You can pay your fees online by setting up an account at www.onenv.us.

You will need to call or email the Business License office to link the account upon initial set up. Renewal forms are also available online and may either be mailed or brought into our office in person. 

Yes. However, it is your responsibility to renew the business license on time even if the courtesy reminder is not received. Penalties are assessed for delinquent payments, regardless of whether or not you receive a renewal notice.

If you do not receive a notice two weeks prior to the expiration date, contact the Business License Division at 775-334-2090. Renewal forms are always available on our website.

The City of Reno regulates businesses to protect the public’s health and safety. We check to make sure the business complies with applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations. Public agencies will inspect a business in operation to ensure you are following codes and regulations. Consumers benefit by knowing that a business is operating properly and that complaints will be investigated.

The City is enabled by state law (NRS 268.095).

Each business must be approved by other departments to ensure the business activity and site are compatible. 

It is strongly urged that you check with the City's Community Development Department to make sure your business activity is allowed in the location (zone) that you are considering. You should also check if it has special parking requirements before you sign a lease or rental agreement. Please contact the planner of the day at 775-321-8309 to verify zoning information.

Please check with the Community Development Department before installing any type of sign, flag, banner or balloons. 

Permanent and temporary signs require review and approval prior to issuance of permits and installation. Posting signs, handbills, or flyers on any utility pole, traffic pole, fence, tree, bridge, mailbox or other public structure is prohibited.

Adult Interactive work cards are required for each adult interactive cabaret employee or performer who is conducting business as an independent contractor in the Adult Interactive Cabaret.

Contact the Reno Police Department Work Application Unit at 775-334-3875 for more information on work cards.  

Some business types require employees to have a valid work card before they are eligible to work. The Reno Police Department Work Application Unit collects all fees and processes the applications associated with the work card. Once a work card is obtained, it is valid for five years and must be renewed in a timely fashion.

Any employee or independent contractor is required to obtain a work card for the following businesses:

• Booting companies
• Escort services
• Out call entertainment services
• Pawn shops
• Secondhand dealers
• Towing companies  
• Vehicles for hire

No. However, non-profit organizations are able to register with the City of Reno Business License Division. Proof of non-profit status from the Internal Revenue Service and the Nevada Secretary of State is required. 

To request registration information please contact our office at 775-334-2090.

Any person licensed as a contractor by the State Contractor's Board must obtain a business license if:

• Conducting business in the City of Reno
• Physically located in the City of Reno (whether or not performing construction work in the City)
  

• Apply online at www.onenv.us; or
• Download a license application packet

Please note: not all business types are available to apply online and we do not accept faxed applications.

A complaint about a business that is operating in the City of Reno without a license can be filed with Reno Direct at 775-334-4636. 

Complaints will be reviewed and pursued by our Compliance Officers, but the City cannot become involved in civil matters. We cannot recover money for you or force someone to do work for you. The business license codes require proper legal procedures to be followed when taking any action against a licensee.

City of Reno business licenses are valid for 12 months from the first day of the month that business commences and are required to be renewed annually. This excludes most privileged licenses (liquor and gaming licenses) and certain special business types.

Liquor and gaming (Quarterly) licenses are valid for three months and are required to be renewed the first day of each quarter (based on calendar quarters).

For businesses with a physical location outside of Reno or if you are a home-based business within the City of Reno, the licensing process is very short. In most cases, it will be issued over the counter or mailed to you in about one week once a completed application and payment is received.

For businesses within the City of Reno, an inspection process will take place once a complete application and payment has been accepted. This process generally takes 14-21 days for commercial locations. Once all inspections have been successfully approved, the license will be issued and mailed.

For businesses requiring background investigations and/or City Council approval, the process generally takes up to 90 days. After necessary inspections and approval by the City Council and the Reno Police Department, the license will be issued. 
If 30 days have passed since a completed Personal History Statement was submitted and all approvals have been received except from RPD, an interim permit may be issued.

Unfortunately, no. Each city has its own business license fee structure and requirements. It is also important to know that most cities in Nevada have a business license ordinance. 

