Registered Agent Requirements, State by State

Almost every US jurisdiction requires an LLC to appoint and continuously maintain an agent to receive service of process — but not all of them, and not all of them call it a registered agent. Pennsylvania asks for a registered office address rather than a named agent. Minnesota requires a registered office and makes the agent optional. New York names the Secretary of State as your agent automatically and treats a private registered agent as an optional addition. West Virginia asks for a designated office in the state and takes an agent of process only if you name one, because the Secretary of State is appointed by law to accept service for registered businesses. Everywhere else the appointment is mandatory, while the statutory term, the address rule, the recurring filing and its deadline differ state by state. The table below covers each jurisdiction we have published, with every fact sourced from that state’s own filing office.

What the requirements table covers

Use this table to check the essentials for your state at a glance. Each state links to its full page, where the forms, deadlines and address rules are sourced from the state filing office and carry a visible last-reviewed date. LLCity serves all 50 US states plus Washington DC and Puerto Rico, and every jurisdiction with a published page is in the table below.

Agent requirements in 52 filing jurisdictions — legal term, physical address rule, recurring filing and how an agent is changed.
StateLegal termPhysical in-state addressRecurring filing & deadlineHow you change agents
AlabamaRegistered agentPhysical AL addressBPT return (Form PPT / CPT) · corporations also file an SOS annual reportChange of Registered Agent or Registered Office by Entity
AlaskaRegistered agentPhysical AK location plus AK mailing addressBiennial report before January 2Statement of Change — Registered Agent or Registered Agent Address (Form 08-492 for a domestic LLC)
ArizonaStatutory agentPhysical AZ addressNo LLC annual report · corporations file annuallyStatement of Change of Principal Address or Statutory Agent (Form L020)
ArkansasRegistered agentPhysical AR street address, no PO boxFranchise tax report by May 1Notice of Change of Registered Agent for LLC (Form DO-03)
CaliforniaAgent for service of processStreet address in CA for an individual agentStatement of Information by anniversary month endStatement of Information (filed in bizfile Online)
ColoradoRegistered agentPhysical CO street address, no PO boxPeriodic report in anniversary monthStatement of Change Changing the Registered Agent Information
ConnecticutRegistered agentStreet address in CT, no PO boxLLC annual report by March 31Change of Agent (Form BUS-009 domestic; Form BUS-010 foreign) — or the equivalent online filing at Business.CT.gov
DelawareRegistered agentBusiness office in DEJune 1 (LLC tax) · March 1 (corporations)Certificate of Amendment changing only the registered office/agent (LLC)
FloridaRegistered agentPhysical FL address, no PO boxAnnual report May 1Statement of Change of Registered Office or Registered Agent or Both for Limited Liability Company (INHS18)
GeorgiaRegistered agentPhysical GA street address, no PO box or mail dropAnnual registration by April 1Annual Registration with Changes, or an Amended Annual Registration (Form CD 920 for an LLC)
HawaiiRegistered agentStreet address of a place of business in HIAnnual report by the end of your registration quarterStatement of Change of Registered Agent by Entity (Form X-7)
IdahoRegistered agentPhysical ID street address, no PO boxEnd of your anniversary monthChange of Registered Office or Registered Agent, or Both (filed on SOSBiz; paper accepted with a manual processing charge)
IllinoisRegistered agentStreet address in IL, identical to the agent’s officeBefore the 1st of your anniversary monthStatement of Change of Registered Agent and/or Registered Office (Form LLC-1.36/1.37), or the online LLC change of registered agent application
IndianaRegistered agentStreet address in IN, no PO boxAnniversary month, every other yearChange of Registered Agent/Office, filed through INBiz (Indiana’s online filing system has replaced routine paper filings for this change)
IowaRegistered agentAgent must have a place of business in IAApril 1, biennial reportStatement of Change (filed through Fast Track Filing, Iowa’s online filing system; paper accepted)
KansasResident agentRegistered office in KS, generally openApril 15, every other yearCertificate of Amendment to the Resident Agent (Form ROA); Form RGO when the resident agent files the change, Form RAN for a resignation without a successor
KentuckyRegistered agentStreet address in KY, PO box insufficientJune 30 annual reportStatement of Change of Registered Agent and/or Registered Office Address (Form RAC) — the same form also updates the principal office address
