City business license guide
Last updated: October 8, 2026
If you want to start or run a business in Irving, Texas, the first thing to know is that the city does not issue one general business permit for every business. Your checklist depends on the address, activity, building, signs, food, fire issues, and whether customers or workers come to the site.
This guide explains the city, county, state, and federal checks that may apply. Confirm the important details before you sign a lease, pay a contractor, order signs, or open to customers.
Bottom line for Irving business owners
Irving’s official Service Finder says the city does not issue a general business permit. That does not mean there are no city approvals. For many storefronts, offices, restaurants, salons, warehouses, clinics, studios, and other commercial tenants, the key city item is the Certificate of Occupancy. Irving says a Certificate of Occupancy is required for any commercial space occupied by a tenant.
Other city approvals can apply to zoning, construction, signs, health, fire, temporary uses, alcohol-related land use, and short-term rentals. Texas has no single general statewide business license, but tax, entity, employer, and industry rules can still apply.
Irving business changes: April 1–October 1, 2026
- May 1: Irving’s locally amended 2024 International Codes became effective. If your project involves construction, a finish-out, remodeling, or code review, use the current city code and permit path.
- July 1: Texas moved mobile food vendor licensing to the Texas Department of State Health Services. A mobile food vendor should now start with the statewide DSHS license; local zoning, parking, fire, event, and other municipal rules can still apply.
- July 31: Irving began requiring a Conditional Use Permit for certain new short-term rentals in single-family homes and townhomes in most “R” residential districts. Annual city STR registration still applies.
- September 29: the Texas Secretary of State launched SOSPortal, replacing SOSDirect and SOSUpload for business filings, searches, and orders.
- October 1: Irving’s current fee schedule sets a $250 Temporary Certificate of Occupancy fee for an initial 30-day issuance and $250 for each 30-day extension.
Quick start: what to check first
- Describe the business plainly. Write what you will sell or do, where you will do it, and whether customers, food, vehicles, alcohol, children, employees, signs, lodging, or building work are involved.
- Check the exact address. An Irving mailing address does not prove the property is inside city limits. Use the city tools and ask Planning about the planned use before signing a lease.
- Ask about a Certificate of Occupancy. For commercial space, start with Irving fees and forms, the city’s online permit instructions, and the current MGO Connect portal.
- Check the name filing route. Sole proprietors and general partnerships usually use the county route; Texas filing entities such as LLCs and corporations use the Secretary of State route for assumed names.
- Check taxes, hiring, and industry rules. Sales tax, unemployment tax, new-hire reporting, professional licensing, alcohol, health, childcare, or federal permits may apply.
Irving business license facts box
| City | Irving, Texas |
|---|---|
| General city business license? | No universal city business permit. Irving uses activity- and location-specific approvals instead. |
| Main commercial tenant step | Certificate of Occupancy for commercial space occupied by a tenant. |
| Permit portal | My Government Online (MGO), with the current city-linked portal at MGOconnect.org. |
| Zoning office | City of Irving Planning Department for zoning, land use, zoning verification, and many alcohol/land-use questions. |
| Home business | Texas protections for qualifying no-impact home businesses and Irving local rules must be read together. |
| County layer | Dallas County is important for assumed names for unincorporated businesses and certain other county functions, but it no longer supplies the statewide mobile-food license. |
| State layer | Texas Comptroller, Secretary of State, Workforce Commission, DSHS, TABC, TDLR, and other regulators may apply. |
What does this mean for me?
Do not ask only, “Do I need a business license?” A better question is, “What approvals do I need for this business activity at this address?” A home-based online seller, a food truck, a barber shop, and a restaurant may have very different steps.
An LLC, DBA, seller’s permit, Certificate of Occupancy, and professional license are different things. If those terms are getting mixed together, review BLG’s guide to business license vs LLC vs DBA vs seller’s permit before you call an agency.
City, county, state, and federal license layers
One item does not cancel the others. A Texas LLC does not replace Irving zoning or occupancy approval, and a sales tax permit does not approve a commercial suite for your use.
| Layer | What it may cover | Where to start |
|---|---|---|
| City of Irving | Certificate of Occupancy, zoning, building permits, inspections, signs, fire, fixed-food health permits, temporary food events, temporary uses, STR registration/CUP, and some contractor items. | Start with Irving Inspections, Planning, and the city permit pages. |
| Dallas County | Assumed names for sole proprietors, general partnerships, and other businesses that file at county level; property and other county records. | Use the Dallas County Clerk route when your legal form belongs at county level. |
| State of Texas | Entity and assumed-name filings for filing entities, sales/use tax, unemployment tax, mobile-food licensing, professional licenses, alcohol, and other state programs. | Use the specific Texas agency for the filing or regulated activity. |
| Federal | EIN, federal industry permits, payroll duties, and BOI rules for the limited foreign-company population that remains covered. | Start with the IRS, SBA, FinCEN, and the federal regulator for the activity. |
| Private rules | Lease, HOA/deed restrictions, marketplace terms, insurance, and vendor requirements. | These can matter, but they are not government licenses. |
City of Irving approvals to check
Certificate of Occupancy
If you will occupy commercial space in Irving, start with the Certificate of Occupancy process. This can apply to a storefront, office, warehouse, restaurant, salon, studio, gym, clinic, or similar space. Do not assume a prior tenant’s approval works for your activity. The city’s Certificate of Occupancy inspection information says the business activity must match the application description and zoning district.
Common inspection issues can include parking, exits, address numbers, electrical panels, fire extinguishers, emergency lighting, and other building or fire items. Irving uses MGO for permit applications, payments, inspection scheduling, and inspection results. If construction is incomplete but limited occupancy is requested, Irving’s fee schedule now lists a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy option; do not assume it will be approved merely because the fee is paid.
Zoning and home occupation rules
Before you sign a lease or buy property, confirm that the exact use is allowed at the address. The City of Irving Planning Department handles zoning and land-use questions. The city’s Planning FAQs also describe zoning verification requests.
For home businesses, do not read Irving’s Customary Home Occupation language by itself. Texas Local Government Code §229.902, effective in 2025, says a municipality may not prohibit or require a license, permit, or other approval for a qualifying no-impact home-based business. The state definition includes limits tied to occupancy, parking/traffic, street visibility, and noise. Cities may still enforce applicable fire, building, health, sanitation, traffic, waste, pollution, and noise rules. HOA or deed restrictions can also apply. Irving local rules remain important outside the protected category. BLG’s home occupation permit guide can help you organize the questions.
Building, signs, health, fire, and temporary uses
If you remodel, change plumbing/electrical/HVAC, install a sign, or finish out a suite, check permits before work starts. Irving’s codes and ordinances page says the locally amended 2024 International Codes took effect May 1, 2026. The city’s Building Inspections pages and MGO portal are the practical starting points for permit and inspection work.
For a fixed restaurant or other food establishment, use Irving Health Inspections. Temporary food events also have a city path. For a mobile food vendor, the license map changed July 1, 2026: use the Texas DSHS mobile food vendor licensing page for the statewide license. Local Irving rules can still apply to where and how the vehicle operates, including zoning, parking, fire, events, and temporary uses.
If you will sell alcohol, check Irving Planning and the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission. If you plan a short-term rental, use Irving’s STR page; new STRs in certain residential districts may need a Conditional Use Permit in addition to annual registration.
Dallas County, Texas, and federal steps
Dallas County assumed names
If you use a business name that is not your legal name, the filing route depends on the legal form. Sole proprietorships, general partnerships, and other businesses that file at county level should use the Dallas County Clerk’s assumed name procedures. The filing gives public notice; it is not trademark protection.
For a Texas or foreign corporation, LLC, limited partnership, professional association, LLP, or other filing entity, the Texas Secretary of State says the assumed-name certificate is filed with the Secretary of State. Since September 1, 2019, those filing entities are not also required to file the assumed name with the county clerk. Use the Secretary of State name filing FAQs and current filing system.
Texas registrations and licenses
The Texas Governor’s Office Business Permit Office is a useful starting point for regulated activities. If you form an LLC, corporation, nonprofit, or other filing entity, use the Texas Secretary of State. On September 29, 2026, SOSPortal replaced SOSDirect and SOSUpload for online filings, searches, and orders.
The Texas Comptroller handles sales and use tax. Use the Comptroller’s online tax registration when you are engaged in business in Texas and your activity requires a permit. The Comptroller says there is no fee to apply for a Texas sales and use tax permit. For more state-layer context, see BLG’s Texas business license guide.
If you hire employees, check whether you are liable for Texas unemployment tax and use the current Texas Workforce Commission unemployment-tax registration path. Also report new hires and rehires to the Texas Office of the Attorney General; the state says employers generally must report them within 20 calendar days. If your trade is regulated, use the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation licenses and programs or the agency that regulates that profession.
Federal basics
Many businesses need an Employer Identification Number. Use the IRS EIN page directly. The SBA licenses and permits page can help identify federally regulated activities.
FinCEN finalized its BOI rule on August 11, 2026. The exemption for U.S.-created companies already applied before this review period; the August action finalized that framework. FinCEN says U.S. companies are exempt, while certain foreign companies registered to do business in the United States can still have BOI duties. Use the current FinCEN BOI page, not older CTA checklists.
Costs you can plan for
Use the current city or agency fee page because permits have different fees and effective dates.
| Item | Current official information | Practical note |
|---|---|---|
| Irving Certificate of Occupancy | Current city schedule: restaurant $190; auto-related use $140; daycare $140; other occupancy types $105; name change/duplicate $31. | Permit or construction fees can be separate. |
| Temporary Certificate of Occupancy | $250 for the first 30 days, plus $250 for each 30-day extension, effective October 1, 2026. | This fee does not guarantee approval for incomplete construction. |
| Zoning verification | Irving Planning lists $50 per parcel and says normal review is often five business days or less, but can take up to 10 business days. | Confirm the current process before ordering. |
| Dallas County assumed name | Current county fee page lists $23 for the first signature, 50 cents for each additional signature, plus $2 when a deputy takes the acknowledgment. | Use this only if your business type files at county level. |
| Texas sales tax permit | The Comptroller says there is no application fee. | A security bond can be required in some cases. |
Coming November 1, 2026: Irving has announced a revised health permit and inspection fee schedule tied to a risk-based inspection program. If your food, childcare, or other health-regulated permit begins or renews on or after November 1, check the city’s current rates and fees before budgeting.
Real-world examples
Home-based online seller
An Irving resident sells handmade items online from home. First check whether the operation fits Texas’s protected no-impact home-business category. If it does not, Irving’s home-occupation and zoning rules may still control. Sales tax can also apply. Marketplace and HOA rules are separate. BLG’s guide on online business licenses can help frame the next questions.
Restaurant taking over a retail space
Do not rely on the last tenant’s approval. Check zoning, Certificate of Occupancy, any remodel permits, city health approval, fire issues, signs, sales tax, employer duties, and alcohol licensing if alcohol will be sold.
Mobile food vendor serving in Irving
Start with the statewide DSHS mobile food vendor license, not an old Dallas County local-license checklist. Then check Irving rules for the exact site or event, including zoning, parking, fire, temporary uses, and temporary food-event rules where applicable. BLG’s food truck license guide can help organize the layers.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Calling every item a business license. The real item may be a Certificate of Occupancy, zoning approval, health permit, tax account, DBA, or state license.
- Signing a lease before checking zoning and city limits. Confirm the exact address and planned use first.
- Using the last tenant’s approval. Your activity may be different.
- Following old mobile-food instructions. The statewide DSHS licensing system began July 1, 2026.
- Filing an LLC’s DBA with Dallas County just because the business is in Dallas County. Filing entities use the Secretary of State assumed-name route.
- Using SOSDirect as the current Texas filing portal. SOSPortal replaced it September 29, 2026.
- Assuming a state license clears the city layer. State licensing does not replace zoning, occupancy, fire, building, or local operating rules.
Phone and email scripts
Use these scripts when a fact depends on your address or activity.
City Planning script
Hello. I am planning a [business type] at [address or suite] in Irving. The business would [short activity description]. Is the address inside Irving city limits, is this use allowed in the zoning district, and is any zoning verification or Conditional Use Permit required before I sign a lease?
City Inspections script
Hello. I want to occupy [suite/address] for a [business type]. Do I need a Certificate of Occupancy, and does my project also need building, fire, health, sign, or temporary-use review?
Assumed-name script
Hello. I will use the name [business name] and my legal form is [sole proprietor/general partnership/LLC/corporation]. Does this assumed-name filing belong with Dallas County or the Texas Secretary of State?
Texas Comptroller script
Hello. My Irving business will [sell products/provide services/lease items/sell online]. Does this activity require a Texas Sales and Use Tax Permit or another state tax account?
Save the date, office name, emails, portal receipts, permit numbers, and inspection results.
A compact compliance checklist
- Write the business activity in plain words.
- List every place you will work: home, commercial suite, mobile unit, event site, warehouse, or online platform.
- Confirm the exact property is in Irving city limits and check zoning.
- For commercial space, check the Certificate of Occupancy and MGO permit path.
- Check building, fire, health, sign, and temporary-use needs before work starts.