• Check with the appropriate City or County for their rules and regulations. 
• If you will be conducting business within Reno and the surrounding areas, you may need as many as four separate licenses, which include the State of Nevada, City of Sparks and Washoe County. 
  • The Washoe County license is good only in the unincorporated areas of the county 
  • It does not cover any of the incorporated areas located within it.

Business licenses are non-transferable; however, when a new owner takes over an existing business, the new owner may continue to operate the existing business under the existing license(s) pending approval of the new owner's application, provided:

• The existing business is operating under all required licenses 
• All required licenses are current
• The new owner has submitted a completed application and all appropriate fees for a new license(s)
• The outgoing owner agrees to remain accountable and liable for any violations under the existing license(s) for the first 60 days after the change of ownership.

The Downtown Safe Scape Area standards (RMC Sec. 5.07.123) apply to those businesses located within the orange boundary in the figure below. Those businesses located in the orange and green shaded areas are considered to be in the Downtown Safe Scape Buffer Area. If you need clarification on which standard applies to your business location, please contact the Business Licensing Department at (775) 334-2090.

Products Offered for Sale (RMC Sec. 5.07.123(c))

Downtown Safe Scape Area

The sale or distribution of the following is prohibited at all times:

• Wine in containers of less than 750 milliliters.
• Beer, malt liquor, wine coolers, and similar alcoholic beverages in containers of less than 20 ounces not in original factory packages of four-packs or greater.
• Distilled spirits in containers of less than 375 milliliters.
• Paper or plastic cups in quantities less than their usual customary packaging.

Buffer Area

The sale or distribution of the noted items shall be prohibited between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

Noncompliance

• 2 Violations in 12 months = 30 Day Suspension
• 3 Violations in 12 months = Revocation of License

Violations of Safe Scape are Subject to Administrative Fines

In addition to any mandatory suspensions and/or revocations, violations of RMC 5.07.123 are subject to administrative fines as follows:

• 1st Offense - $100 Fine
• 2nd Offense - $250 Fine
• 3rd Offense - $500 Fine
• 4th Offense & Subsequent Offense - $1,000 Fine 

Additional information

• Downtown Safe Scape Area and Buffer Area Standards

Always check with the City's Community Development Department to verify that the new location is properly zoned for the intended use and whether a special use permit or other type of approval is required. 

You must notify our office in writing within 15 days of such a change whenever you change your address (mailing or physical), phone number, business activity or ownership. We will be happy to provide you with the necessary paperwork and fee information related to the requested changes.

The business license certificate is evidence that you have met the City of Reno requirements to conduct business within the incorporated area of the City and all license fees have been paid (other permits may be required to operate your business). 

Reno Municipal Code requires that you obtain a license when you conduct any business activity within the City even if your business is located outside the city limits or you have a business license from another city.

Any business, enterprise, trade, occupation, calling, profession, vocation, or activity conducted by any person, his/her agent, or employee for the purpose of direct or indirect gain within the city. You must obtain a business license if you (or your agent, employee, or partner):

• Engage in business, trade, occupation, calling, industry, profession, vocation or profession;
• Solicit patronage for the business, either actively or passively;
• Perform or attempt to perform, any part of a business, trade, occupation, calling, industry, vocation or profession;
• Rent or lease:
  • Any commercial or industrial property in the city, or
  • Three or more residential dwelling units on one parcel of land in the city.

Business license applicants must submit proof of the following with the application: 

• Registration with the Nevada Secretary of State Office for a State Business License
• Proof of registration with the Nevada Department of Taxation
• Proof of Workers Compensation coverage
• A copy of your Fictitious Firm Naming (DBA) if applicable

2nd floor of City Hall located at 1 East First Street
Reno, Nevada, 89501  

Validated parking is available in the City/Cal Neva parking garage on Center Street.

