West Valley Side Hustle Business Licenses: Glendale, Peoria, Surprise, Goodyear & Avondale

TL;DR

• Unlike Phoenix, all five of these West Valley cities license most home-based businesses. The notable exception is Goodyear, whose code exempts home occupations that never receive customers, clients, or patrons. (Glendale, Peoria, Surprise, Goodyear, and Avondale licensing pages; Goodyear City Code §8-7-5.)
• City fees we verified (November 2, 2026): Glendale $25/year; Peoria $45 to start ($25 license + $20 one-time application fee), then $25/year; Surprise $84/year, with a prorated first-year fee as low as $21; Goodyear $75/year (per its FAQ); Avondale $35 to $65 to start depending on the quarter, then $40/year. Late penalties and card fees are extra. (City pages and fee schedules.)
• A city license is not a tax license. If what you sell is taxable, you also need an ADOR TPT license that lists your city location. All five cities collect their city TPT through ADOR. (ADOR.)
• City retail TPT rates on ADOR's October 1, 2026 rate table: Avondale 2.50%, Glendale 2.90%, Goodyear 2.50%, Peoria 1.80%, Surprise 2.80%. These are added to the state and Maricopa County rates. (ADOR TPT Rate Table.)
• Home occupation rules differ a lot. Surprise allows up to two non-resident employees. Glendale, Peoria, Goodyear, and Avondale don't allow non-resident employees working at the home without extra approval, and Glendale and Avondale say customers can't come to the home under their basic rules. (City zoning codes and handouts.)
• Common exemptions in Glendale, Goodyear, and Avondale include one-on-one lessons or tutoring from a home, unlicensed babysitting or caregiving, casual sales, and independent sales reps. Peoria's code lists far fewer exemptions. (City codes and pages.)

Who this guide is for

You live in Glendale, Peoria, Surprise, Goodyear, or Avondale and want to run a side hustle from home. That could be bookkeeping, tutoring, an Etsy shop, mobile detailing, photography, or lawn care. Our Arizona Business License for Side Hustles guide covers Phoenix (no general license) and Tucson, and our East Valley Side Hustle Business Licenses guide covers Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, Scottsdale, and Tempe. This guide covers five of the largest West Valley cities, where you'll usually need a city license.

We don't publish income claims. This page covers paperwork: what each city requires, what it costs, and the zoning limits on running a business from a house.

Quick comparison table

*City portion only, from ADOR's TPT rate table effective October 1, 2026. Confirm current rates on the ADOR rate table before you file.

Three separate things: city license, TPT license, and zoning

It's easy to mix these up:

1. City business license. Each city's permission to operate there. You get it from the city.
2. TPT license. Arizona's sales-tax-style license, issued by ADOR. You need it only if your activity is taxable, such as retail sales. ADOR says a home-based business uses the home address as its business location and that zoning compliance is the business owner's responsibility. (ADOR, TPT License.)
3. Home occupation zoning rules. These limit how you run the business from a house. In these cities, Planning usually reviews home businesses as part of the license application, but the rules still apply.

The Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) points out that it doesn't issue business or occupational licenses; you register with your city (or county, if you're unincorporated) for those. (ACC, 10 Steps to Starting a Business in Arizona.) An LLC is separate from all three. See How to Start an LLC in Arizona for Your Side Hustle.

Glendale

License: Glendale requires a City Business License for any person or business with a permanent physical business location in Glendale city limits. Glendale says all home occupations must get and keep a business license. P.O. boxes and mailbox-store addresses aren't accepted as locations. (City of Glendale, Business Licenses.)

