Business
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Registered Agent in Utah: Requirements, Who Can Serve, and Cost

General information, not legal advice. Read the full disclaimer.

Short answer: Under Utah's registered-agent law (Utah Code Title 16, Chapter 1a, Part 4, in effect since October 1, 2026), every domestic filing entity (such as an LLC or corporation), every registered foreign entity, and every DBA must designate and maintain a registered agent in Utah. The agent receives lawsuits and official notices for the business, and any filing that requires an address must give a street address in Utah (plus a mailing address if different). You can serve as your own agent, use another person, or hire a commercial registered agent.

Who this guide is for

Anyone forming or running a Utah LLC, corporation, or DBA who needs to understand what a registered agent does, who can fill the role, and what it takes to keep it current.

What a registered agent actually does

The agent's statutory duties are to forward to the entity any process, notice, or demand received or served on the agent, to give the entity each notice the statute requires, and to keep their own listed information current. In practice that covers:

If an entity has no registered agent, or a person can't serve the agent with reasonable diligence, the statute allows service by registered or certified mail (or a similar commercial delivery service) to the entity's principal office, and ultimately by delivering the papers to the person in charge of a regular place of business. Not having a reachable agent doesn't make you hard to sue — it just makes the lawsuit more likely to reach you late.

Who can serve as your registered agent

An entity designates one of the following in its registered agent filing:

  • a commercial registered agent (a company or individual listed with the Division as a commercial agent);
  • a noncommercial registered agent — an individual or entity with a Utah address you name, which can be yourself or someone associated with the business; or
  • the title of an office or position within the entity (for example, an officer) whose holder may accept service, with that position's mailing address.

By designating an agent, the entity affirms that the agent consents to serve. So ask first.

Using your own address

Because the filing must show a Utah street address, and Division records are public (the Division's forms note that all registration information is a public record under GRAMA), a home-based owner who serves as their own agent puts that address in the public record. The Division's forms suggest using the business entity's physical address rather than a residential or private address of an individual where possible. Many owners hire a commercial agent for privacy and for someone to be reliably available during business hours.

Changing your registered agent

An entity can change its agent by filing a statement of change with the Division, signed by the entity, stating the new agent's name and what information it amends. The owners or governors don't have to approve the change, and filing it affirms that the new agent consents. The Division's FY2026 fee schedule lists a change form or online change at $17; the Division's registration-information change form has stated that no separate fee applies when it's filed together with the annual renewal — confirm when you file. See How to Change Your Registered Agent in Utah: Steps, Form, and Fee for the step-by-step.

If the agent changes their own name or address, a noncommercial agent must update the filing, and a commercial agent must keep their listing current.

When an agent resigns

A registered agent can resign by filing a statement of resignation with the Division. It takes effect on the earlier of 12:01 a.m. on the 31st day after filing or the date you designate a new agent, and an agent can resign even if the entity isn't current with the Division. Name a new agent before that date; otherwise you have none, and mail from the Division goes unanswered.

What happens if your agent information isn't current

An outdated agent address means lawsuits and Division notices can go to a place no one checks — including the expiration notice for a DBA, which is sent to the registered agent and starts a 30-day renewal clock. See Utah DBA Renewal: When and How.

Frequently asked questions

Do sole proprietorships need a registered agent?

A plain sole proprietorship that isn't a registered entity doesn't. But if a sole proprietor registers a DBA, the DBA registration itself must designate a registered agent in Utah.

Can I be my own registered agent in Utah?

Yes — as a noncommercial agent, if you have a Utah street address where papers can be delivered and you're reachable. See Can You Be Your Own Registered Agent in Utah?.

Can my registered agent address be the same as my business address?

Yes. Many small businesses use the same Utah street address for both.

Is there a fee for having a registered agent?

The fee schedule lists no separate charge for designating an agent on a formation filing. A commercial agent charges its own fees, and changing your agent later costs $17 (unless filed with your renewal) per the FY2026 fee schedule.

What if my agent resigns?

The resignation takes effect on the 31st day after filing, or sooner if you name a replacement. File a statement of change before then.