Reno, NV Business License Guide

City of Reno business license

Reno says a city business license is required when the business address is inside city limits or business activity is physically conducted inside Reno. This can cover storefronts, home businesses, mobile services, contractors, vendors, and outside businesses that come into Reno to work.

Reno’s current Common Questions page directs applicants to use the ONE portal or apply in person and says applications are not accepted by mail, email, or fax. Another current city licensing page still mentions mail for an annual-license application, so online or in person is the clearest current route. Reno asks for state-business-license information, Nevada tax registration, workers’ compensation compliance, and a Washoe County Fictitious Firm Name when applicable.

Nevada has limited State Business License exemptions, so a person claiming one should confirm what proof Reno wants. Reno also lists real estate agents, ride-share operators, and vacation rentals/short-term rentals as exempt from the City business license itself. That exemption does not erase separate rules that may apply to the activity. Qualifying nonprofits do not need a city business license but may register with the city.

See our Nevada business license guide and business license vs LLC vs DBA vs seller’s permit for the state-level distinctions.

What the Reno license does not cover

The city license does not replace health, building, contractor, professional, alcohol, tax, or county approvals. Commercial locations may also be routed through Planning, Building Compliance, Fire Prevention, Environmental Control, and NNPH.

Washoe County items to check

Reno is in Washoe County, but a county license is not automatically required for every business inside Reno. Washoe County requires its license when the business is based in unincorporated Washoe County or when a business based elsewhere physically works there.

The Washoe County Clerk handles Fictitious Firm Names, not county business licenses. A filing generally applies when the business name differs from the owner’s legal name or exact entity name. The Clerk says the filing cannot be completed entirely online, requires original notarized signatures, and expires after five years. Use the current DBA forms and DBA search.

A DBA does not provide trademark protection or replace a business license.

State of Nevada steps for Reno businesses

The Nevada Secretary of State now uses the ORION Business Portal. SilverFlume was replaced in September 2026. Title 7 entities such as corporations and LLCs handle the State Business License with entity filings; sole proprietors and general partnerships use the State Business License process unless an exemption applies.

Nevada has a limited exemption for certain natural persons who operate a business from their Nevada home and meet the statutory earnings test and other conditions. The exemption must be claimed and does not cancel Reno’s separate city licensing or zoning rules.

For taxes, use Nevada Taxation registration guidance and My Nevada Tax. If you hire, also check UI Employer Self Service, Modified Business Tax, workers’ compensation, and new-hire reporting. Nevada generally requires qualifying new hires and rehires to be reported within 20 days.

Future state portal note: Nevada Taxation says Phase 3 of My Nevada Tax will launch December 7, 2026, moving several additional tax types online, including lodging room tax, transportation connection tax, cannabis taxes, and tire fees.

Federal steps to check

Use the IRS EIN page when your business needs an EIN. The SBA licenses and permits guide points to federal regulators for industries such as alcohol, aviation, agriculture, firearms, broadcasting, wildlife, and transportation.

FinCEN finalized its BOI rule in August 2026. The final rule made permanent the domestic-company exemption already in effect since 2025: U.S.-created companies are exempt, while certain foreign entities registered in the United States may still have duties. Use the current FinCEN BOI page.

Costs and renewals

Reno has more than 100 license classifications, so there is no single price for every business. For a general business that uses Reno’s standard calculation, the city tells the applicant to calculate both a gross-receipts amount and a square-footage amount, then pay the higher result. The current gross-receipts schedule is $70 for $0–$20,000; $150 for $20,001–$100,000; $150 plus 0.00085 of the amount over $100,000 through $5 million; and $4,315 plus 0.00065 of the amount over $5 million. The square-footage calculation uses a declining per-square-foot rate plus a base amount as space gets larger. Use Reno’s current fee instructions for the exact calculation. Special classifications can use different fees.

Reno warns about fraudulent payment emails. Confirm any invoice in ONE or with the agency using official contact information.

Zoning, home businesses, buildings, fire, and signs

Reno reviews commercial business-license locations for zoning and building compliance. Permanent and temporary signs also need city review before installation. Check the address before signing a lease. The planning applications page provides current land-use materials.

Home-based businesses

Reno’s current land-development code generally limits home-occupation business use to 25% of the home’s living space or 500 square feet, whichever is less. It also addresses employees, customers, merchandise pickup, vehicles, storage, noise, appearance, and prohibited activities. One nonresident employee may be allowed with adequate parking, but not when the home occupation operates in an accessory building. Customer-required merchandise pickup and outdoor business storage are restricted.

See our home occupation permit guide. Also check any lease, HOA, lender, and insurance restrictions.

Building, occupancy, fire, and signs

Reno says Building Compliance inspects commercial business-license locations and Fire Prevention reviews most commercial locations. If construction or a tenant improvement is needed, use the current building-permit page and ONE before work starts. A Certificate of Occupancy, when required, is part of the building path and does not replace the business license.

Food, mobile food, and public health

NNPH handles food-establishment health permits. New facilities, remodels, and ownership changes can require review and an opening inspection. Start with the NNPH food opening and plan-review page. Mobile operators have a separate mobile-food path, and temporary food at events uses the temporary-food process. See our food truck license guide for more context.

Special business types in Reno

Some activities need a separate or additional route.

For a service-business example, see our current cleaning business license guide.

What does this mean for me?

With a Reno commercial address, check zoning and city licensing before opening. From a Reno home, check both city home-occupation rules and the Nevada State Business License or exemption. If you work in Reno without a Reno address, the city license can still apply. If you also work in unincorporated Washoe County, a separate county license may be required there.

Real-world examples

Home-based online seller in Reno

An online seller should check the Reno license and home-occupation rules, Nevada state licensing or exemption, tax registration for taxable sales, and a Washoe County DBA if using a trade name. Customer pickup can change the home-business analysis.

Midtown coffee shop

A coffee shop should check zoning before the lease, then state and tax registration, city licensing, building/fire review, NNPH food permitting, and construction or sign permits. Alcohol adds separate city and state layers.

Contractor based outside Reno but working in Reno

A contractor can need a state contractor license and Reno business license even with an office elsewhere. Work in unincorporated Washoe County can add a county license; project building permits are separate.

What to do if this doesn’t work

If ONE will not let you apply or pay, check that your account is linked to the correct record. If zoning fails, ask which rule caused the problem and whether another location or land-use application is possible. If a commercial license stalls, ask which review is still open: Business Licensing, Planning, Building Compliance, Fire, Environmental Control, NNPH, or a privileged-business review.

If a state page still mentions SilverFlume, use the Secretary of State’s current ORION direction instead.

A compact compliance checklist

• Confirm whether the address is in Reno, Sparks, or unincorporated Washoe County.
• Choose the legal structure and business name.
• Use ORION for Nevada entity and State Business License filings, or document a valid exemption.
• Set up Nevada tax accounts when required.
• File a Washoe County Fictitious Firm Name when applicable.
• Check zoning and home-occupation rules before committing to a location.
• Apply for the Reno business license through ONE or in person.
• Complete building, fire, sign, health, police, vending, event, or industry approvals that apply.
• If hiring, handle UI, Modified Business Tax, workers’ compensation, and new-hire reporting.
• Save approvals and track renewal dates yourself.

About BusinessLicenseGuide.com

BusinessLicenseGuide.com is a plain-English guide for small-business owners. We are not a government agency, law firm, CPA firm, or filing service. We explain official steps in simple words and point readers to government sources.