• Fee: $25 to start and $25 a year to renew. Glendale's code says the license is valid for one year from the date it's issued, and the fee is non-refundable. (Glendale; Glendale City Code §21-135.)
• Late penalty: Glendale says a late penalty may be assessed if your initial application or renewal is more than 30 days late. We didn't find the amount on Glendale's page, so confirm it with Glendale Tax & License. (Glendale.)
• Working in Glendale from outside the city: Glendale's page says construction contractors located outside Glendale don't need a Glendale business license. Mobile food vendors, door-to-door peddlers and solicitors, and a few other activities have separate regulatory licenses. (Glendale.)
• Exemptions (City Code §21-133) include holders of certain Glendale regulatory licenses; real estate sales representatives; people working only as an employee or independent contractor of a licensed business; residential rental owners; casual sales; one-on-one lessons or tutoring from a residence (unless it's a home occupation under the zoning code); and childcare or babysitting that doesn't need a state license. Read the code itself, because the wording matters. (Glendale City Code §21-133.)
• TPT too: Glendale says businesses subject to TPT need an ADOR TPT license in addition to the city license. (Glendale.)
• Contact: Glendale Tax & License, taxlic@glendaleaz.com, (623) 930-3190. (Glendale.)

Home occupation rules: Glendale tells applicants to check zoning with Planning & Zoning, (623) 930-2800, before applying. (Glendale.) Glendale's current Home-Based Business Questionnaire cites Unified Development Code §35.3.204.G (the license page still links the older §7.304). Under the questionnaire, a by-right Class I home occupation:

• Is run only by residents, with no outside employees visiting the site.
• Has no customer traffic and no more than one commercial delivery vehicle a day.
• Has no signs or other exterior evidence, and parking for it is on site.
• Uses no more than 5% of the home's floor area for storage. The updated handout also allows limited storage in a garage or accessory building (up to 10% of that floor area), while the older §7.304 text bars activity and storage in the garage.
• Limits activity to 7 a.m.–10 p.m.

If you can't meet the first three standards (inside the home, residents only, no customer traffic), you need a Class II home occupation, which requires a conditional use permit. (Glendale, Home-Based Business Questionnaire.) Because two versions of the handout are online, confirm the garage and storage rules with Glendale Planning & Zoning before you rely on them.

Peoria

License: Peoria requires a business license for anyone doing business within city limits. It also applies to businesses based outside Peoria that solicit, canvass, advertise, deliver products, or perform services in the city. (City of Peoria, Business Licenses; Peoria City Code §11-52.)

• Fee: $45 to start, made up of a $25 license fee and a one-time $20 application fee. Both are non-refundable. (Peoria.)
• Term and renewal: Licenses are good for the calendar year and expire December 31. Peoria bills the $25 renewal automatically, and it's due by the last business day of January. (Peoria.)
• Late penalty: $12.50 if your application and fee aren't received within 30 days of starting business, and $12.50 for a late renewal. (Peoria.)
• Processing: Peoria says up to 30 days from when your application is accepted. Planning, Building, Fire, and Police may review it. If a building or fire permit turns out to be needed, you may have to reapply and pay the $45 again, so Peoria suggests checking with those departments first. (Peoria.)
• Exemptions: Peoria's code (§11-53) lists only a few: government agencies, certain nonprofits, some farm-produce sellers, and newspaper carriers. Peoria's page also says residential rental owners don't need a city business license but do need a TPT license. We didn't see a tutoring or casual-sale exemption, so ask Peoria if you think your activity is exempt. (Peoria City Code §11-53; Peoria.)
• Contact: Peoria Business Licensing, (623) 773-7160, businesslicense@peoriaaz.gov. (Peoria.)

Home occupation rules: Peoria's Planning department checks home businesses during license review. (Peoria.) The license page cites §21-809, but the current code places home occupations in §21-320. A by-right home occupation:

• Is run only by residents. No outside employees work at the site, and no more than one employee may report there for off-site work.
• Has no more than one business visitor at a time and two per hour.
• Has no signs, exterior display, or exterior storage.
• Keeps external activity to 7 a.m.–10 p.m.
• Doesn't store commercial vehicles at the home, though up to two vehicles used for both business and personal needs may be parked there.
• Has a valid city sales tax and/or business license and is approved before you start.

