Washington County Utah Business License: January 31 Expiry, Major and Minor Home Occupations and STR Rules
Washington County Utah Business License: January 31 Expiry, Major and Minor Home Occupations and STR Rules
If you run a business in Washington County, Utah, the first question is not where to get a license. It is which office issues it. The answer depends on whether your business sits inside a city limit or on unincorporated county land. Apply to the wrong office and you lose time, pay for a license you do not need, or miss a renewal. This guide covers who issues the license, the January 31 expiry, the difference between Major and Minor home occupations, short-term rental rules, and the alcohol and sales tax steps that often come up alongside it.
Informational only. This guide explains how business licensing generally works in Washington County. It is not legal or tax advice. Rules, fees and deadlines change, so confirm current details with the agency named in each section. For complex situations, such as an alcohol license, a short-term rental investment, or a business with employees, consult a qualified attorney or CPA before you act.
Utah has no state business license
Utah does not issue a statewide general business license. Two state filings are often confused with one, but neither is a local license:
- Entity filing with the Division of Corporations and Commercial Code. An LLC files a Certificate of Organization for $59. A corporation files Articles of Incorporation for $59. The yearly filing is the annual renewal, at $18. File and renew at businessregistration.utah.gov. This is a registration, not a license.
- Sales tax account with the Utah State Tax Commission. Any seller with an established presence in Utah needs a Utah Sales Tax License, which you register for through TAP. This is a tax registration, not a business license.
The business license itself comes from the city or town inside its limits, or from the county outside them. A city license does not transfer between cities. If you move a business from Hurricane to St. George, you apply again with the new city.
Who issues your license: the county or the city
Washington County Community Development issues business licenses for unincorporated areas only. Communities such as Veyo, Pine Valley, Gunlock and Winchester fall under the county. St. George, Hurricane, Ivins and other cities license their own businesses, so a business inside those limits applies with the city. If you are unsure whether an address is inside a city limit, confirm with the county or the city clerk before you apply.
| Your location | Who issues the business license | Where to start |
|---|---|---|
| Unincorporated Washington County (Veyo, Pine Valley, Gunlock, Winchester) | Washington County Community Development | 111 East Tabernacle St., St. George, (435) 301-7250 |
| Inside St. George, Hurricane, Ivins or another city | That city or town | The city or town business license office |
| Entity or DBA registration, any location | Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code | businessregistration.utah.gov |
| Sales tax account | Utah State Tax Commission | TAP sales tax registration |
The January 31 expiry and renewal deadlines
County-issued business licenses expire every January 31. The county sends email reminders, not mailed notices, so keep the email address on your account current. Reminders go out on four dates:
- January 1
- January 8
- January 27
- February 25
The February 25 reminder falls after the expiry date. Treat it as a late-renewal warning, not a courtesy. The key deadlines are:
- January 31: the license expires.
- March 1: the late fee begins. The county page does not state the amount, so ask the county before you budget for it.
- March 31: the final deadline. After this date you must submit a new application. A renewal is no longer an option.
Ask the county how a license issued partway through the year is dated before you pay. The base license fee for unincorporated areas is listed on the county Community Development fee page, which shows the 2026 amount. This guide does not state that figure, so check the page before you pay.
Home occupations: Major or Minor
A home occupation is a business run from a residence. The county divides these into two categories, and the category decides whether you need a license at all.
| Major home occupation | Minor home occupation | |
|---|---|---|
| Business license required | Yes | No |
| Staff approval | Yes, staff approves the application | Not required for a license |
| Optional license | Not applicable | Optional courtesy license for a fee (confirm the amount with the county) |
A home occupation can hold a two-year license. Ask the county whether that term is available for the category you fall into, because it changes your renewal calendar.
Do not assume Minor status means no county oversight. It means no license is required. Confirm the category with staff before you start operating, and get the answer in writing if your activity involves customers coming to the home, employees, or equipment.
Short-term rental rules
Short-term rentals are allowed only in an owner-occupied single-family dwelling or an accessory dwelling, and the property must carry a primary residential exemption. A rental of a house you do not live in does not qualify under these rules. Confirm the exemption status with the county assessor before you list the property.
