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Washoe County

Washoe County Community Services Department, Business License Division

In short

Washoe County Community Services Department, Business License Division issues 3 permits we publish for Washoe County, last verified 2026-10-09. Each carries the fee as the agency publishes it, with a link to the schedule it was read from.

What this agency issues

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Washoe County General Business License (unincorporated area; includes home-based and mobile businesses)Washoe County Community Services Department, Business License DivisionNew business, first fiscal year: $77.75, including the $2.75 Regional Technology Fee (WCC 25.025(6)). Annual renewal by prior-year gross receipts in unincorporated Washoe County (Master Business License Fee Schedule, effective April 20, 2018; each amount includes the $2.75 technology fee): up to $25,000 $57.75; $25,001-$50,000 $67.75; $50,001-$100,000 $117.75; $100,001-$300,000 $142.75; $300,001-$500,000 $237.75; $500,001-$1,000,000 $347.75; $1,000,001-$2,500,000 $602.75; $2,500,001-$5,000,000 $632.75; $5,000,001 and over $657.75. Change of location $20. Late renewal adds 25% at 31-60 days and 50% at 61-90 days; operating before licensure adds 100%.annual; expires on the last day of the anniversary month (WCC 25.029)2026-10-09
Special Event / Temporary Sales or Service Business License (unincorporated area)only if it applies to youWashoe County Community Services Department, Business License DivisionTemporary sales or service, no booths: $65.00 (WCC 25.0255(2)(j)). With booths: $65.00 plus a booth fee of $25 (1-4 booths), $50 (5-9), $100 (10-19), $150 (20-29), $200 (30-39), $250 (40-49), $300 (50-59), $350 (60-69), $400 (70-79), $450 (80-89), $500 (90-100), or $500 plus $5.00 for each booth over 100 (WCC 25.0255(2)(k)).valid for 31 days per calendar year; not renewable (WCC 25.0255(4))2026-10-09
Washoe County Liquor License (unincorporated area)only if it applies to youWashoe County Community Services Department, Business License Division$52–$302 per calendar quarter, payable in advance, plus the gross-receipts feeone calendar quarter (WCC 30.255)2026-10-09

Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.

About each permit

Washoe County General Business License (unincorporated area; includes home-based and mobile businesses)

WCC 25.015(1) requires a Washoe County business license to engage in any business in the county outside the limits of incorporated cities and towns, so this license applies in unincorporated Washoe County only; Reno and Sparks issue their own business licenses, as the county's July 2025 Business License Common Questions state. A new business pays $77.75 for its first fiscal year, including the $2.75 Regional Technology Fee (WCC 25.025(6), Ord. 1616; the same figure appears on the county application form, rev. 10/24). After that, WCC 25.025(5) applies the master business license fee schedule adopted by Board resolution, effective April 20, 2018, which prices the renewal on prior-year gross receipts in the unincorporated area from $57.75 (up to $25,000) to $657.75 ($5,000,001 and over). A mobile business pays this same general license fee: WCC 25.025(5) applies the master schedule to every business except those in 25.0255, 25.026 and 25.500-25.505, and WCC 25.022(1) states that mobile businesses are licensed at the office location, while other businesses need a license for each location. A change of location costs $20 (25.022(2)). Under 25.0265, a renewal paid 31-60 days late adds 25%, one paid 61-90 days late adds 50%, and a renewal is not approved after 90 days; operating before licensure adds a 100% penalty (25.025(1)-(2)). WCC 25.015(2)(a) exempts child care in private homes to six or fewer children. NRS 244.335(3) allows only one county license for a contractor licensed by the State Contractors' Board regardless of the number of classifications, and NRS 244.335(6) requires a seller of tangible goods to show its Department of Taxation permit before the license issues. Ask the Business License Division at 775-328-3733.

Special Event / Temporary Sales or Service Business License (unincorporated area)

A business selling goods or services temporarily in unincorporated Washoe County, for example at a special event, needs a special event license under WCC 25.0255 rather than the annual general license. As set in the ordinance text of WCC 25.0255, temporary sales or service with no booths costs $65.00 for a license valid for 31 days per calendar year (subsection (2)(j)). Temporary sales or service with booths costs $65.00 plus a booth fee that rises from $25 for 1-4 booths to $500 for 90-100 booths, plus $5.00 for each booth over 100 (subsection (2)(k)); subsection (3) places the booth fees on the event sponsor. Subsection (4) makes these licenses non-renewable. The license applies only in unincorporated Washoe County; Reno and Sparks run their own business licensing. A vendor serving food at an event also needs a Northern Nevada Public Health temporary food event permit, listed as its own record. Ask the Business License Division at 775-328-3733.

Washoe County Liquor License (unincorporated area)

WCC 30.110(1) requires a county liquor license to sell, distribute or provide intoxicating liquor in unincorporated Washoe County. Under NRS 244.350(1) the Board of County Commissioners and, in a county of under 700,000 people, the sheriff constitute the county liquor board, and under NRS 244.350(4) liquor dealers inside Reno or Sparks are regulated only by that city. The fees are set by the county's Master Liquor License Fee Schedule (Liquor and Gaming Board resolution adopted January 14, 2014; technology fee effective October 31, 2016): a fixed quarterly fee by license type, from $52 for package beer to $302 for a cabaret or importer/wholesaler, including the $2 technology fee, with no fee for a liquor-tasting license. On top of that, a licensee pays $1 per quarter for each $1,000 of annual gross liquor receipts over $25,000, except importer/wholesaler and temporary licenses; a new business pays $50 per quarter, where applicable, in place of the receipts fee. Fees are paid quarterly in advance (WCC 30.150(1)). Under WCC 30.152, a fee unpaid 15 days after it is due is delinquent and adds 25%, and a license unpaid at 30 days is deemed revoked. The license term is one calendar quarter (WCC 30.255). Employees who sell or serve liquor need a Sheriff's liquor work permit, listed as its own record. Ask the Business License Division at 775-328-3733.

Contact

Jurisdiction
Washoe County
Phone
775-328-3733

Contact details are taken from the agency’s own site or its published fee schedule. Where we have not verified a phone number we leave it blank rather than guess.

Sources

Every fee and term above was read from one of these government pages on the date shown.

  1. Business License Application with regulations (rev. 10/24)Washoe County Community Services Department, Business License · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-09
  2. Business License Common Questions (July 2025)Washoe County Community Services Department, Business License · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-09
  3. Master Business License Fee Schedule (adopted by Board resolution April 10, 2018; effective April 20, 2018)Washoe County Community Services Department, Business License · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-09
  4. Master Liquor License Fee Schedule (Liquor and Gaming Board resolution adopted January 14, 2014; technology fee effective October 31, 2016)Washoe County Community Services Department, Business License · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-09
  5. NRS Chapter 244, Counties: Government (§§244.335, 244.350)Nevada Legislature · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-09
  6. Washoe County Code §25.015 License required to engage in business; exemptionsWashoe County / Municode · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-09
  7. Washoe County Code §25.0255 Business license fees for special businessesWashoe County / Municode · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-09
  8. Washoe County Code Chapter 25, §25.025 General business license penalties; terms; fees; renewal; financial data (with §§25.022, 25.0265, 25.029)Washoe County / Municode · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-09
  9. Washoe County Code Chapter 30, Intoxicating Liquor (§§30.110, 30.150, 30.152, 30.223, 30.255)Washoe County / Municode · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-09

Other offices serving Washoe County

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