A conditional use permit is needed for things like a non-resident employee, outdoor storage, more visitors, or more than one commercial delivery a day. Peoria prohibits some uses as home occupations, including physicians, dentists, massage therapists, barber and beauty shops, dog grooming, kennels, restaurants, and vehicle repair or washing. (Peoria City Code §21-320.)

Surprise

License: Surprise's FAQ says anyone who practices, transacts, or carries on any business within city limits needs a city business license. That includes businesses located outside Surprise that enter the city to do business or perform services. The application must be approved before you may lawfully do business, and a separate license is needed for each location or business name. (City of Surprise, Business License FAQs; Business License Application.)

• Fee: Surprise cut its fee for businesses starting on or after January 1, 2026. The initial license is $84 if you start in January–March, $63 in April–June, $42 in July–September, and $21 in October–December. Renewal is $84 a year. (Surprise, Business License Fees; Citywide Fee Schedule, Resolution 2026-16.)
• Late payment: 25% of the base rate. (Surprise.)
• Term: Licenses run on a calendar year and expire December 31. (Surprise, online application.)
• Paying: Surprise says not to pay until your application is approved. Within 14 business days you'll get an email with the amount due, and licensing can take up to 20 calendar days. (Surprise.)
• Sole proprietors provide a state ID for each owner and a Sole Proprietor Eligibility Form, which reflects the state's lawful-presence rule. (Surprise; A.R.S. § 41-1080.)
• Exemptions: We didn't find a published exemption list on Surprise's licensing pages, so ask Surprise if you think your activity (for example, one-on-one tutoring) is exempt.
• Contact: business.license@surpriseaz.gov. (Surprise.)

Home occupation rules: Surprise's application has a home occupation section for every business run from a residence, and it asks about square footage, storage, customer visits, business vehicles, and deliveries. (Surprise, Business License Application.) Land Development Ordinance §106-10.23, as amended in 2025, makes home occupations a permitted accessory use in all residential districts when they:

• Have a valid city business license.
• Happen inside the home, garage, or accessory building (swim lessons and in-home day care are excepted).
• Use no more than 50% of the home's floor area or 400 square feet of a garage or accessory structure.
• Have no more than two employees who aren't residents or immediate family.
• Receive patrons or students only between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., unless a conditional use permit says otherwise.
• Have no exterior display or outdoor storage visible from the street, and no on-site advertising except a temporary sign during business hours.

The section also rules out semi-truck deliveries and substantial retailing or wholesaling on the premises. (Surprise Land Development Ordinance §106-10.23.) Because the code was amended recently, confirm current limits with Surprise Planning before you hire help or invite clients over.

Goodyear

License: Goodyear's code says anyone doing business in the city needs a license unless exempt, whether or not they have a fixed location in Goodyear. Licenses run through December 31. Goodyear updated its business license code in June 2024. (City of Goodyear, Business License Services; Goodyear City Code §8-7-2.)

• The home business exemption: Goodyear's code exempts home occupations that do not receive customers, clients, or patrons at any time. So an online-only or off-site business run from a Goodyear home may not need a city license, while one that hosts clients does. (Goodyear City Code §8-7-5.) Goodyear's older Home Based Business page still says all home businesses must register and renew yearly, so confirm with Goodyear which applies to you, especially if your activity is taxable.
• Fee: Goodyear's FAQ lists $75 a year for a new license or a renewal. That page still uses the older "business registration permit" name, so confirm the current fee when you apply. Online payments carry a 2.65% convenience fee, and late fees apply after December 31. (Goodyear, Business License FAQ.)
• Renewal: Goodyear says renewals begin around November 1 each year, with renewal fees due by December 31. (Goodyear.)
• Other exemptions (§8-7-5) include casual sales; independent sales reps who aren't a separate entity; one-on-one lessons or tutoring from a home; caregiving, childcare, or babysitting that doesn't need a state license; special-event-only vendors; certain real estate licensees; and residential rentals. (Goodyear City Code §8-7-5.)
• Contact: Goodyear Business License, bl@goodyearaz.gov, 623-882-7887 (option 4). For zoning and home business questions, Goodyear's Development Services counter is at 623-934-3004 (option 2). (Goodyear.)

Home occupation rules: Goodyear's code defines a home occupation as a business in a residential district that:

• Has no non-resident employee working at the site and no commercial storage.
• Receives patrons or clients only between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., with client parking on the property or directly in front.
• Shows no exterior sign of the business and creates no nuisances beyond the property line.

The code's examples of acceptable home occupations include consulting (accounting, law, insurance, real estate), art studios, craft making, and tailoring. It excludes on-site exchange of sold goods (other than casual sales), on-site vehicle repair, and commercial warehousing. (Goodyear City Code §8-7-1.) Goodyear's Home Based Business page adds that a home business can't use more than 25% of the living area, must park in the driveway or garage, and serves one customer at a time with no waiting area. (Goodyear, Home Based Business.)

Avondale

License: Since January 1, 2024, Avondale requires a business license only for fixed business locations inside Avondale, which includes home-based and online businesses run from an Avondale address. If you don't have a fixed location in Avondale, you don't need an Avondale license. Avondale's examples of home-based businesses that need a license include pool cleaning, construction contractors, online retail, bookkeeping, consulting, and catering. (City of Avondale, Business License.)

• Fee: A $25 application fee plus an annual fee that depends on when you apply: $65 total in January–March, $55 April–June, $45 July–September, and $35 October–December. (Avondale.)
• Renewal: $40 a year per license, due January 1. Licenses expire December 31, and a late fee may be charged. (Avondale.)
• Card fee: Since June 1, 2026, card payments online carry a 2.95% convenience fee (minimum $2.95). (Avondale.)
• Exemptions include casual sales on no more than four occasions a year; one-on-one lessons or tutoring from a non-commercial location; independent sales reps for a parent company; and people exempted by state law, such as childcare or babysitting businesses, insurance and real estate sales representatives, and residential rentals (including short-term rentals). (Avondale.)
• Contact: Avondale Business License, bizlic@avondaleaz.gov, (623) 333-2001. (Avondale.)

Home occupation rules: Avondale asks home businesses to submit a home occupation supplement with the license application. According to that form, which quotes the zoning ordinance:

• The business stays inside the home or a permitted accessory building, and required garages can't be used.
• No signs, exterior display, or exterior storage.
• Customers can't visit to buy goods or services. The exception is a small barber or beauty salon (up to 200 square feet, one washing station, and two customers a day).
• No non-resident employees.
• One off-street parking space is allowed, and only one business vehicle of 10,000 pounds GVWR or less may be kept at the home.
• Massage parlors, restaurants, veterinary offices, kennels, dog grooming, and vehicle services aren't allowed.

(Avondale, Business License Supplement for Home Occupations.) The form is dated 2023, so confirm current rules with Avondale Development Services.

City TPT: how it works in the West Valley

Arizona cities can tax many of the same activities the state does. In Glendale, Peoria, Surprise, Goodyear, and Avondale, ADOR licenses and collects the city portion, so you file one TPT return with ADOR that includes your city. (ADOR.)

• License fees: ADOR charges $12 per location for the state TPT license, plus any city fee. ADOR's license fee worksheet lists city fees of $35 (Glendale), $50 (Peoria), $10 (Surprise), and $5 (Goodyear), and N/A for Avondale. Confirm the total at checkout. (ADOR, License Fees.)
• Rates: On ADOR's October 1, 2026 table, the combined state and Maricopa County retail rate is 6.3%. Add the city rate from the comparison table above. Rates change, so check the current table before you file. (ADOR TPT Rate Table.)
• Services: Many professional and personal services aren't taxed under TPT, but cities can tax some activities the state doesn't. Ask ADOR about your specific activity. (ADOR.)

For the full TPT walkthrough, see Arizona TPT License for Side Hustles. If you sell on Etsy, eBay, or at craft fairs, see Arizona Online Sellers, Resellers & Craft Fairs.

