Photography Business Permit Requirements in Reno, NV

1. EIN (Employer Identification Number)

   Required if you have employees or operate as an LLC/corporation. Also useful for opening a business bank account and separating personal and business finances. Free from the IRS.

   Official government source

   Free·Immediate (online application)

   Free

   Immediate (online application)

2. FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate (Drone Photography)

   Required if you offer commercial aerial photography using drones (unmanned aircraft systems). Must pass the FAA Aeronautical Knowledge Test at an approved testing center. Operating commercially without this certificate can result in significant fines. This is a federal requirement enforced by the FAA regardless of state.

   Official government source

   $175 (exam fee)·2–4 weeks to study and schedule exam

   $175 (exam fee)

   2–4 weeks to study and schedule exam

1. Nevada — No State Photography License Required

   Nevada does not require a state-issued license or certification to offer paid photography services. Photography is an unregulated profession at the state level — there is no state board or licensing agency that certifies photographers in Nevada. Every Nevada business still needs the annual State Business License from the Secretary of State (NRS 76.100, $200/year, or a qualifying exemption), and photographers selling prints or other tangible goods need a Nevada sales tax permit from the Department of Taxation.

   Official government source

   N/A·N/A

   N/A

   N/A

2. Nevada Department of Taxation — Sales Tax Permit

   Nevada requires photographers to collect sales tax on tangible goods sold (prints, albums). Digital deliveries may be exempt. The combined rate in Reno (Washoe County) is 8.265%. Register with the Nevada Department of Taxation.

   Official government source

   $15 per business location, if a permit is required (form TAX-F006)·Immediate to 1 week (online)

   $15 per business location, if a permit is required (form TAX-F006)

   Immediate to 1 week (online)

1. Reno — General Business License / Occupational Tax Certificate

   Businesses operating within Reno city limits must obtain a City of Reno business license, applied for through the One Regional Licensing & Permits portal (onenv.us), which also serves Sparks and Washoe County. This applies to photography studios and freelance photographers. Home-based photographers apply as a home-based business and must meet the city's home-based business criteria under Reno Municipal Code 18.03.405(k), including limiting the business to 25 percent of the living space or 500 square feet, whichever is less. Washoe County licensing applies only to unincorporated addresses.

   Official government source

   One-time application processing fee $40 (commercial) or $25 (home based), plus applicable Planning Division Review and Building Compliance Review fees of $90 each (commercial) or $38 each (home based); the annual license fee is based on gross receipts, starting at $70 for gross receipts of $20,000 or less (City of Reno FY2026/2027 adopted fee schedule)·1–3 weeks

   One-time application processing fee $40 (commercial) or $25 (home based), plus applicable Planning Division Review and Building Compliance Review fees of $90 each (commercial) or $38 each (home based); the annual license fee is based on gross receipts, starting at $70 for gross receipts of $20,000 or less (City of Reno FY2026/2027 adopted fee schedule)

   1–3 weeks

2. Reno — Commercial Photography / Film Permit (Public Locations)

   If you conduct commercial photography or filming in public spaces in Reno (parks, streets, city-owned property), you need a City of Reno film permit, handled through the city's special event permitting process (Business License Division, 775-334-2090; applications via the OneNV/Accela portal). Requirements scale with location, crew size, and duration; street closures, trash removal, and city staff time are billed separately, and filming without a permit is subject to a fine. Small owner-operated portrait sessions may not trigger a permit — confirm with the city before shooting.

   Official government source

   $163.60 film permit application fee (City of Reno FY2026/2027 adopted fee schedule, effective 7/1/2026); expedited requests under 48 hours cost 1.5x the regular permit fee; cancellation within 48 business hours forfeits 10% of the permit fee; street closures and trash removal billed at actual cost·Apply well in advance; expedited processing available at 1.5x fee for requests under 48 hours

   $163.60 film permit application fee (City of Reno FY2026/2027 adopted fee schedule, effective 7/1/2026); expedited requests under 48 hours cost 1.5x the regular permit fee; cancellation within 48 business hours forfeits 10% of the permit fee; street closures and trash removal billed at actual cost

   Apply well in advance; expedited processing available at 1.5x fee for requests under 48 hours

Official Sources

• Reno Business Licensing
• Nevada Department of Taxation — Sales Tax Permit
• FAA — Become a Drone Pilot (Part 107)

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