see how to form an LLC in Utah - or operate as a sole proprietor. For the national overview, see the business license guide.

Step 1: Register the Business With the State (OneStop)

Utah's OneStop Business Registration lets you register your business with multiple state agencies through a single online application. It routes your information to the Division of Corporations & Commercial Code (to form or register the entity) and to the Utah State Tax Commission (to open tax accounts). Forming a domestic LLC through this process costs $59 for the Certificate of Organization. OneStop is where most Utah businesses start, because it consolidates entity registration and initial tax setup. See Utah LLC cost for the fee breakdown.

Registering with the state is a prerequisite, not the whole picture. OneStop establishes the legal entity and opens the tax accounts the state needs, but it does not issue the local business license your city or county requires, nor the professional license DOPL may require. Treat the state registration as the foundation on which the local and professional layers sit. Completing it first gives you the entity name, EIN, and tax numbers that the city, county, and licensing boards will ask for when you apply to them, so doing these steps in order saves rework. Registering the entity also fixes your legal name and formation date, which several local applications ask you to list, and it gives you the accepted Certificate of Organization that a bank will want before opening a business account. Getting the sequence right the first time avoids restarting a local application because a state number was still pending.

Step 2: Get Your City or County Business License

Most Utah municipalities require a local business license to operate within their limits, and some counties license businesses in unincorporated areas. You apply with the city or county where your business is physically located (and sometimes with each city where you do business). Requirements, fees, and renewal cycles are set by the local government, not the state, so they vary widely. Home-based businesses often need a local home-occupation permit as well. Contact your city hall or county clerk, or check their website, to confirm what applies to your address and activity.

Step 3: Get a Utah Sales Tax License (If You Sell Taxable Goods)

If your LLC sells taxable goods or certain services in Utah, you must obtain a Utah sales tax license before making sales. You apply using Form TC-69 through the Utah State Tax Commission's Taxpayer Access Point (tap.utah.gov). Remote sellers reach economic nexus - and must register - once they exceed $100,000 in Utah sales in the current or prior calendar year. The sales tax license is separate from any local business license and from entity formation. Sales tax licenses are not transferable, so a new owner must apply for a new one.

Step 4: Get a Professional License From DOPL (If Regulated)

If your work is a regulated occupation or profession, you likely need a license from the Utah Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL), which administers the individual licensing acts in Utah Code Title 58. DOPL covers trades and professions such as contractors, electricians, plumbers, cosmetologists, real estate agents, and many health professions. These licenses are tied to the individual or firm's qualifications, and their fees and renewal periods vary by profession. A DOPL license is in addition to - not a substitute for - a local business license and your state tax registration.

The Utah Licensing Stack at a Glance

Layer	Who issues it	Who needs it	Cost
Entity formation	Division of Corporations & Commercial Code	LLCs, corporations	$59 (LLC)
General business license	City or county	Most businesses	Set locally (varies)
Sales tax license	Utah State Tax Commission (Form TC-69)	Sellers of taxable goods/services	Via TAP application
Professional license	Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL)	Regulated trades (Title 58)	Varies by profession

The one clearly stated statewide figure here is the $59 LLC formation fee. Local and professional license fees are set by each jurisdiction or profession, so confirm them directly with the issuing office.

EIN, DBA, and Related Registrations

Most Utah businesses also need a federal EIN, which is free from the IRS and required if you have employees or more than one member. If you operate under a name different from your legal entity name, register an assumed name (DBA) with the Division of Corporations for $22 (renewed every three years for $18). These registrations do not replace a local business license - they address different requirements. See what a DBA is and what an LLC is for how these pieces fit together.

Keeping Licenses Current

Licenses are not one-and-done. Your LLC must file its $18 annual renewal with the Division of Corporations by its registration anniversary to stay active - see Utah LLC annual renewal and taxes. Local business licenses renew on the city or county's own schedule, sales tax accounts require ongoing returns, and DOPL licenses renew on their profession's cycle. Letting any of these lapse can halt your right to operate, so track each renewal date. If you close the business, cancel local licenses and tax accounts and see how to dissolve an LLC in Utah.

