For the first time, businesses operating inside the Town of San Tan Valley limits are required to hold a town business license. The requirement is one of the most significant changes to come out of incorporation, and it affects every local business owner. This guide explains the requirement in plain language. On a phone? Tap any number to call.

Who the requirement applies to

The requirement depends on where your business operates, not your mailing address.

• Inside the Town of San Tan Valley limits: Yes. The Town Code requires a business license for any trade, profession, occupation, or business operating in town limits.
• In the unincorporated San Tan Valley area: No town license is required. Pinal County does not require a general business license (you still need your state TPT license if you sell taxable goods or services).

Confirm which side of the boundary your business is on: check your address on our interactive map. The red line marks the town boundary.

Who is exempt inside town limits

The Town Code exempts three groups from the license requirement:

• Residential rental owners — landlords and property managers renting homes for residential use only
• Special-event vendors — vendors selling only as part of an authorized special event are covered by the event's authorization
• Cottage food producers — home food producers covered by Arizona's food-product laws (A.R.S. §3-561), for those sales only

What getting the license involves

1. Apply through the Town Clerk (520-216-5702, town office at 31505 N. Schnepf Rd, Suite #101). The application asks for your name and addresses, a short description of your business, your state TPT (privilege tax) license number, and proof you're set up for the town's sales tax.
2. Confirm zoning compliance. Before applying, confirm your location complies with the Town's zoning rules; that responsibility rests with the business owner, not the Town. Our Permits & Zoning guide explains how.
3. Pass a fire safety inspection. Fire inspections continue to be performed by Rural Metro Fire (480-627-6200). The inspection cycle depends on your business type and is listed as Annual, Biennial, or Triennial. The business owner is responsible for scheduling the inspection and for paying Rural Metro's inspection fee, which appears on Rural Metro's own fee schedule.
4. The Town issues within 60 days of a complete application.

What the license costs

For most standard businesses, the fee is $50. Fees vary by business type, and the full list appears on the Town's approved fee schedule under the General Government section, available on the Town's website. The Town's business license documentation is still under review by its legal team, so specific terms may be refined before launch.

Rural Metro's inspection fee is separate from the town license fee and is paid directly to Rural Metro.

Home-based businesses

Home-based businesses are allowed in the residential areas of the Town of San Tan Valley. Depending on the business function and type, the operation may require review before it can be approved for a home-based setting. The standard fee for that review is $50, and it will be handled through the same business license software the Town is implementing.

When the requirement takes effect

The Town plans to launch its Business License Program in fall 2026, with the licensing software implemented and ready by October 1, 2026. Once the system is fully in place, applications will be submitted online.

If you are already operating inside town limits, the Town says a grace period will be offered, though the exact length has not been decided yet. Immediate action is not required, but business owners can prepare now by gathering their state TPT license number, confirming zoning compliance, and planning for the Rural Metro fire safety inspection.

(Source: answers provided directly by the Town of San Tan Valley, July 2026.)

Additional license terms

• Licenses run on a calendar year and expire December 31 (fees can be prorated for mid-year starts).
• One license is required per location; a business with a second location needs a second license.
• The license must be displayed at your place of business (or carried, if your business is mobile), and shown to town officials or law enforcement on request.
• Licenses are non-transferable.
• If a license is denied or revoked, the Town Code provides a full appeal process: a hearing with the Town Manager, an appeal to Town Council, and then superior court. An interim license allows a business to continue operating during an appeal.

What we're still confirming with the Town

Two details remain outstanding: the length of the grace period for businesses already operating, and when enforcement begins. We will update this article as soon as the Town announces them. To be notified, sign up for our Friday Updates.

Quick reference

This article is a plain-language summary, not legal advice. The controlling text is Town Code Article 9, available on the Town's website.

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