Utah Business License Lookup: How to Verify a Business or Professional License

Before you hire a contractor, sign a lease with a business tenant, or buy a company from someone in Utah, you need to know three things: whether the business exists, whether it is in good standing, and whether it is licensed for the work. The catch is that Utah has no single place to check all of that. There is no statewide business license, and no one search covers every record type. A thorough Utah license lookup means running two or three separate searches, each answering a different question.

This guide explains each lookup, what it shows, what it leaves out, and the order to run them. It also gives a checklist for vetting a contractor before any money changes hands.

Informational only: This article is general information about Utah business records and licensing. It is not legal or tax advice. For complex situations, such as a licensing dispute, a contract question, or a tax issue, talk with a qualified Utah attorney or CPA.

Three records, three different questions

Utah uses three terms that people often mix up. Knowing which one you need tells you where to look.

• Registration is filed with the Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code. An LLC files a Certificate of Organization, and its yearly filing is called an annual renewal. A registered entity exists on the state's books, but registration does not permit it to perform any particular work.
• A license grants permission to perform a specific activity. Professional and contractor licenses come from the Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL). Local business licenses come from the city, town, or county.
• A tax registration gives a business an account with the Utah State Tax Commission. A sales tax account on TAP is a tax registration, not a trade license.

Utah has no state general business license. A business registered with the Division still needs a local business license to operate, and that local license does not appear in any state search.

The lookups, in the order to run them

1. The Division's Business Entity Search, to confirm the business exists and is in good standing.
2. The DOPL license lookup, for any professional or contractor license.
3. The city or county license list, for the local business license.
4. The Labor Commission coverage waiver check, when a contractor says it does not carry workers' compensation coverage.

1. Division of Corporations Business Entity Search

The Business Entity Search at corporations.utah.gov/searches shows whether an entity exists on the Division's records. For each record, you can see:

• The entity's status, either active or expired
• Its principal individuals

Search the exact legal name first. If nothing comes up, try the name without its entity designator, then compare the suffix on the record (LLC, L.L.C., Inc., and so on) against what the business gave you. An expired status means the entity is not in good standing with the Division. Annual renewal is $18 for LLCs and corporations, and a late LLC renewal carries a $10 late fee. Ask the business to explain an expired status before you rely on it, and confirm the current status with the Division.

If a bank, landlord, or counterparty wants written proof that an entity exists, the Division issues a Certificate of Existence. The short form costs $12 and the long form costs $20. Confirm the ordering steps with the Division before you request one.

Assumed names work differently. A DBA, or assumed name, is registered with the Division at the state level, not with the county, so a county clerk search will not find it. The DBA registration costs $22 to file and a renewal fee (check the Division's DBA page for the current fee and term). Details are on the Division's DBA page at commerce.utah.gov/corporations/business-entities/dba/.

2. DOPL license lookup

DOPL licenses professionals and contractors. Its lookup at dopl.utah.gov lets you search by name, business name, or license number. If you have the license number, use it. Many people and businesses share names, and the number gives you an exact record.

When you open a record, check three things:

1. Status and expiration. The license must be active and unexpired. A license that is inactive or past its expiration date does not authorize work today.
2. Classifications. Read the classes listed on the record. A license covers only the work in its classifications, so a license in one trade does not cover work in another.
3. Name and number. The name on the record should match the legal name on the contract. Utah contractor license numbers end in -5501. If the number a contractor gives you does not match that pattern, check it closely on the DOPL site before you go further.

Two related notes. Since September 1, 2026, private investigators and bail bond agencies are licensed through DOPL. They moved from the Bureau of Criminal Identification, so older references to BCI for these licenses are out of date. Liquor licenses follow a separate track. The Department of Alcoholic Beverage Services (DABS) is the liquor agency, so check with DABS on how to verify a liquor license.

3. City or county business license

This is the license small businesses most often overlook. Utah has no statewide business license, so the local license comes from the city or town where the business is located or operating. If the business sits outside city limits, the county issues it.

The state publishes a county-by-county directory of city and town licensing pages at commerce.utah.gov/corporations/2021/11/15/business-licensing/. Find the county, then follow the link to the city or town. A few entries list only a town name rather than a full licensing page, so you may need to search that town's website or call its office directly.

A city license does not transfer. A license from one city does not cover a business working inside another city. If a contractor works across several cities, each city where the work happens is a separate check. Confirm current fees and whether the city offers online verification, since requirements differ by jurisdiction.

4. Labor Commission coverage waiver status

The Utah Labor Commission offers a coverage waiver status check. Use it when a business claims a waiver from carrying workers' compensation coverage and you want to confirm that the waiver is on record. Confirm with the Labor Commission how to run the lookup and what its result covers.

Vetting a contractor before you sign

Run these four checks before you pay a deposit. Each takes a few minutes.

1. Match the legal name. The name on the license must match the legal name on the contract. A trade name on a bid or a truck is not enough.
2. Check class and status. Confirm the license is active, unexpired, and covers the work you are paying for.
3. Ask for proof of insurance. Request the certificate, check its dates, and confirm the insured name matches the contractor on your contract.
4. Compare the Division record. Pull the entity from the Business Entity Search. Confirm it is active and that its principal individuals line up with the person you are dealing with.

If any of the four checks fails or does not match, stop and ask questions before you sign. A contractor who cannot match its own records is a risk you can avoid.

Quick reference table

Lookup	What it answers	Where	Cost
Business Entity Search	Does the entity exist, and is it active or expired?	corporations.utah.gov/searches	Certificate of Existence: $12 short form, $20 long form
DOPL license lookup	Is a professional or contractor license active, and what does it cover?	dopl.utah.gov	Confirm on the DOPL site
City or county license	Does the local business license exist and is it current?	commerce.utah.gov/corporations/2021/11/15/business-licensing/	Set by the city or county, confirm with them
Labor Commission coverage waiver	Is a workers' compensation coverage waiver on record?	Utah Labor Commission	Confirm with the Commission

Common mistakes

• Searching the county clerk for an assumed name. DBAs are filed with the Division.
• Treating a sales tax account as a license. A TAP registration is a tax record, not permission to work.
• Assuming an active entity holds the trade license. The Division record and the DOPL record are separate searches.
• Assuming a city license covers the next city over. It does not transfer.
• Relying on a printed copy of a license. Check the live record, since a copy can be out of date.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a statewide Utah business license search?

No. Utah has no single statewide business license lookup and no general state business license. You combine the Division, DOPL, and local records, as described above.

Do I need a license to form an LLC?

Forming an LLC is a registration, not a license. You file a Certificate of Organization, which carries a $59 filing fee. The business may still need local and industry licenses to operate.

Who do I contact if a record looks wrong?

Contact the agency that issued the record: the Division for entity records, DOPL for professional and contractor licenses, and the city or county for local licenses. Ask the agency to confirm the record in writing before you rely on it.

When to get professional help

A lookup shows what a record says, not what it means for your deal. If a record conflicts with what a business tells you, or if a licensing dispute, lien, or liability question is involved, talk with a Utah attorney. For tax questions, such as sales tax registration, a Utah CPA can help. Official resources include the Utah State Tax Commission and the Division of Corporations and Commercial Code. To file or manage a registration, use the Utah Business Registration System, which requires a UtahID login. For help with the planning side of starting a business, the Utah Small Business Development Center is a useful starting point.