How to Change the Address on a DBA Registration

Why You Can't Just Update Your Address Informally

A DBA registration is a public record meant to show who's using a name and where that business is located, which is part of why a state or county makes it searchable in the first place. If you move without updating the filing, the public record becomes inaccurate, which can cause problems if someone, including a court, needs to locate the business using the DBA's filed address, such as for service of legal notice. Most states require a formal update through the same agency where you originally filed, not an informal notice to customers or your bank alone.

California: A New Statement, Not a Simple Amendment

California handles an address change differently from most states. Per Business and Professions Code Section 17920, a fictitious business name statement expires 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement, and a business address is one of those facts. This means a California LLC or business that moves doesn't file a simple amendment; it files an entirely new Fictitious Business Name Statement with the county clerk in the county of its new principal place of business, paying the filing fee again rather than a smaller amendment fee. If the move is to a different county, the new statement is filed in the new county, and most counties also expect republication under the new filing, following the same publication rule, within 45 days after filing, once a week for four successive weeks, that applies to an original filing.

States With a Dedicated Amendment Process

A number of states offer a specific form and, often, a lower fee for amending an existing DBA rather than requiring a full refiling. Missouri uses a single combined form, Corp. 56, for the creation, renewal, correction, and amendment of a fictitious name, letting you update an address on the existing registration rather than starting over. Illinois charges a separate, lower fee specifically to change an assumed name's details compared to the original adoption fee. Check your own state's filing agency for whether it offers this kind of amendment path, since it can be meaningfully cheaper and faster than California's refiling approach.

What to Submit

An amendment or new statement for an address change typically asks for the same core information as your original filing: your business's legal name, the DBA itself, the new address, and, for an entity, confirmation of who's authorized to sign on its behalf. Some states also want the filing date or document number of your original registration referenced on the amendment, so keep a copy of your original approval on hand before starting the update.

Update Your Other Records Once the Filing Is Accepted

After your state or county confirms the address change, update your bank, since most banks keep your DBA's filed address on record for your business account, along with any local business license, professional license, or lease that references the DBA's registered address. If you've moved to a new city or county, check whether a separate local business license or permit also needs updating, since that's usually a different filing from the DBA itself.

Moving to a Different State Entirely

If you're relocating your business to a different state, your existing DBA filing doesn't transfer; you generally need to file a new DBA in the new state following its own process, and separately handle canceling or letting the old state's filing lapse according to that state's rules. A DBA registered in one state has no legal effect in another.

Don't Wait Until a Dispute Forces the Update

An outdated address on a public filing becomes a bigger problem if it surfaces during a lawsuit, an audit, or a contract dispute, where the other party may have relied on the filed address for notice. Update the filing as soon as you move, rather than treating it as a low-priority paperwork task.

Check Whether Your Renewal Date Changes

In California, since an address change requires a brand-new statement, your DBA's 5-year expiration clock effectively restarts from the new filing date. In states with a simple amendment process, confirm whether the amendment affects your existing renewal date or leaves it as originally set.

Business Licenses May Need Separate Updates

A local business license or permit tied to your old address is usually a different filing from your DBA and often needs its own update or reissuance when you move, even within the same city or county. Don't assume updating the DBA address alone satisfies every other local requirement.

Not Legal Advice

Exception: Rules for amending versus refiling a DBA after an address change vary by state and sometimes by county. Confirm the current process and fee directly with your state's filing agency or county clerk before assuming either path applies to you.