- If home-based, test whether Texas’s no-impact home-business protection fits your facts, then check any remaining local and private restrictions.
- Use DSHS for the statewide mobile-food license; use Irving for local site/event rules.
- File an assumed name with the correct government layer for your legal form.
- Check Texas sales tax, unemployment tax, and new-hire reporting before they become due.
- Check state professional or industry licenses and get an EIN if required.
- Save official records and recheck before opening.
What to do if this does not work
If you cannot get a clear answer, narrow the question. Give the address, activity, employees, customer visits, food/alcohol details, and planned building work.
- Ask which department owns the next step: Planning, Inspections, Fire, Health, Code Enforcement, or another office.
- Ask for the official form name or portal path.
- Ask whether the answer changes for a home, mobile, online, or commercial business.
- Ask for the answer by email if you need a record.
- If a landlord or vendor gives different advice, ask for the official source.
Important: Do not open, sign a long lease, order permanent signs, or start construction based only on a guess. Confirm with the official agency that controls the rule.
Official resources for Irving businesses
- City of Irving Service Finder / Business License
- City of Irving Certificate of Occupancy
- City of Irving fees and forms and current rates and fees
- City of Irving online permit instructions / MGO
- City of Irving Planning FAQs and codes and ordinances
- City of Irving Health Inspections and Short-Term Rentals
- Dallas County Clerk assumed-name procedures and filing fees
- Texas DSHS mobile food vendor licensing
- Texas Secretary of State Business Services / SOSPortal
- Texas Comptroller online tax registration
- Texas Workforce Commission employer tax registration
- Texas Office of the Attorney General new-hire reporting
- Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission licenses and permits
- IRS EIN application page and FinCEN BOI page
About BusinessLicenseGuide.com
BusinessLicenseGuide.com is a plain-English guide for small-business owners who need help sorting licenses, permits, registrations, tax accounts, and local approvals. We are not a government agency, law firm, CPA firm, or filing service. Our goal is to help you ask better questions and find the right official source faster.
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FAQ
Does Irving, Texas require a general business license?
No universal Irving business permit applies to every business. The city’s Service Finder says Irving does not issue business permits in that general sense, but opening and running a business can still require a Certificate of Occupancy, zoning approval, building or sign permits, health permits, fire review, temporary-use approval, or other activity-specific steps.
What is the main city approval for a storefront or office in Irving?
For most commercial spaces, start with the City of Irving Certificate of Occupancy. Irving says it is required for any commercial space occupied by a tenant. The planned business activity must fit the zoning and the occupancy application, and construction or other permits can be separate.
Can I run a business from home in Irving?
Possibly. Texas law protects a qualifying no-impact home-based business from a municipal license, permit, or other approval requirement, while still allowing certain health, safety, traffic, building, fire, noise, and similar rules. Home businesses outside that protected category can still be affected by Irving zoning and home-occupation rules, and private HOA or deed restrictions can still apply.
Do I need a Dallas County DBA?
It depends on the legal form. Sole proprietors, general partnerships, and other businesses that file at county level generally use the Dallas County Clerk. Texas filing entities such as LLCs and corporations file assumed names with the Texas Secretary of State and, since September 1, 2019, are not also required to file that assumed name with the county clerk.
Do I need a Texas sales tax permit for an Irving business?
You may need a Texas Sales and Use Tax Permit if you are engaged in business in Texas and sell, lease, or rent taxable goods, provide taxable services, or owe use tax on taxable items from out-of-state suppliers. The Texas Comptroller says there is no fee to apply for the permit.
What should I check before signing a lease in Irving?
Confirm that the property is inside Irving city limits, check zoning and the planned use, ask about the Certificate of Occupancy, and identify any building, fire, sign, health, parking, alcohol, or other activity-specific approvals. Do this for the exact address and suite before committing to a long lease or expensive build-out.
Update note
Last updated: October 8, 2026
Next review: January 6, 2027
This review rechecked Irving licensing, zoning, occupancy, building codes, home-business rules, food and mobile-food licensing, short-term rentals, current fees and permit links, Dallas County assumed names, Texas filing and tax systems, employer steps, and federal BOI guidance. Material review-period changes include Irving’s 2024 code adoption, statewide mobile-food licensing, Irving STR changes, SOSPortal’s launch, and the October 1 Temporary Certificate of Occupancy fee.
Disclaimer
This guide is for general information only. Business license, tax, zoning, permit, health, and filing rules can change. Confirm current requirements with the official agency before you apply, pay a fee, sign a lease, start construction, or begin operating.