How to Find Required Business Permits

Check Federal Licensing First, Since It Applies to Few Businesses

The federal government only regulates specific industries, so most new businesses need no federal license at all. Per the SBA, federal licensing applies to activities including the interstate transport of agricultural products, animals, or biotechnology (USDA); manufacturing, wholesale, or retail sales of alcoholic beverages (Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau); aircraft operation and maintenance (FAA); manufacturing or sale of firearms and explosives (ATF); commercial fishing (NOAA); maritime transportation (Federal Maritime Commission); mining and drilling on federal lands (Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement); commercial nuclear energy (Nuclear Regulatory Commission); radio, TV, and broadcasting (FCC); and oversize or overweight vehicle transport (Department of Transportation). If your business doesn't fall into one of these categories, you can generally skip straight to state and local requirements.

Check Your State's General Business License and Licensing Boards

Many states require a general state business license in addition to any state tax registrations, and some professions, such as cosmetology, contracting, real estate, healthcare, legal services, and financial services, require a specific professional or occupational license from a state licensing board. Your state's Secretary of State website or business portal usually links out to the relevant licensing boards, so start there rather than searching board by board.

Check Your County and City

Local governments commonly require their own general business license or business tax certificate, plus permits tied to your specific activity: a health permit for food service, a building or zoning permit if you're modifying a commercial space, a sign permit for exterior signage, or a home occupation permit if you're running the business from your residence. Contact your city or county clerk's office directly, or check its website's business licensing section, since requirements and fees are set locally and can differ significantly even between neighboring cities.

Industry-Specific Permits to Watch For

Beyond general licensing, specific activities often trigger their own permit, regardless of your business's overall industry: a seller's permit or sales tax license if you sell taxable goods or services, a health department permit if you handle food, an environmental permit if you handle hazardous materials or significant waste, and a specific zoning variance if your intended location isn't zoned for your type of business. Make a list of every activity your business will actually perform, not just its general category, and check each one against your state and local requirements.

Don't Forget Renewal

Most licenses and permits aren't one-time approvals; they expire and need periodic renewal, commonly annually, with their own fee. Track renewal dates for every permit you hold the same way you'd track an annual report deadline for an LLC or corporation, since a lapsed permit can shut down operations the same way an unfiled one would have prevented them from starting.

Where to Start Your Search

The SBA's business guide lists the federally regulated categories above and links out to resources for state and local licensing searches. From there, your state's official business portal, often linked from the Secretary of State's site, and your city or county clerk's website are the two most direct sources for everything else. A local Small Business Development Center, funded in part by the SBA, can also help you work through the specific list of permits that apply to your business and location at no cost.

Confirm Before You Sign a Lease or Start Operating

Some permits, particularly zoning approvals and health permits for a physical location, need to be confirmed before you sign a commercial lease, not after, since a location that isn't zoned for your business type can be expensive to find out about too late. Build permit research into your location search itself rather than treating it as a separate step that comes afterward.

A Permit Checklist Looks Different for Every Business

Two businesses in the same city, even in similar industries, can need different permits depending on whether they serve food, modify their space, or sell specific regulated products. Build your own checklist from your business's actual activities rather than copying a generic list.

Online-Only and Home-Based Businesses Still Need Some Permits

It's a common misconception that a business with no physical storefront needs no permits at all. A home-based business commonly still needs a general business license and, in some jurisdictions, a home occupation permit, and any business selling taxable goods or services generally still needs a sales tax permit regardless of whether it has a storefront.

Permit Fees Are Separate From Formation Fees

A state LLC or corporation filing fee covers forming the legal entity; it does not cover any license or permit a regulator requires separately. Budget for both as distinct line items rather than assuming one filing fee covers everything your business needs to legally operate.

Keep Documentation of Every Permit You Hold

Lenders, landlords, and insurers may ask to see current licenses and permits, and a lapsed one can complicate opening a bank account or renewing insurance. Keep copies, physical or digital, of every current permit in one place alongside your formation documents.

This Is Not Legal Advice

Licensing and permit requirements are set by many different agencies and change periodically. Confirm current requirements directly with your state, county, and city agencies, and talk to an attorney if your industry is heavily regulated.