St. George Business License: Fees, Renewal and Where Short-Term Rentals Are Allowed

If you are opening a business in St. George, you will quickly run into the phrase “state business license.” Utah does not issue one. A business license St. George Utah requires comes from the city itself, and it sits on top of a state entity filing and, for most sellers, a state sales tax account. This guide lays out the order to do things, what each piece costs as verified, how renewal works, and what to check before you buy a short-term rental.

Informational only: This article is general information, not legal or tax advice. Entity choice, tax treatment and zoning questions depend on your facts, so talk with a qualified attorney or CPA before you commit. Where a fee or date is not confirmed here, confirm it with the agency named in that step.

What You Need Before You Start

• A business name you have checked in the Utah business search at businessregistration.utah.gov
• A UtahID login for the Utah Business Registration System at businessregistration.utah.gov
• A Utah street address for your registered agent. A PO box may be listed only in addition to a street address.
• Your entity type, such as an LLC or a corporation, plus the names and addresses of your organizers or members
• The address where you will operate, so you know whether the city or the county issues your license
• For a short-term rental: the property address and the city’s Approved Short Term Rental Properties List and map
• A budget for state fees: $59 for an LLC Certificate of Organization, $22 for an optional name reservation, and $18 each year for the annual renewal

Step 1: Know the Three Layers of Paperwork

Utah licensing comes from different agencies, and mixing them up is the most common source of confusion. Keep these three layers separate.

• State entity filing. The Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code, Utah Department of Commerce handles this. It is a registration, not a license. An LLC files a Certificate of Organization, and a corporation files Articles of Incorporation.
• State tax account. The Utah State Tax Commission requires a state sales tax account for any seller with an established presence in Utah. You register through TAP at https://tap.tax.utah.gov/TaxExpress/_/?Link=TapBr
• Local business license. The city or town where you operate issues it. Outside city limits, the county issues it. A city license does not transfer to another city, so a license from Ogden or Provo will not cover a shop in St. George.

Some professions also need an occupational license from the Division of Professional Licensing, and alcohol sales run through the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Services (DABS). Those are separate applications, so check with each agency if your business falls under them.

Step 2: File Your Entity With the State

1. Choose your name. An LLC name must contain “limited liability company,” “limited company,” “LLC,” “L.L.C.,” “L.C.” or “LC.” “Limited” may be shortened to “Ltd.” and “company” to “Co.” The name must be distinguishable on state records and may not imply that you are a government agency.
2. Reserve the name (optional). The reservation costs $22 and lasts 120 days.
3. Appoint a registered agent. The agent needs a Utah street address and can be an individual, a business registered with the Division and in good standing, or a commercial registered agent. Commercial registered agent registration costs $52.
4. File the Certificate of Organization online at businessregistration.utah.gov for $59. Most online filings are processed and approved instantly. Filings that need manual review are stated at 2 to 4 business days, and the Division has posted 7 to 10 business days during backlogs.
5. Pay for speed only if you need it. Expedited processing is $75 per filing under the Division’s Fiscal Year 2026 fee schedule.

Step 3: Register a DBA If You Use a Different Name

If you will operate under a name other than your registered legal name, you need an assumed name registration, also called a DBA or Business Name Registration. Many people assume the county handles it. It does not. The Division of Corporations and Commercial Code files it statewide. The fee is $22 to register for a three-year term, and the renewal fee is shown on the Division portal. Details are at https://commerce.utah.gov/corporations/business-entities/dba/

Step 4: Register for Sales Tax If You Sell Taxable Goods or Services

Register for a sales tax account on TAP before your first taxable sale. The state rate is 4.85%. The combined sales tax rate for St. George is 6.75%, according to the Tax Commission chart with rates as of April 1, 2026. Rates change, so check the Tax Commission chart before you set prices. Whether a particular sale is taxable is a question for your CPA.

Step 5: Apply for Your St. George Business License

1. Contact Business Licensing. It sits within the Community Development department at 61 S. Main St., St. George. Ask how the office accepts applications before you visit, and do not assume a method.
2. Pick the right checklist. The city publishes checklists for general, home occupation, mobile business, food truck, rental dwelling and short-term rental licenses. Print the one that matches your business and gather everything on it before you go. A home-based shop and a food truck will not use the same list.
3. Confirm the current fee with the office. Do not copy a fee from an aggregator site. Renewal fees are calculated from the renewal form, and the form must be submitted before you pay.
4. Keep the license on file. Plan to have the license in hand before you open to customers, and keep a copy at your location.

Step 6: Check the Short-Term Rental List Before You Buy

This step matters more than any fee. St. George limits short-term rentals to properties on the city’s Approved Short Term Rental Properties List and map, updated June 2026. Being a legal building in St. George is not enough. The property has to be on the list. Check the address against the list and the map before you make an offer, then confirm the current status with Business Licensing, because the list can change. Use the short-term rental checklist to see what the application requires.

If you plan to operate a rental, also ask the Tax Commission whether your rental creates tax obligations beyond sales tax. This article does not give a figure for those, so confirm with the agency and with a CPA.

Step 7: Renew Every Year

Renewal happens at two levels, on two different calendars.

• State annual renewal. An LLC or corporation renews for $18 each year. The first renewal is due one year from the registration date and every year after that. The renewal window opens 60 days before the anniversary date, and a late renewal fee of $10 applies.
• City license renewal. Business Licensing sets your renewal date. Confirm it with the office, submit the renewal form before you pay, and keep a record of both the state and city confirmations.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Looking for a Utah state general business license. None exists. The local license is the one that lets you operate.
• Assuming a city license covers the whole county. Inside city limits, the city issues it. Outside them, the county does. Check your address first.
• Filing the DBA with the county. It goes to the state Division.
• Buying a property before checking the short-term rental list. Find out whether it qualifies before you close.
• Paying a renewal fee before submitting the renewal form. The form comes first.
• Missing the $18 renewal. The $10 late fee is small, but a missed renewal creates one more task to clean up.
• Using a registered agent without a Utah street address. A PO box alone does not meet the requirement.

What to Expect

Most people who file online can reasonably expect the state filing to clear quickly, often instantly. A manual review can take 2 to 4 business days, and the Division has posted 7 to 10 business days during backlogs. City licensing timing depends on the checklist you file under and on whether a short-term rental or another review is needed. Build in slack, and confirm the city’s timing when you submit.

St. George is part of a fast-growing region. The city had 108,713 residents in July 2025, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, and Washington County continues to grow. With that population growth, the city’s rules for short-term rentals are worth checking against the current list rather than an older copy you may have saved.

Where to Get Help

The Utah Small Business Development Center at https://utahsbdc.org/ is a useful place to ask questions before you file. For entity structure, tax treatment and any zoning question on a specific property, consult a qualified attorney or CPA.

Official Resources

• Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code: https://commerce.utah.gov/corporations/
• Utah Business Registration System: https://businessregistration.utah.gov/
• Utah State Tax Commission: https://tax.utah.gov/
• Sales tax account on TAP: https://tap.tax.utah.gov/TaxExpress/_/?Link=TapBr
• Utah Small Business Development Center: https://utahsbdc.org/