How to Research Your Exact Utah License Requirements

Because Utah's licensing is layered across state, local, and professional authorities, the only reliable way to know what you need is to check each layer for your specific address and activity. Start at the state level with the OneStop Business Registration to form or register the entity and open tax accounts. Next, confirm whether you must collect sales tax and, if so, register for a sales tax license using Form TC-69 through the Tax Commission's Taxpayer Access Point. Then contact the city or county where you operate to learn its general business-license and any zoning or home-occupation rules. Finally, check whether the Division of Professional Licensing regulates your occupation under Title 58.

Two businesses on the same street can face different requirements: a consultant may need only a local license, while a restaurant on the same block also needs a sales tax license, health permits, and possibly a liquor license. Do not assume a competitor's license set matches yours - verify with each issuing office. Keep a written checklist of every license, its issuing authority, its fee, and its renewal date, so nothing lapses. For the entity foundation beneath all of this, see how to form an LLC in Utah and what an LLC is.

Sole Proprietors and Home-Based Businesses

You do not need to form an LLC to owe licensing obligations. A sole proprietor operating in Utah still typically needs a local business license and, if selling taxable goods, a sales tax license - the licensing layers apply based on activity, not entity type. Forming an LLC through the Certificate of Organization adds liability protection and a formal legal entity, but it does not exempt you from local or professional licensing. Home-based businesses deserve special attention: many Utah cities require a home-occupation permit and may restrict signage, employees, or customer traffic at a residence. Confirm your city's home-occupation rules before operating from home. Whether you stay a sole proprietor or form an LLC, budget for the same local and professional licenses, and revisit them whenever you add a product line, a location, or employees.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Utah require a statewide business license?

No. Utah has no single statewide general business license. Most cities and counties require a local license, and you register the entity and tax accounts with the state through OneStop.

Where do I get a business license in Utah?

A general license comes from your city or county. You register the business and its tax accounts with the state via OneStop, and get a DOPL professional license if your trade requires one.

Do I need a Utah sales tax license?

Yes, if you sell taxable goods or certain services, or exceed $100,000 in Utah sales as a remote seller. Apply using Form TC-69 through the Tax Commission's Taxpayer Access Point.

What is a DOPL license in Utah?

The Division of Professional Licensing licenses regulated occupations under Utah Code Title 58 - trades like contractors, cosmetologists, and health professionals. It is separate from any local business license.

How much does a Utah business license cost?

Local license fees are set by each city or county and vary. Forming the LLC costs $59, and professional licensing fees vary by profession.

Do I need a business license and an LLC?

They are different. Forming an LLC creates the legal entity; a business license is permission to operate from a city, county, or regulator. Many Utah businesses need both.

Sources

State of Utah - OneStop Business Registration (register the business with multiple state agencies).
Utah State Tax Commission - Create & Manage a Tax Account (Form TC-69 sales tax license via TAP).
Utah State Tax Commission - Sales & Use Tax ($100,000 economic nexus threshold; licenses not transferable).
Utah Division of Professional Licensing - DOPL home (regulated occupations under Title 58).
Utah Division of Corporations & Commercial Code - Division home (entity formation).
Utah Division of Corporations - Fiscal Year 2026 Fee Schedule (PDF) ($59 LLC formation; $22 DBA registration; $18 DBA renewal).
Utah Code Title 58 - Occupations and Professions (DOPL licensing acts).
Utah Code Title 48, Chapter 3a - Utah Revised Uniform Limited Liability Company Act.
IRS - Get an Employer Identification Number (free EIN).
Cornell Legal Information Institute - License.

LegalGlass provides general information for educational purposes and is not a law firm or a substitute for advice from a licensed attorney or tax professional. This is general information, not legal advice. Licensing requirements vary by city, county, and profession and change over time; verify current requirements with your local government, the Utah State Tax Commission, and the Utah Division of Professional Licensing before acting.