North Carolina Business License
General Business License Requirements for North Carolina.
Business licenses are often required of business entities, regardless of their products and services. This page provides an overview of business license requirements in North Carolina.
North Carolina General Business Licenses
North Carolina Business License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the State level in North Carolina.
North Carolina does not have a general business license at the state level, but local licenses are often required.
| Eligible for Managed Service? | Yes |
Local General Business Licenses
Aberdeen Business Privilege License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the City level in Aberdeen.
Advance Business License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the City level in Advance.
Advance Business Licenseis an unincorporated community with no formal government. No business license requirement exists.Apex Privilege Tax License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the City level in Apex.
City of Asheville Business License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the City level in Asheville.
| Eligible for Managed Service? | Yes |
Ballantyne Business Privilege License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the Neighborhood level in Ballantyne.
Belmont Business Privilege License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the City level in Belmont.
Boone Business Privilege License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the City level in Boone.
Burlington Business Privilege License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the City level in Burlington.
Carrboro Business Privilege License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the City level in Carrboro.
Cary Business Privilege License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the City level in Cary.
Chapel Hill Business Privilege License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the City level in Chapel Hill.
Charlotte Privilege Tax License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the City level in Charlotte.
Clayton Business Privilege License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the City level in Clayton.
Clemmons Business Privilege License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the City level in Clemmons.
Concord Privilege Tax License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the City level in Concord.
Cornelius Business Privilege License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the City level in Cornelius.
Town of Davidson Business Registration
| Agency: | Town of Davidson - Economic Development (NC) |
| Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite: | No |
| Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required? | No |
Initial Registration
| Form: | |
| Filing Method: | Mail or online. |
| Agency Fee: | $40 |
Renewal Not Required
Not required
Licenses do not expire but do need to be kept up-to-date with current business information.
Amendment
| Form: | |
| Filing Method: | Mail or online. |
| Agency Fee: | $0 |
| Notes: | Address and emergency contact information changes must be reported. |
Denver Business Privilege License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the City level in Denver.
Durham Business Privilege License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the City level in Durham.
City of Elizabeth City Business Registration
| Agency: | City of Elizabeth City Finance Department (NC) |
| Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite: | No |
| Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required? | No |
Initial Registration
| Form: | |
| Filing Method: | Mail |
| Agency Fee: | $20 |
Registration Renewal
| Form: | Renewal forms are mailed. |
| Filing Method: | Mail |
| Agency Fee: | $20 |
| Due: | Annually by September 30. |
Fayetteville Business Privilege License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the City level in Fayetteville.
Fuquay Varina Privilege Tax License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the City level in Fuquay Varina.
Gastonia Business Privilege License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the City level in Gastonia.
City of Goldsboro Business License
| Agency: | City of Goldsboro Inspection Department (NC) |
| Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite: | No |
| Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required? | No |
Initial Registration
| Form: | |
| Filing Method: | Mail. |
| Agency Fee: | $25 |
| Law: |
Registration Renewal
| Form: | |
| Filing Method: | Mail. |
| Agency Fee: | $25 |
| Due: | Annually by June 30. |
Greensboro Business Privilege License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the City level in Greensboro.
Greenville Business Privilege License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the City level in Greenville.
Hampstead Business Privilege License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the City level in Hampstead.
Town of Harrisburg Business Registration
| Agency: | Town of Harrisburg - Planning and Economic Development Department (NC) |
| Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite: | No |
| Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required? | No |
Initial Registration
| Form: | |
| Filing Method: | Mail or email |
| Agency Fee: | $0 |
Registration Renewal
| Form: | |
| Filing Method: | Mail or email |
| Agency Fee: | $0 |
| Due: | Annually by December 31 |
City of Havelock Business License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the City level in Havelock.
| Eligible for Managed Service? | Yes |
Hendersonville Business Privilege License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the City level in Hendersonville.
Holly Springs Business Privilege License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the City level in Holly Springs.
Huntersville Business Privilege License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the City level in Huntersville.
Indian Trail Business Privilege License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the City level in Indian Trail.
City of Jacksonville Business License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the City level in Jacksonville.
| Eligible for Managed Service? | Yes |
Kernersville Business Privilege License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the City level in Kernersville.
Leland Business Privilege License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the City level in Leland.
Matthews Business Privilege License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the City level in Matthews.
Mills River Business Privilege License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the City level in Mills River.
Mint Hill Business Privilege License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the City level in Mint Hill.
Mooresville Business Privilege License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the City level in Mooresville.
Morehead City Business Privilege License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the City level in Morehead City.
