8 permits · verified 2026-10-05
What permits do you need to open a retail store in Mohave County?
In short
A retail store in Mohave County, AZ has 1 permit that applies to every business of this type, plus 7 more that depend on your premises, signage or how you are set up. Arizona Corporation Commission, Corporations Division charges $45 a year for a corporation; $10 for a nonprofit — an LLC files none for the annual report. 3 of the 8 are charged as a range or formula rather than a flat fee. Verified 2026-10-05 against the issuing agencies’ published fee schedules.
Permits particular to a retail store in Mohave County
| Permit | Issuing agency | Fee | Renews | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retail and Packaged Food Permit, by Floor Area (permits 1041 to 1043)only if it applies to you | Mohave County Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Division | Under 50 square feet (permit 1041): $173.00 base; $188.00 total. 51 to 2,000 square feet (permit 1042): $360.00 base; $375.00 total. Over 2,000 square feet (permit 1043): $510.00 base; $525.00 total. As printed on the county's Environmental Health service-fees page. | annual; the county FAQ describes its operating license fees as annual, and the exact renewal date is not stated on the fee page, the FAQ or the application page | 2026-10-05 |
Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.
Local permits that apply to every type of business in Mohave County
| Permit | Issuing agency | Fee | Renews | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City Business License (Kingman, Bullhead City, Lake Havasu City or Town of Colorado City)only if it applies to you | Incorporated cities and towns: Kingman, Bullhead City, Lake Havasu City and Town of Colorado City | Varies — formula on the Mohave County page | set by each city; not stated in the county's pages | 2026-10-05 |
| General Business License — Mohave County Clerk of the Board Positiononly if it applies to you | Mohave County Clerk of the Board of Supervisors | No fee | not applicable: the county's statement covers a general business license at county level | 2026-10-05 |
Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.
AZ registrations that apply to every type of business
| Permit | Issuing agency | Fee | Renews | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Reportonly if it applies to you | Arizona Corporation Commission, Corporations Division | $45 a year for a corporation; $10 for a nonprofit — an LLC files none | annual, in the corporation's anniversary month on a date the Commission sets | 2026-09-03 |
| Publication of the Formation Noticeonly if it applies to you | Arizona Corporation Commission, Corporations Division | No fee | within 60 days of approval, in three consecutive publications | 2026-09-03 |
| Articles of Organization (LLC)only if it applies to you | Arizona Corporation Commission, Corporations Division | $50 one-time filing; $85 expedited | perpetual — Arizona LLCs file no annual report | 2026-09-03 |
| Articles of Incorporationonly if it applies to you | Arizona Corporation Commission, Corporations Division | $60 one-time filing; $95 expedited | perpetual, but an annual report is due each anniversary month | 2026-09-03 |
| Transaction Privilege Tax License | Arizona Department of Revenue | Varies — formula on the AZ page | calendar year — renewal is due 1 January and delinquent after January | 2026-09-03 |
Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.
How much does it actually cost to permit a retail store in Mohave County?
There is no single figure, and any site quoting one is rounding away the part that matters. Of the 8 records listed for a retail store in Mohave County, AZ, 1 apply to every business of this type and 7 are conditional. Adding every fee on the page together would overstate what most operators pay, because it would include permits they never need.
3 of the 8 are charged as a range or a formula set by the issuing agency, and 2 have no fee published at all. The ones particular to this business that vary:
Retail and Packaged Food Permit, by Floor Area (permits 1041 to 1043): Under 50 square feet (permit 1041): $173.00 base; $188.00 total. 51 to 2,000 square feet (permit 1042): $360.00 base; $375.00 total. Over 2,000 square feet (permit 1043): $510.00 base; $525.00 total. As printed on the county's Environmental Health service-fees page.
The other 2 variable fees belong to permits that apply to every type of business here; their formulas are set out on the Mohave County permits page and the AZ state page.
Which offices issue these permits in Mohave County?
Permits for a retail store in Mohave County, AZ come from 5 separate offices: Mohave County Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Division, Incorporated cities and towns: Kingman, Bullhead City, Lake Havasu City and Town of Colorado City, Mohave County Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, Arizona Corporation Commission, Corporations Division, Arizona Department of Revenue. No single office issues them all, which is why an opening means filing in several places rather than one.
