Open binder, pen and closed laptop on a wooden desk, North Las Vegas Business License: Steps and State Fees

North Las Vegas Business License: How to Register and What It Costs

Last verified: November 5, 2026

A North Las Vegas business owner pays two separate licensing bodies: the State of Nevada first, then the City of North Las Vegas. This page covers the state fees you can price today and the point where the city takes over. If you are still deciding whether to start here, our guide to starting a business in North Las Vegas covers the wider picture.

Two Licenses, Two Offices

The state business license comes from the Nevada Secretary of State under NRS chapter 76: Nevada Secretary of State: state business license. The city license comes from North Las Vegas under its own code: North Las Vegas Municipal Code, Title 5, section 5.02.020 (license required). The city license does not replace the state one, and the state one does not cover the city. The state side has published fees, so we list them below. We could not confirm the current city fee schedule from this server, so we do not quote one.

What You Need Before You Start

  • Business structure: sole proprietor, LLC, corporation or partnership. The state license costs more for a corporation.
  • EIN: an LLC with employees or more than one member, and any corporation, needs one. It is free from the IRS: apply for an EIN online. Sole proprietors without employees can use their Social Security number.
  • Registered agent: LLCs and corporations need an agent with a physical Nevada address (NRS chapter 77).
  • A North Las Vegas business address: the city asks where you operate. Check zoning with the city before you sign a lease.
  • Payment method: card or bank account for online filing.

Step-by-Step: Getting Licensed in North Las Vegas

Step 1: Check Your Business Name

Search the Nevada Secretary of State business entity search. A name must be distinguishable from every entity on file. The search is free.

Step 2: Form Your Entity if You Need One

Sole proprietors skip to Step 3. LLCs and corporations file with the Secretary of State through the Nevada Orion filing portal. The statutory LLC filing fee is $75 (NRS chapter 86, section 86.561) and the LLC initial list is $150 (section 86.263). Corporation fees depend on authorized shares, starting at $75 (NRS chapter 78, section 78.760). Our Nevada LLC guide walks through the filing.

Step 3: Get the Nevada State Business License

Every business operating in Nevada needs the state license (NRS chapter 76). The fee is $200 for an LLC, partnership or sole proprietor and $500 for a corporation, as stated on the Nevada Department of Taxation: start and run a business and the Nevada Secretary of State: state business license FAQ. The license renews every year for the same amount, due by the last day of your anniversary month. A late renewal carries a $100 penalty per the same FAQ (read from a Wayback Machine snapshot dated October 14, 2026).

Expedited Secretary of State service exists. NRS 225.140 sets ceilings of $125 for 24 hours, $500 for 2 hours and $1,000 for 1 hour. These are statutory maximums, not the amounts charged, so confirm the current expedite fee with the Secretary of State.

Step 4: Apply for the North Las Vegas City License

North Las Vegas licenses businesses itself, under Title 5 of its municipal code. Start at City of North Las Vegas: business licensing and read North Las Vegas Municipal Code, Title 5, section 5.02.020 (license required). Ask the city three things before you file: the fee for your business type, how long a license runs, and whether your address and use are zoned for it. A city license tied to a business address can be refused or delayed when the zoning does not fit, so check that first and not after you have paid rent.

We cannot give you the city fee or renewal date from here, and a guess would be worse than none. Confirm both with the city before you budget.

Step 5: Register for a Sales Tax Permit if You Sell Taxable Goods

The Department of Taxation charges $15 per location for a sales tax permit, per the Nevada Department of Taxation: start and run a business. It is separate from the business license and applies only if you sell taxable goods or services.

State Fees at a Glance

Item Cost Source
State business license, LLC, partnership or sole proprietor (yearly) $200 NRS chapter 76
State business license, corporation (yearly) $500 NRS chapter 76
LLC articles of organization (one time) $75 NRS chapter 86
LLC initial list (one time) and annual list (yearly) $150 NRS chapter 86
Sales tax permit (per location) $15 Nevada Department of Taxation: start and run a business
North Las Vegas city business license Confirm with the city City of North Las Vegas: business licensing

A sole proprietor with a sales tax permit pays $215 to the state in year one ($200 plus $15), plus the city fee. A new LLC with a sales tax permit pays $440 ($75, $150, $200 and $15), plus the city fee. In later years an LLC pays $350 to the state ($150 annual list plus $200 license).

Renewal

  • State business license: yearly, $200 or $500, due by the last day of your anniversary month.
  • LLC annual list: $150, due by the last day of the anniversary month of formation (NRS chapter 86, section 86.263).
  • City license: set by the city. Ask for the renewal date when you apply and put it in your calendar.
  • Sales tax: the permit stays active while you are in business, but returns are due even when sales are zero.

Missing the state filings has real consequences: a $75 default penalty and, after a year of default, charter revocation for an LLC under NRS 86.272 and 86.276.

Where This Gets Wrong in Practice

  • Assuming the state license covers the city. It does not. Check the city side before you open.
  • Forgetting the annual list. An LLC owes $150 on top of the $200 license every year.
  • Budgeting without the city fee. It varies, so get the number from the city first.
  • Skipping the commerce tax question. Commerce Tax applies only above $4,000,000 in Nevada gross revenue in a fiscal year (Nevada Department of Taxation: Commerce Tax, NRS chapter 363C), so most new businesses file nothing for it.

When You Need More Than the City License

Regulated trades need their own approvals on top. Contractors go to the Nevada State Contractors Board, and food businesses go to the Southern Nevada Health District. Businesses outside North Las Vegas city limits but in Clark County use the Clark County: business license guide instead, and our Clark County business license page covers that case. A licensed Nevada attorney or CPA should advise on entity choice and tax questions that depend on your facts.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a North Las Vegas business license last?

The state license runs one year from issue. The city license term is set by the city, so ask when you apply.

Do I need both a state and a city license?

Yes, if you operate in North Las Vegas. The state license is under NRS chapter 76 and the city license is under Title 5 of the city code.

Can I run a business from home in North Las Vegas?

You still need the licenses above, and the city decides whether your home address is zoned for the use. Ask the city before you apply.

What if I work in more than one city?

You need one state license, and each city that licenses you sets its own city license. For example, working in North Las Vegas and Las Vegas means a license from each city.

Does a freelancer need a license?

Yes. The state license applies to any business, including freelancers, and the city decides its own requirement for work done in North Las Vegas.

Disclaimer

This article is general information, not legal or tax advice. Fees and rules change, and the city fee schedule was not verified for this page. Confirm current requirements with the City of North Las Vegas and the Nevada Secretary of State before you apply.

Sources

Keep exploring: related Nevada guides