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North Carolina · 3 jurisdictions covered

Business licences and permits in North Carolina

North Carolina fixes the restaurant permit at $120 a year statewide and forbids counties to set their own, and it abolished the general local privilege licence outright in 2015. Its general contractor licence is tiered by project value.

What applies everywhere in North Carolina

14 requirements are set by North Carolina itself and apply whichever city you open in. Local permits sit on top of them.

Requirements set by North Carolina that apply in every jurisdiction in the state, with the issuing agency, the published fee and the date each was last checked against its source
Annual ReportNorth Carolina Department of the Secretary of State, Business Registration Division$21–$203 a year — $21 to $25 for a corporation, $200 to $203 for an LLCOnly in some cases2026-09-03
Articles of IncorporationNorth Carolina Department of the Secretary of State, Business Registration Division$125 one-time filingOnly in some cases2026-09-03
Articles of Organization (LLC)North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State, Business Registration Division$125 one-time filingOnly in some cases2026-09-03
Automotive Repair Shop Licence (not required by North Carolina)North Carolina State Highway Patrol, Investigative Services UnitNo feeOnly in some cases2026-09-03
Barbershop PermitNorth Carolina Board of Barber and Electrolysis Examiners$50 a year, plus a one-off $120 inspection for a new shopOnly in some cases2026-09-03
Certificate of Registration (sales and use tax)North Carolina Department of RevenueNo feeTo every business2026-09-03
Certified Food Protection ManagerNorth Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, Environmental Health SectionNo feeOnly in some cases2026-09-03
Child Care Centre LicenceNorth Carolina Division of Child Development and Early Education$52–$600 a year, banded by licensed capacityTo every business2026-09-03
Cosmetic Art Shop LicenceNorth Carolina Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners$25 inspection plus a $10 processing charge plus $3 per chair to open, then $3 per active booth a year to renewTo every business2026-09-03
Food Establishment PermitNorth Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, Environmental Health Section$120 a year, statewideTo every business2026-09-03
General Business Licence (does not exist in North Carolina)North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State, Business Registration DivisionNo feeOnly in some cases2026-09-03
General Contractor LicenceNorth Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors$75–$125 application — $75 limited, $100 intermediate, $125 unlimitedOnly in some cases2026-09-03
Safety Inspection Station LicenceNorth Carolina State Highway Patrol, Investigative Services UnitNo feeOnly in some cases2026-09-03
Veterinary Facility PermitNorth Carolina Veterinary Medical Board$150 a year; $225 where the facility also boards animalsTo every business2026-09-03

Which North Carolina city are you opening in?

Is there a single North Carolina business licence?

No. North Carolina has no single licence that covers every business. What you need depends on your industry, your city and your county, and most of the obligations that matter are issued locally rather than at state level.

The state-level registrations that do apply to nearly everyone are tax accounts rather than licences — which is why they are easy to miss.

Who issues permits in North Carolina?

By industry

Commercial Compliance Hub publishes information, not legal advice. Requirements change — confirm anything you rely on with the issuing agency before you file.