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Connecticut does not offer one general license that every business holds. The state's Business Licenses and Permits page sends you to different agencies depending on the kind of business. Start by working out which agency covers yours.
How do I find out which license I need?
Use the New Business Checklist on business.ct.gov. It asks about your business and then tells you which license types apply. You can run it even if the business is already open. The state adds one tip: do not submit the form if you are only using it to explore.
Before you apply for any license, the state says there may be other steps to take. It points to registering the business and getting a Connecticut tax registration number. For an LLC, that begins with the formation filing, covered in our Connecticut LLC guide. You will also want an EIN, so see how to get an EIN.
Where do I apply?
Many licenses can be applied for or renewed on the eLicense website. If your business is not listed there, the state's page gives a list by business type with the agency that deals with it.
- Department of Consumer Protection (DCP): licenses for many businesses and professions, from accounting firms to welders.
- Department of Agriculture: agricultural, aquacultural and domestic animal businesses.
- Department of Energy and Environmental Protection: permits and licenses for air emissions, water and land use, and more.
- Department of Banking: banks, debt adjusters, mortgage brokers and more.
- Department of Motor Vehicles: auto dealers and repairers, commercial driving schools and transportation businesses.
- Office of Early Childhood: child care centers, group and family child care homes, and youth camps.
- Department of Public Health: healthcare facilities and professionals, including tattooists and asbestos technicians.
The state page lists fees on each agency's own pages, not in one table, so we quote none here.
How do I check a license?
The lookup runs on the eLicense portal. The Department of Consumer Protection's Verify a License page links to step by step instructions and a video on how to look up and verify a license, permit or registration. Our business license lookup guide covers the general method.
The state treats registration as a step that comes before the license. The Business Licenses and Permits page links to how to register your business and how to get a Connecticut tax registration number. Work through those two first, then run the checklist, then apply.
What about trade names and town permits?
A trade name is not a license. The state says it gives public notice only and does not stand in for a license or permit. Trade names are filed with the town clerk. We cover the rules in the Connecticut guide.
Towns can also have their own permit and zoning rules, and we did not find a state page that covers them. Ask your town hall before you sign a lease. For a neighbour with a different setup, see the New York business license guide.
This page does not cover tax rates, local permits, or fees charged by each licensing agency.