Business Licensing & Operations, Salt Lake City

If you live in Salt Lake City or are thinking about moving there, business licensing & operations are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Salt Lake City has 6 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of business licensing & operations, and some of them might surprise you.

Towing Companies

Salt Lake City licenses wrecker services and bars non-consent tows from private property unless the lot is posted with compliant signs or the vehicle is abandoned.

Key details: License required: Wrecker/towing operations, § 5.84.110. Sign minimum size: 18" x 24", § 5.84.190. Abandoned-vehicle threshold: 7 days unattended. Police notice: Immediate, on non-owner-requested tows.

Towing without the required § 5.84.110 license, or removing a vehicle from private property without owner consent and without compliant § 5.84.190 signage (or an abandonment/driveway exception), violates Chapter 5.84 and can void the license under § 5.84.150.

Compared to other cities, Salt Lake City takes a harder line on towing companies. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Tobacco Retail License

Selling cigars or tobacco in Salt Lake City, wholesale or retail, requires a city license before any sale, offer, or barter can occur.

Key details: License required: before any tobacco sale. Applies to: wholesale and retail sellers. Filed with: City License Supervisor. Required attachment: copy of Federal ATF license. Fee basis: city consolidated fee schedule.

Selling tobacco without the license is a title 5 violation; officers may issue a misdemeanor citation or a civil notice of violation under Salt Lake City Code § 5.88.020, with penalties set under § 1.12.050.

Adult Entertainment

Sexually oriented businesses need a city business license and must clear a 1,000-foot buffer from schools, parks, churches, homes and daycares before they can open.

Key details: License required: Yes, § 5.61.070. Buffer from schools/parks/homes: 1,000 feet. Buffer from another SOB: 1,000 feet. Gateway corridor buffer: 165 feet. Landmark site buffer: 330 feet.

Operating without the § 5.61.070 license, or siting within a prohibited buffer zone under § 21A.36.140, is unlawful and can void the license or block occupancy.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Salt Lake City actively enforces its adult entertainment requirements.

Secondhand Dealers

Salt Lake City requires anyone buying, bartering, or selling secondhand goods, junk, or precious metals to hold a city license before opening for business.

Key details: License required: Before operating, per § 5.60.020. Holding period: 30 days on received items. Records retained: 2 years, City Police access. Business hours: 7 AM-7 PM (later Sat/holidays). Enforcing agency: Salt Lake City Police Department.

Operating unlicensed, disposing of items before the 30-day hold, or failing to keep required records is a misdemeanor citable by Salt Lake City Police under Title 5.60; each unlawful act is enforceable separately.

Compared to other cities, Salt Lake City takes a harder line on secondhand dealers. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Auto Repair on Residential Property

Salt Lake City flatly bans running an auto repair business out of a home. It's listed first among businesses that can never qualify as a home occupation, no matter how small the operation.

Key details: Prohibited use: Auto repairs (item 1 of 13). Governing section: § 21A.36.030.C. Applies to: All dwellings citywide. Permit authority: Business Licensing Division.

Operating without a valid home occupation permit or running a prohibited use can bring permit denial, license revocation, and city zoning enforcement action against the property.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Salt Lake City actively enforces its auto repair on residential property requirements.

Pawnbrokers

Salt Lake City requires a city license before anyone can operate as a pawnbroker, backed by a $5,000 bond and strict recordkeeping rules enforced by the police department.

Key details: License required: Yes, before operating. Bond required: $5,000 corporate surety bond. Item hold period: 30 days before disposal. Business hours: 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM (later Saturdays). Records access: Available to police anytime.

Operating without a license, refusing police access to the required record book, or disposing of pawned items before the 30-day hold expires is unlawful under Chapter 5.48.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Salt Lake City actively enforces its pawnbrokers requirements.

The Bottom Line

Salt Lake City is tougher than many cities when it comes to business licensing & operations. Out of the 6 rules covered here, 5 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Salt Lake City, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

These rules come from Salt Lake City's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.