To determine your license fee, use the two step process below to calculate the gross receipts base fee and the square foot base fee:

Step 1

Gross Receipts Fee Schedule: use total amount of sales within the City of Reno only to calculate the gross receipts fee for the 12-month period ending on the license expiration date using the fee schedule below:

Step 2

Square Footage Fee Schedule: use the total square feet of your business listed in your lease or assessors records to determine the per square foot rate from the square footage fee schedule below:

Step 1 Results: Square Footage Base Fee ____________

Step 2 Results: Gross Receipts Base Fee _____________ 

Step 3

Pay the higher of the fee results from Step 1 and Step 2.

• If a business request consideration as a branch location and meets the definition of a branch location under Reno Municipal Code 4.04.040, calculate the total square footage of all the buildings held by the business and multiply that by the appropriate rate per the fee schedule. 
  • There is no cap if multiple buildings are being calculated together. 
• Pay the higher of this fee or the cumulative gross receipts within the City of Reno fee under the designated primary business location. 
• Secondary business locations must be registered with the City and pay the minimum annual license fee.

• Calculate the total square footage of the space you lease within the building and multiply that by the appropriate rate per the fee schedule. 
• When submitting your renewal form, provide a copy of the section of your lease that shows the total square footage that you are leasing. 
  • Common areas will be assessed to the building owner or common area maintenance association.

If you will be selling or preparing food, you will need to apply for a health permit from the Washoe County District Health Department, 1001 East 9th Street, Reno, Nevada 89512, 775-328-2693. 

Necessary permits must be obtained from the Health District prior to the issuance of City of Reno business licenses.

If your business name is anything other than your legal given name or exact corporate name, you will need to file a Fictitious Firm Name form with the Washoe County Clerk's office. 

You must provide proof of your Doing Business As (DBA), if applicable, with your business license application.

You may apply for a Sidewalk Vendor Permit through a specialized application process. All sidewalk vendor permits are considered in a Public Hearing and require a Reno Police Department background check. Applications are also required to follow the requirements in RMC 5.15. 

Sidewalk vendors are not permitted to operate in parks unless they are part of a special event. 

Yes, you must register with the Nevada Secretary of State's Office for a State business license before applying for a City of Reno business license. 

• State business license applications may be made online at www.nvsilverflume.gov or at the Secretary of State’s Offices in Carson City. 
• The Secretary of State’s commercial recording office is located at 202 N. Carson Street in Carson City. Their number is 775-684-5708. 
• You must provide proof of your Nevada State business license with your business license application.

If you intend to sell tangible goods, you will need to apply for and obtain a Sales Tax or Use Tax Permit for the Nevada Department of Taxation. There are two ways to obtain the tax permit:

• Visit the Department of Taxation at their Reno office located at 4600 Kietzke Lane, Building L, Suite 235, Reno Nevada. For questions regarding sales or use tax permits, contact the Department of Taxation call center at 866-962-3707.
• Through the Nevada Secretary of State’s Silverflume website at www.nvsilverflume.gov. The online State business license registration allows you to apply for and obtain the Nevada State Sales Tax permit.  

You must include a copy of the Department of Taxation’s letter of clearance, stamp, email or bill with your business license application. 

Childcare licensing is administered by the State of Nevada Bureau of Services for Childcare locations caring for five or more children. They may be reached at 775-684-4400. 

After obtaining the necessary permits from their office, you will need to come into our office to get your City of Reno business license.

A special event permit is required for:

• Any planned gathering of 75 or more persons on any street, park or other public property
• Any planned activity conducted by a person for collective use, which directly or indirectly involves the use of city street(s), park(s) or other public property or facilities 
• Which may reasonably require city management, regulation or resources to protect the health, safety, welfare or property of the city or its residents
  • I.e.: coordinate multiple uses of public property, control traffic or address other substantial governmental interests around the activity

A special activity is required for:

• Any indoor or outdoor activity taking place on private property for a period of seven consecutive days or less
• Any activity open to the public and creates gross revenue through means different from activity that is otherwise licensed.
  • This includes any privileged activity or vendor activity. 

Special activity does not include:

• Activity that is permitted as a special event or a fundraiser unless it includes a privileged activity or vendor activity. 

A business license is required for activities conducted which reflect a regular pattern of business not temporary in nature.

Additional information is available on our Special Events page.