- Mohave County Department of Public Health, Environmental Health DivisionIssues 1 permit on this page: Retail and Packaged Food Permit, by Floor Area (permits 1041 to 1043)3250 E. Kino Avenue, Kingman, AZ · (928) 757-0901www.mohave.gov/departments/public-health/office-locations-by-department
- Incorporated cities and towns: Kingman, Bullhead City, Lake Havasu City and Town of Colorado CityIssues 1 permit on this page: City Business License (Kingman, Bullhead City, Lake Havasu City or Town of Colorado City)www.mohave.gov/departments/procurement/business-licenses-within-the-county
- Mohave County Clerk of the Board of SupervisorsIssues 1 permit on this page: General Business License — Mohave County Clerk of the Board Position700 W. Beale Street, Kingman, AZwww.mohave.gov/departments/clerk-of-the-board/frequently-asked-questions
- Arizona Corporation Commission, Corporations DivisionIssues 4 permits on this page: Annual Report, Publication of the Formation Notice, Articles of Organization (LLC), Articles of Incorporation1300 West Washington Street, Phoenix, AZ 85007 · (602) 542-3026ArizonaBusinessCenter.azcc.gov
- Arizona Department of RevenueIssues 1 permit on this page: Transaction Privilege Tax License1600 West Monroe Street, Phoenix, AZ 85007 · (602) 255-3381azdor.gov/transaction-privilege-tax/tpt-license
What does a retail store need in Mohave County that other businesses do not?
1 of the 1 permit particular to a retail store here applies to no other business type we cover in Mohave County: Retail and Packaged Food Permit, by Floor Area (permits 1041 to 1043).
Retail and Packaged Food Permit, by Floor Area (permits 1041 to 1043)
Applies only to a retail store that sells food, and the tier depends on the floor area devoted to food sales. The county's service-fees page lists the three tiers: under 50 square feet at $173.00 base and $188.00 total, 51 to 2,000 square feet at $360.00 base and $375.00 total, and over 2,000 square feet at $510.00 base and $525.00 total, per permit per year. Figures are as published on the page labelled 'FEE 2026' and 'Effective June 1, 2026'. The Board of Supervisors' approval that A.R.S. § 36-187(C)(3) requires is not stated on that page, and no adopting order is cited for this schedule; the county's hearing notice dated April 18, 2026 lists the revised fee schedule for the Board's May 4, 2026 meeting. A store selling no food falls outside this record.
The other 2 local permits in the tables apply to every type of business in Mohave County, AZ; what each one involves is set out on the Mohave County permits page. The 5 state-level registrations apply to every type of business across AZ and are covered on the AZ state page.
How does a retail store compare with other businesses in Mohave County?
The closest match is a auto repair shop, which shares 0 of these permits. A retail store also needs Retail and Packaged Food Permit, by Floor Area (permits 1041 to 1043). A auto repair shop needs Building Permit, Unincorporated Mohave County (new construction, remodel or change of use), Septic (Onsite Wastewater) System Authorization, where there is no public sewer and Automotive Repair Licensing — State of Arizona position, which a retail store does not.
| Business | Its own permits | Shared with a retail store | Only a retail store needs | Only it needs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auto repair shops | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Childcare centres | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Coffee shops | 9 | 0 | 1 | 9 |
| Contractors and trades | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Fitness studios | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Food trucks | 7 | 0 | 1 | 7 |
| Restaurants | 11 | 0 | 1 | 11 |
| Salons and barbers | 4 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Veterinary clinics | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
Sources
Every figure for the permits explained on this page was read from one of these government pages on the date shown. Sources for the permits that apply to every type of business are listed on the Mohave County permits page and the AZ state page. Confirmed by Editorial Team.
- Environmental Health service fees page, labelled 'FEE 2026' and 'Effective June 1, 2026': the county's current web schedule for food service, mobile, temporary, day care kitchen and retail food permitsMohave County Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Division · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-05
- Notice of hearing on the Environmental Health fee schedule, Board of Supervisors regular meeting of Monday, May 4, 2026 (notice dated April 18, 2026)Mohave County Board of Supervisors · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-05
- Arizona Revised Statutes section 36-187 — county boards of health adopt the schedule of permit feesArizona State Legislature · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-03
- A.R.S. § 11-251.08 — county fee schedule; subsection C requires a public hearing with at least fifteen days' published noticeArizona Legislature · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-05
- Mohave County Public Health office locations by department (Kingman, Bullhead City and Lake Havasu City offices)Mohave County Department of Public Health · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-05
Related
Commercial Compliance Hub publishes information, not legal advice. Requirements change — confirm anything you rely on with the issuing agency before you file.