Business Licenses and Permits
The state of North Carolina has no single business license that will ensure compliance with the numerous state licenses, permits, and regulatory requirements. Additionally, your business may be subject to local and/or federal requirements. Simply knowing which agencies to contact for all of these permits can be a very confusing task for a new entrepreneur.
Contact the North Carolina Department of Commerce’s Business ServiCenter at 800.228.8443 or 919.807.4280 for state licensing and permitting requirements.
North Carolina Department of Commerce
301 N. Wilmington St.
Raleigh, NC 27601-1058
919.733.4151
www.nccommerce.com
Business Link North Carolina
301 N. Wilmington St.
Raleigh, NC 27601
800.228.8443
www.blnc.gov
Provides information and assistance in locating and applying for business licenses.
Business Name Registration
Wake County Register of Deeds
1 Bank of America Plaza
421 Fayetteville St., Suite 300
Raleigh, NC 27601
919.856.5460
http://rod.wakegov.com/
Application and information on business name registration
City of Raleigh Business License
City of Raleigh | Department of Finance/Revenus Division
222 W. Hargett St.
PO Box 590
Raleigh, NC 27602
919.996.3200
www.raleighnc.gov
Processes applications for all businesses conducting business in the Raleigh city limits
Inspections and Permits
Wake County Department of Planning, Development and Inspections
336 Fayetteville St., First Floor
Raleigh, NC 27601
919.856.6060
www.wakegov.com/inspect
Building permits, sign permits, inspections, and zoning permits
North Carolina Privilege License
North Carolina Department of Revenue
501 N. Wilmington St.
Raleigh, NC 27604
919.733.7211
877.308.9103
www.dor.state.nc.us
Sales and Use Tax Registration: 919.733.3661 or 877.252.3052
License and Excise Tax Division: 919.733.3673
North Carolina Wholesale License Tax Division: 919.733.3661
Corporate Income and Franchise Tax: 877.252.3052
Corporation Charter (Corporation Only)
North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State
Corporations Division
2 S. Salisbury St.
Raleigh, NC 27601
919.807.2225
www.secretary.state.nc.us/corporations
For general information on corporate application and name availability, contact the town hall of your municipality.
Apex
73 Hunter St.
Apex, NC 27502
919.249.3400
www.apexnc.org
Cary
316 N. Academy St.
Cary, NC 27513
919.469.4000
www.townofcary.org
Fuquay-Varina
401 Old Honeycutt Road
Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526
919.552.1400
www.fuquay-varina.org
Garner
900 Seventh Ave.
Garner, NC 27529
919.773.4407
www.garnernc.gov
Holly Springs
128 S. Main St.
Holly Springs, NC 27540
919.552.6221
www.hollyspringsnc.us
Knightdale
950 Steeple Square Court
Knightdale, NC 27545
919.217.2220
www.knightdalenc.gov
Morrisville
100 Town Hall Drive
Morrisville, NC 27560
919.463.6200
www.townofmorrisville.org
Rolesville
502 Southtown Circle
Rolesville, NC 27571
919.556.3506
www.rolesvillenc.gov
Wake Forest
301 S. Brooks St.
Wake Forest, NC 27587
919.435.9400
www.wakeforestnc.gov
Wendell
15 E. Fourth St.
Wendell, NC 27591
919.365.4450
www.townofwendell.com
Zebulon
1003 N. Arendell Ave.
Zebulon, NC 27597
919.269.7455
www.townofzebulon.org
