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Oregon's answer is short. According to the Secretary of State's Start a Business Guide, the state does not issue a general business license other than the business registration with the Secretary of State. Many trades and activities still need a license, permit or certificate from a state board, and cities and counties can add their own.
How do you find out what applies to you?
Start with the License Directory on Business Xpress. The guide calls it a searchable list of over 1,500 licenses, permits, registrations and certifications, and says it covers some city licenses but not all. If a search returns too many results, use the "Filter your results" tool. Add "Oregon" and your city to any general web search too.
Not sure after that? The guide says to contact the Office of Small Business Assistance.
What about your city and county?
Cities and counties may require a license for businesses operating in their area. If you work inside city limits, check with city offices. For county rules, the guide points to county administrative offices, and the planning department or commissioner's office is a good first call.
Contractors face an extra layer. The guide says Portland's Metro government set up a single regional contractor's business license that allows work in any of the 20 cities around Portland, but not Portland itself. Other cities may require their own.
Which trades need a state license?
Construction is the one the guide spells out. ORS chapter 701 requires licensing with the Construction Contractors Board for paid construction work that improves real estate, including residential, commercial, industrial and public works. Violations can bring civil penalties of up to $5,000 per offense. Landscaping has its own board and needs two licenses, one for the individual and one for the business.
We did not read other boards. If you work in health, finance, transport or food, use the directory to find yours.
What do you register after forming the LLC?
Oregon has no state sales tax, according to the guide, so you will not look for a sales tax permit. Taxes still apply. Income tax and employer obligations run through the Department of Revenue and other agencies, and the guide lists contacts. We did not read their pages and cannot quote fees or forms.
Your sequence looks like this:
- File the LLC through the Oregon Business Registry. The Articles of Organization carry a $100 fee, covered on our Oregon LLC page.
- Get an EIN with the EIN guide.
- Check the License Directory.
- Call your city and county.
- Set up the yearly renewal.
Is the annual report a license renewal?
No. The LLC renews its registration each year on the anniversary of its original filing, and the fee is $100. That keeps the entity active. Many occupational licenses also renew yearly, but those go to their own boards. Do not treat one as covering the other.
If you trade under a name other than the LLC's, that is a separate assumed business name filing, covered in our Oregon state guide and in DBA vs LLC.
Where do you check a license?
We did not read a single Oregon license lookup, and the directory describes how to get a license rather than verifying one. To check the LLC, use the business search covered in the Oregon business guide. For general lookups, see business license lookup. Compare with Washington and Idaho.
What this page does not cover
It does not list city codes, board fees, tax rates or renewal dates for specific licenses. It is a guide and not legal advice. Confirm each requirement with the agency that issues it.