Trade names (DBA)

If you operate under a name other than your own legal name (or your LLC's exact name), you can register a trade name with the Arizona Secretary of State, not the Arizona Corporation Commission. The SOS says a trade name isn't legally required, doesn't give exclusive rights to a name, and lasts 5 years. (Arizona SOS, Trade Names and Trademarks.) For the filing fee and steps, see the trade name section of our Arizona Business License for Side Hustles guide. Surprise requires a separate license for each business name, so settle on a name before you apply. (Surprise.)

Regulated side hustles need more than a city license

A general city license doesn't replace state or city regulatory licenses. Watch for these common ones:

• Food: See the Arizona Cottage Food Law and Arizona Food Truck Permits and Licenses guides.
• Childcare: Rules depend on how many children you care for. See the Arizona Home Daycare License guide.
• Beauty, nails, lashes: Board licensing comes first, and Peoria's zoning prohibits barber and beauty shops as home occupations. See the Arizona Cosmetology, Nail & Lash License Rules guide.
• Repairs and pools: See the Arizona Handyman Side Hustle: The ROC Exemption and Arizona Pool Cleaning Side Hustle guides.
• Door-to-door sales, secondhand goods, and short-term rentals often need a separate city license or permit. Glendale and Peoria both list peddler/solicitor licenses, and Peoria lists a secondhand dealer license. (Glendale; Peoria.) See Short-Term Rental Permits: Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tucson for how STR rules work.

A simple decision path

1. Find your city. Use your actual city limits, not your mailing address. Some Glendale, Peoria, Surprise, and Goodyear mailing addresses are in unincorporated Maricopa County or a neighboring town.
2. Check the exemptions. Glendale, Goodyear, and Avondale exempt one-on-one tutoring from home, for example. Goodyear also exempts home occupations that never host customers. Confirm with the city.
3. Decide whether your activity is taxable. If it is, get the ADOR TPT license with your city location.
4. Read your city's home occupation rules before you invite customers over, hire help, or store inventory outside. Glendale and Avondale don't allow customer visits under their basic rules.
5. Apply and keep it current. Peoria, Surprise, Goodyear, and Avondale licenses expire December 31. Glendale's runs one year from issue.
6. Not sure? Call the city's licensing office, or try our Arizona side hustle license & permit checklist.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a business license for a home business in Glendale, AZ? Usually, yes. Glendale says all home occupations must get and keep a City Business License, which costs $25 a year. Exemptions in Glendale's code include one-on-one tutoring from a residence (unless it's a zoning home occupation) and babysitting that doesn't need a state license. Confirm with Glendale Tax & License.

How much is a Peoria business license? $45 to start ($25 license fee plus a one-time $20 application fee), then $25 a year. Licenses expire December 31, and late applications or renewals can bring a $12.50 penalty.

How much is a Surprise business license in 2026? For businesses starting on or after January 1, 2026, Surprise charges $84 if you start in the first quarter, prorated down to $21 in the fourth quarter. Renewal is $84 a year.

Does Goodyear require a license for a home-based business? It depends. Goodyear's code exempts home occupations that never receive customers, clients, or patrons. If clients come to your home, you'll need a license, which Goodyear's FAQ lists at $75 a year. Confirm with Goodyear's Business License office.

Do I need an Avondale business license if I'm based outside Avondale? No. Since January 1, 2024, Avondale requires a license only for fixed business locations inside the city, including home-based businesses. If you live in Avondale and run a business from home, you usually need one.

Can customers come to my home business in the West Valley? It depends on the city. Glendale's basic home occupation rules allow no customer traffic, and Avondale's say customers can't visit to buy goods or services. Peoria allows one visitor at a time and two per hour. Surprise and Goodyear allow client visits within set hours. Check your city's zoning rules first.

Is a city business license the same as a TPT license? No. The city license is the city's permission to operate. The TPT license comes from ADOR and is needed only if your activity is taxable. Many West Valley side hustles need both.