Wake County (unincorporated), NC business license
No. Wake County (unincorporated) doesn't charge a general business license; North Carolina repealed local privilege license taxes on July 1, 2015, per canons.sog.unc.edu (checked Oct 30, 2026).
Updated · 2 sources
There's no general business license in Wake County (unincorporated): North Carolina repealed local privilege license taxes in 2015. You still register with the state, and the local items below apply only if your business does that activity.
General city or county business license
Not required (statewide repeal July 1, 2015)
Statewide rule; this city's own page wasn't checked.
Local business tax at $50,000
$0 (no general local business tax)
State filing fees (LLC $125 + $200 annual report) are separate.
Beer & wine retail license
County: $25 on-premises beer, $5 off-premises beer, $25 on-premises wine, $25 off-premises wine (per year, May 1–Apr 30)
What you still need from the state
Form an LLC (Secretary of State)
$125 Articles of Organization
LLC annual report
$200 per year, due Apr 15 ($203 online by card)
Form a corporation
$125 Articles of Incorporation; annual report $25
State privilege license
Professional $50 privilege license (G.S. 105-41) repealed effective July 1, 2024; still required for loan agencies, pawnbrokers, check cashers
Sales tax registration (NCDOR)
Register with NCDOR if you sell taxable goods or services (no fee)
Trade and professional licenses
Trade/professional licenses come from state boards; NC Commerce lists them
North Carolina business license rules · South Carolina fees · Georgia fees
Sources
Fee change alerts
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