Every approved short-term rental is subject to an annual fire inspection. The county ties this requirement to Title 10, Chapter 13, Section 23 of its code. Schedule the inspection before your first guest arrives, and confirm the current inspection process with the county.
Alcohol and beer licenses
Alcohol licensing runs separately from the base business license. In Washington County, the first alcohol or beer license costs $225, and each additional license carries a $25 processing fee. Brew pubs and wine bars also need County Commission approval.
The state liquor agency is the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Services (DABS). Confirm which DABS approvals apply to your business before you file the county application, so you do not stall at the county counter waiting on a state step.
Sales tax and the location code
Register for sales tax through TAP before you begin collecting tax. The state rate is 4.85%, and the state rate on grocery food is 1.75%. Combined state and local rates run from 6.35% to 9.55%, depending on jurisdiction, and up to 10.05% in some special districts. Unincorporated Washington County uses sales tax location code 27000, so check that the code on your Tax Commission account matches your location before you file.
Steps to get licensed in Washington County
- Confirm your location. Find out whether the business address is inside a city limit or unincorporated.
- Register your business. If you have not formed an entity yet, file the Certificate of Organization for an LLC ($59) or the Articles of Incorporation for a corporation ($59). If you operate under a name other than your legal name, file the DBA with the state Division for $22, and check the Division's DBA page for the current term and renewal fee.
- Choose your category. Decide whether you are a Major or Minor home occupation, or a business at a non-residential location.
- Add special approvals. Schedule the annual fire inspection for a short-term rental, start the DABS process for alcohol, and request County Commission approval for brew pubs and wine bars.
- Apply. Submit to Washington County Community Development at 111 East Tabernacle St., St. George, or call (435) 301-7250 to confirm the process.
- Calendar the dates. Mark January 31, March 1 and March 31 on the calendar the day your license is issued.
- Check for an occupational license. Many professions require one from the Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL), separate from the local license.
Costs at a glance
| Item | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| LLC Certificate of Organization | $59 | Division of Corporations |
| Corporation Articles of Incorporation | $59 | Division of Corporations |
| LLC or corporation annual renewal | $18 | Division of Corporations |
| LLC late renewal fee | $10 | Division of Corporations |
| Expedited processing | $75 per filing | Division of Corporations |
| DBA registration | $22 (check the Division for the renewal term and fee) | Division of Corporations |
| Base business license, unincorporated county | Check the county fee page (2026 figure) | Washington County Community Development |
| Late license fee, from March 1 | Not stated on the county page, confirm with the county | Washington County Community Development |
| Minor home occupation courtesy license | Fee not stated here, confirm with the county | Washington County Community Development |
| First alcohol or beer license | $225 | Washington County |
| Each additional alcohol or beer license | $25 processing | Washington County |
| State sales tax rate | 4.85% | Utah State Tax Commission |
Common mistakes
- Applying to the wrong office. The county licenses only unincorporated areas. A business inside St. George or Hurricane applies with the city.
- Treating the state filing as your local license. The Division registration and the Tax Commission account do not replace the county or city license.
- Missing March 31. After that date you must submit a new application, not a renewal.
- Relying on mail. Reminders are sent by email only. Check the address on your account.
- Renting a property you do not live in. Short-term rentals require owner occupancy under these rules.
- Moving and assuming the license follows you. A city license does not transfer between cities.
Where to confirm details
- Washington County Community Development, 111 East Tabernacle St., St. George, (435) 301-7250: unincorporated licenses, fee schedule, home occupation and short-term rental questions.
- Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code: commerce.utah.gov/corporations
- Utah State Tax Commission: tax.utah.gov
- Utah Small Business Development Center: utahsbdc.org
- Your city or town business license office, if your address is inside a city limit.
Next step
Business licensing in Washington County depends on the address, so start with one call to the office that covers it. Confirm the location, the category and the fee before you sign a lease or buy signage. Keep the January 31 expiry and the March 31 cutoff on your calendar from the first day.
This guide is informational content, not legal or tax advice. For entity choice, alcohol licensing, or a short-term rental investment, talk to a qualified attorney or CPA who knows Utah law.