New Bern Business Privilege License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the City level in New Bern.
Pinehurst Business Privilege License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the City level in Pinehurst.
Pittsboro Business Privilege License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the City level in Pittsboro.
Raleigh Privilege Tax License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the City level in Raleigh.
Rocky Mount Business Privilege License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the City level in Rocky Mount.
City of Salisbury Business Registration
| Agency: | City of Salisbury - Development Services (NC) |
| Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite: | No |
| Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required? | No |
Initial Registration
| Form: | Certificate of Registration Application |
| Instructions: | Contact the department directly to request a form. Forms are not available online. |
| Filing Method: | Mail or in person |
| Agency Fee: | $0 |
Renewal Not Required
Not required
The registration does not need to be renewed. A new registration will need to be obtained if the location changes.
City of Sneads Ferry Business License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the City level in Sneads Ferry.
| Eligible for Managed Service? | Yes |
Southern Pines Business Privilege License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the City level in Southern Pines.
Stallings Business Privilege License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the City level in Stallings.
Town of Surf City Business Registration
| Agency: | Town of Surf City - Community Development Department - Code Enforcement (NC) |
| Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite: | No |
| Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required? | No |
Initial Registration
| Filing Method: | |
| Agency Fee: | $50 |
Registration Renewal
| Filing Method: | |
| Agency Fee: | $50 |
| Due: | Annually by June 30 |
Town of Surf City Contractor Business Registration
| Agency: | Town of Surf City - Community Development Department - Code Enforcement (NC) |
| Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite: | No |
| Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required? | No |
Initial Registration
| Filing Method: | |
| Agency Fee: | $50 |
Registration Renewal
| Filing Method: | |
| Agency Fee: | $50 |
| Due: | Annually by date of issuance |
Wake Forest Business Privilege License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the City level in Wake Forest.
Waxhaw Business Privilege License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the City level in Waxhaw.
Wesley Chapel Business Privilege License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the City level in Wesley Chapel.
City of Wilmington Business License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the City level in Wilmington.
| Eligible for Managed Service? | Yes |
Wilson Business Privilege License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the City level in Wilson.
Winston-Salem Business Privilege License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the City level in Winston-Salem.
Alamance County Business Privilege License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the County level in Alamance County.
Brunswick County Business License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the County level in Brunswick County.
| Eligible for Managed Service? | Yes |
Buncombe County Business License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the County level in Buncombe County.
| Eligible for Managed Service? | Yes |
Cabarrus County Business Privilege License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the County level in Cabarrus County.
Carteret County Business License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the County level in Carteret County.
| Eligible for Managed Service? | Yes |
Chatham County Business Privilege License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the County level in Chatham County.
Craven County Business Privilege License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the County level in Craven County.
Cumberland County Business Privilege License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the County level in Cumberland County.
Davie County Business License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the County level in Davie County.
Durham County Business Privilege License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the County level in Durham County.
Forsyth County Business Privilege License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the County level in Forsyth County.
Gaston County Business Privilege License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the County level in Gaston County.
Guilford County Business Privilege License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the County level in Guilford County.
Haywood County Business License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the County level in Haywood County.
| Eligible for Managed Service? | Yes |
Henderson County Business License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the County level in Henderson County.
| Eligible for Managed Service? | Yes |
Iredell County Business Privilege License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the County level in Iredell County.
Johnston County Business Privilege License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the County level in Johnston County.
Lincoln County Business License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the County level in Lincoln County.
| Eligible for Managed Service? | Yes |
Charlotte/Mecklenburg County Business Privilege License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the County level in Mecklenburg County.
| Eligible for Managed Service? | Yes |
Moore County Business Privilege License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the County level in Moore County.
Nash County Business Privilege License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the County level in Nash County.
New Hanover County Business License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the County level in New Hanover County.
| Eligible for Managed Service? | Yes |
Onslow County Business License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the County level in Onslow County.
| Eligible for Managed Service? | Yes |
Orange County Business Privilege License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the County level in Orange County.
Pender County Business Privilege License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the County level in Pender County.
Pitt County Business Privilege License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the County level in Pitt County.
Rowan County Business Privilege License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the County level in Rowan County.
Transylvania County Business License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the County level in Transylvania County.
| Eligible for Managed Service? | Yes |
Wake County Business License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the County level in Wake County.
Watauga County Business Privilege License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the County level in Watauga County.
Wayne County Business Privilege License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the County level in Wayne County.
Wilson County Business Privilege License
Not required
General Business License licensure is not required on the County level in Wilson County.
Learn about general business licensing requirements in other states:
