Planning - Business Licensing

General Information
Agencies You May Need to Contact
Federal Agencies
State Agencies
Other Agencies
Fees

Obtaining a Business License

A guide to obtaining and maintaining a business license in the unincorporated areas of Salt Lake County.

Additional information may be necessary for your particular business. You may need to contact other Federal and State Government agencies involved in the regulation and licensing of businesses.

Do I need a business license through Salt Lake County?

Salt Lake County ordinances require anyone conducting business in the County to obtain a business license. Each business location within the County must have a separate license.

Salt Lake County Government licenses businesses located in the unincorporated areas of Salt Lake County and those communities not within the boundaries of an incorporated city. Some communities governed by Salt Lake County include Kearns, Magna, Canyon Rim, Mill Creek, and South Cottonwood among others. If your business is located in a city such as Salt Lake City or Midvale City you must contact that particular government about the necessary licenses.

What do I need to do to apply for a Salt Lake County business license?

1. Complete the Application for Business License at the Salt Lake County Planning and Development Services office located at 2001 South State Street, North Building, Room #N3600. Be sure to sign and date the form.
2. The Information Specialist will determine if your type of business may be conducted at the requested location. If you will be conducting business from your home it is best to consult the Information Specialist first. You will be required to apply for a Home Occupation Conditional Use Permit.
3. After the zoning compliance, all other reviews and inspections the fees will be collected. Fees will vary according to the type of business, number of employees, commercial vehicles, etc.

Note: If submitting the business application by mail, call for the fees and additional information.

What happens next?

When you have submitted the business license application copies of the application will be sent to other departments for inspections such as Salt Lake County Fire Department, Building Inspection, City/County Board of Health, and/or Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office.

The business license will be issued by the S L Co Council when the necessary inspections are complete and recommendations for approval are returned to the Planning and Development Services office.

Note: Not all businesses will require inspections from all of the above named departments.

How long will it take?

The normal processing time for a new business license is four to six weeks.

Note: You may not conduct your business untill you have received your business license.

When do I need to renew my license?

Each Salt Lake County business license is valid until the end of the current year. Renewal notices will be mailed in January. In order to avoid late fees or penalties the license must be renewed by the 15th of February. However it is the responsibility of the licensee to renew the business license each year regardless of whether the business receives a renewal notice or not.

Salt Lake County business licenses are not transferable. If a business moves to a new location or undergoes an ownership change a new license must be obtained.

Salt Lake County Agencies You May Need To Contact

County Business License - All businesses operating in unincorporated Salt Lake County must obtain and maintain a Salt Lake County business license. Issuance of a business license may require approval from other County agencies including Zoning, Fire, Sheriff, and Health Departments.

Apply for a County business license Monday through Friday, 8 am to 4:30 pm at the Planning and Development Services Division office located at:

Salt Lake County Government Center
2001 South State Street, #N3600
Salt Lake City, Utah 84190
Phone: 801 468-2000

County Zoning

Businesses may operate only within areas "zoned" for business operations. Prior to opening businesses planning to operate in unincorporated Salt Lake County should contact Planning and Development Services to confirm that the planned location is "zoned" for the business activity.

County Zoning information is available Monday through Friday, 8 am to 4:30 pm at the Planning and Development Services Division office located at:

Salt Lake County Government Center
2001 South State Street, N3600
Salt Lake City, Utah 84190
Phone: 801 468-2000

Business and Personal Property Taxes
Salt Lake County personal property taxes must be paid on every business asset, including buildings, equipment, etc. Personal property forms may be obtained from the Salt Lake County Assessor at:

Salt Lake County Government Center
2001 South State Street, N2300
Salt Lake City, Utah 84190
Phone: 801 468-3050

Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office

3365 South 900 West # 218
Salt Lake City, Utah 84117
Phone: 801 743-5892

Salt Lake County Fire Department

3380 South 900 West
Salt Lake City, Utah 84117
Phone: 801 743-7230

Salt Lake City/County Board of Health

788 East Woodoak Lane
Murray, Utah 84107
Phone: 801 313-6620

Federal Agencies

United States Internal Revenue Service
Information about reporting federal tax withholdings from employee wages

200 East 50 South
Salt Lake City, UT 84111
Phone: 1 800 829-1040

United States Department of Labor
Information about federal minimum wage, overtime wages, child labor laws, Family and Medical Leave Act, Americans With Disabilities Act, etc.

10 West 300 South
Salt Lake City, UT 84101
Phone: 801 524-5706

Federal Employer Identification Number
Phone: 801 799-6963

Utah State Agencies

Income, Sales, Use, and Tax ID information
210 North 1950 West
Salt Lake City, UT 84134
Phone: 801 297-2200 or 1-800-662-4335

Department of Commerce
Heber M. Wells Building
160 East 300 South, 2nd floor
Salt Lake City, UT 84111
Phone: 801 530-6431

State professional licensing information
Phone: 801 530-6628

Business name registration, Doing Business As (DBA),
for a business operating under an assumed name
Phone: 801 530-4849

Unemployment Insurance
Phone: 800 222-2857

Consumer protection information
Phone: 801 530-6601

Labor Law Information
Utah Occupation Safety and Health Division (UOSH)
Phone: 801 530-6901

Industrial Accidents Division (Workers Compensation)
Phone: 801 530-6800

General information
Phone: 801 530-6800

Utah State Alcoholic Beverage Control (UDABC)
For businesses involved in the sales and/or consumption of beer and/or liquor

1625 South 900 West
Salt Lake City, UT 84104
Phone: 801 977-6800

Other Agencies

Workers Compensation Fund
Workers compensation insurance, which is required of all employers:

392 East 6400 South
Murray, UT 84107
Phone: 801 288-8000

Better Business Bureau
Consumer reference source, complaints, etc.:

1588 South Main Street
Salt Lake City, UT 84115
Phone: 801 487-4656

This information is considered reliable as of the date indicated below. However, changes to application fees, ordinance amendments and/or division policies may have occurred. Please verify all processes and fees prior to submitting your application.

Dated: Aug 1, 2007

Business License Fee Table

* Other miscellaneous regulatory fees may apply, depending on the specific business activity.

** Most licensing fees are prorated at the half-year.

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