Stack of documents with a paperweight on a leather desk pad, Reno Business License: Fee, Application and Renewal

Reno Business License: Fee, Application and Renewal

Last verified: November 5, 2026

A Reno business license is a city license, and the city will not issue it until you already hold the Nevada state business license, a state tax registration and, if you have employees, proof of workers' compensation coverage. So do the state steps first, then the city application. That order is the whole plan. The city requires a license if your physical address is inside Reno or if any business activity is physically conducted there (City of Reno: New Business License Information). For the whole startup sequence for a business in Reno, see how to start a business in Reno; this page covers only the city license.

This guide is for anyone opening or running a business inside Reno city limits. If you are outside the city, in Sparks or in unincorporated Washoe County, a different office licenses you; see the Washoe County business license guide and the Sparks business license guide. For forming the company itself, see how to start an LLC in Nevada.

City License and State License: Who Issues What

Nevada has two separate licenses, and Reno-area owners mix them up. The state license is issued by the Secretary of State, not the Department of Taxation (NRS Chapter 76, NRS 76.100). An entity that files an initial or annual list must get the license when it files that list. The city license is issued by the City of Reno under its own authority (NRS 268.095) and its rules are in Reno Municipal Code, Title 5 and Title 4.

LicenseIssued byCostWhere to confirm
Nevada State Business LicenseSecretary of State$200 (most entities), $500 (corporations); renews every yearNevada Secretary of State: State Business License FAQ
City of Reno business licenseCity of Reno Business LicensingSet by classification, or by gross receipts (table below)City of Reno: Common Questions and Business Resources
Fictitious firm name (DBA)Washoe County ClerkFee set by the clerk; confirm the current amountWashoe County Clerk: Business Services Division

What the City Asks For Before It Will Process Your Application

The city lists four items that must accompany the application, and it states that it cannot process an application without the state license (City of Reno: New Business License Information):

  • Proof of the Nevada State Business License. File through the Nevada ORION business portal or in person at the Secretary of State.
  • Proof of Nevada Department of Taxation registration. Register online through My Nevada Tax or in person; see Nevada Department of Taxation: sales and use tax.
  • Proof of workers' compensation (industrial insurance). If you have employees, bring the policy number and expiration date.
  • Proof of fictitious name registration. Needed only if you operate under a name other than your own name or the entity name on file with the Secretary of State. File with the Washoe County Clerk: Business Services Division.

Reno also requires a physical address. A post office box is not accepted as your business location and can be used only as a mailing address (City of Reno: Common Questions and Business Resources).

Step-by-Step: How to Get a Reno Business License

Step 1: Confirm Your Name and Entity

If you are forming an LLC or corporation, check the name in the Nevada Secretary of State: business entity search and file with the Secretary of State. An LLC articles filing is $75 under NRS 86.561; a corporation is $75 only at the smallest authorized-share tier and more above it (NRS 78.760). The initial list is $150 for either entity type. The details are in our Nevada LLC guide, and if you would rather not file yourself, compare Nevada LLC services.

A sole proprietor operating under a personal name skips entity formation.

Step 2: Get the Nevada State Business License

An entity gets the license when it files its initial list, so for a new LLC this happens with Step 1. The fee is $200, or $500 for a corporation (NRS Chapter 76). The license is due every year by the last day of the anniversary month, and the Secretary of State lists a $100 late penalty (Nevada Secretary of State: State Business License FAQ, Wayback snapshot of October 14, 2026). Without a license number in hand, the city cannot move your application forward.

Step 3: Register With the Department of Taxation

Register through My Nevada Tax so you can show the city proof of registration. If you sell taxable goods, you collect sales tax; the statewide base rate is 6.85%, and Washoe County adds its own local rate on top (Nevada Department of Taxation: sales and use tax rates). Look up the current combined rate for your address before you price anything. Confirm any permit fee with the Department of Taxation, since it is not listed on the page we verified.

Step 4: Clear Zoning and Inspections Early

For commercial locations the city runs several reviews before it issues the license (City of Reno: New Business License Information): building compliance, planning and zoning, fire prevention (not needed for shared-use space such as a chair rental in an existing salon), and environmental control for anything that discharges to the sewer. Food service needs Northern Nevada Public Health approval. The zoning review is the one most likely to stop a plan, so call the city planner of the day at 775-321-8309 before you sign a lease (City of Reno: Common Questions and Business Resources). The City of Reno: Agencies and Services page lists each office.

Home-based businesses inside the city still need the city license; see our Nevada business license guide for how the state side works.

Step 5: Apply to the City of Reno

Apply through the One Regional Licensing and Permits portal (onenv.us) or in person. The city does not accept applications by email. The city also warns about fraudulent emails that claim to be from city or county staff and demand immediate payment of fees, so confirm any invoice inside the portal (City of Reno: New Business License Information).

Reno Business License Fee

The city has over 100 license classifications, and the fee depends on the classification. If yours is not listed in the fiscal-year fee schedule on the city's site, the general license fee is based on annual gross receipts (City of Reno: Common Questions and Business Resources):

Annual Gross ReceiptsLicense FeeNotes
$0 to $20,000$70Flat fee
$20,001 to $100,000$150Flat fee
$100,001 to $5,000,000$150 plus 0.085% of the amount over $100,000Rate is .00085 in the city's schedule
Over $5,000,000$4,315 plus 0.065% of the amount over $5,000,000Rate is .00065 in the city's schedule

Worked example: a business reporting $250,000 in gross receipts pays $150 plus 0.085% of $150,000, which is $277.50. That is our arithmetic from the city's schedule, not a quoted bill, so confirm the amount for your classification with the city before you budget.

The city says the fee is imposed solely to raise general revenue for city services. If payment is late, the city adds a 50 percent penalty and sends a notice that the license has expired (City of Reno: Common Questions and Business Resources).

What It Costs in Total

ItemCostNotes
LLC articles of organization$75Skip if you are a sole proprietor; NRS 86.561
Initial list (LLC)$150NRS 86.263 and the Secretary of State fee schedule; annual thereafter
Nevada State Business License$200 ($500 corporation)Annual; NRS Chapter 76
City of Reno business licenseFrom $70Per the table above or the city's classification schedule
Fictitious firm nameConfirm with clerkOnly if you use a DBA

For a new LLC, the state side is $425 in the first year ($75 plus $150 plus $200) and $350 each year after, before the city fee. A sole proprietor with no entity filing pays the $200 state license and the city fee.

Renewal, Changes and Closing

The city emails a renewal notice 30 days before the license expires. Paper notices for privileged licenses ended on June 30, 2026, and all annual renewal notices by paper stop on June 30, 2027, so keep your contact information current in the portal (City of Reno: Common Questions and Business Resources). Do not wait for a notice: a missed date costs 50 percent.

Report changes through the portal's Amendment feature (City of Reno: Changes to Licenses). A change of licensee, business name, fictitious name, entity or mailing address, or a closure, must be reported within 15 days. A change of physical location or business description must be reported within 3 days. Licenses cannot be transferred, so a change of ownership needs a new application.

Where This Guide Does Not Apply

This is the guide for the City of Reno license. If your location is in Sparks, you need the Sparks license; if it is in unincorporated Washoe County, you need the county license. If you only want the overview of opening a business in Reno, including filing, registered agent and bank account, read how to start a business in Reno. Fees and processing times are set by the city and change each fiscal year, and we did not find a published processing time, so ask the city when you apply.

Common Mistakes

  • Applying to the city first. The city cannot process the application without the state license.
  • Signing a lease before the zoning check. A planner can tell you in one call whether your use is allowed at the address.
  • Using a P.O. box. The physical location must be a real address.
  • Treating an LLC as a license. Forming an entity does not license you to operate in Reno.
  • Reporting a move late. A new physical location is a 3-day report, not 15.

Next Steps

Get your federal EIN free from the IRS: Get an Employer Identification Number (beware paid look-alike sites), finish the state filings, then start the city application. For free counseling, the Nevada Small Business Development Center can walk through licensing questions.

Disclaimer

This article is general information, not legal or tax advice. Confirm fees and requirements with the City of Reno, the Nevada Secretary of State, the Department of Taxation and the Washoe County Clerk, and talk to a Nevada attorney or CPA if your structure is complex.

Sources

Keep exploring: related Nevada guides