LouisianaRegistered agentRegistered office in LA; agent must reside in the stateAnniversary date of organization, every yearChange of Registered Office or Agent (Form 983 LLC / Form 354 corporation), with a notarized affidavit of acceptance
MaineRegistered agentPhysical ME location, no PO boxJune 1 annual reportForm CLKRA-3 — Statement of Appointment or Change of Commercial or Noncommercial Registered Agent
MarylandResident agentAgent must be an MD resident or MD entity; MD addressApril 15 annual reportResolution to Change Principal Office or Resident Agent (filed with SDAT, online via Maryland Business Express)
MassachusettsResident agentMassachusetts splits by entity type: LLCs name a resident agent (c. 156C § 5), corporations a registered agent (c. 156D § 5.01).Street address in MA; MA resident or authorized corporationAnniversary of your certificate of organizationStatement of Change of Resident Agent/Resident Office (M.G.L. c. 156C, § 5A); corporations file a statement of change of registered agent or registered office
MichiganResident agentRegistered office in MI; agent’s address must match itFebruary 15 (LLC annual statement)Form CSCL/CD-520 — Certificate of Change of Registered Office and/or Change of Resident Agent
MinnesotaRegistered agentMinnesota requires a registered office and leaves the agent optional (Minn. Stat. § 322C.0113).Street address in MN; a PO box by itself is not acceptedDecember 31 annual renewalNotice of Change of Registered Office/Registered Agent (limited partnerships and LLPs use their own amendment or statement of amendment instead)
MississippiRegistered agentPhysical MS addressAnnual report April 15No separate change-of-agent form — registered agent changes are handled as an amendment in the Secretary of State’s online system
MissouriRegistered agentAddress in MO; PO box only alongside a street addressNo LLC annual reportStatement of Change of Registered Agent or Registered Office (Corp. 59) — with the new agent’s written consent; Corp. 59A changes an agent’s own office address and LLC 6 is the agent’s resignation
MontanaRegistered agentPhysical MT street addressAnnual report April 15Statement of Change of Registered Agent and/or Registered Office
NebraskaRegistered agentDesignated office in NE; agent’s office identicalPublish, then biennial report April 1Statement of Change of Designated Office, Registered Agent and/or Registered Agent’s Address (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 21-114) — separate versions exist for domestic LLCs, foreign LLCs, corporations and limited cooperative associations
NevadaRegistered agentPhysical NV addressLast day of anniversary monthStatement of Change of Registered Agent by Represented Entity
New HampshireRegistered agentRegistered office in NH, identical to the agent’s officeAnnual report April 1Form 10, Statement of Change of Registered Office or Registered Agent or Both — or the equivalent filing in NH QuickStart, the state’s online portal
New JerseyRegistered agentStreet address in NJ; PO box only alongside itAnnual report in anniversary monthL-122 for LLCs, C-104G for corporations — or the registered agent/office change built into the Division’s online annual report service
New MexicoRegistered agentPhysical NM street addressNo LLC report · corporations file bienniallyStatement of Change of Registered Agent
New YorkRegistered agentIn New York the Secretary of State is your agent for service of process automatically (LLC Law § 301); a private registered agent is an optional addition (§ 302).Street address in NY for a private agentPublish within 120 daysCertificate of Change
North CarolinaRegistered agentPhysical NC registered office, agent’s office identicalLLC annual report April 15Statement of Change of Registered Office and/or Registered Agent (Form BE-06); Form BE-12 changes an agent’s own office address and Form BE-07 is the agent’s resignation
North DakotaRegistered agentPhysical ND street address, no PO boxNovember 15 (LLC annual report)Statement of change of registered agent (N.D.C.C. § 10-01.1-08) — filed through the FirstStop Portal rather than on a paper form
OhioStatutory agentOhio’s LLC statute says “agent for service of process”, but every Secretary of State form says statutory agent — that is the word you will type.Street address in OH, no PO box or CMRANo annual report — but cure an agent lapse within 30 days of the state’s noticeStatutory Agent Update (Form 521) — the same form appoints a new agent, changes the current agent’s address, or records a resignation
OklahomaRegistered agentPhysical OK street address, open during business hoursYour exact formation anniversary dateChange or Designation of Registered Agent and/or Registered Office and/or Principal Office (SOS Form 0075) — a statement signed by any manager under 18 O.S. § 2010(B), effective when the Secretary of State files it
OregonRegistered agentPhysical OR street address, no PO box or mail dropYour exact formation anniversary dateCorporation/Limited Liability Company — Information Change (a new form is filed each time the registered agent or registered office changes)
PennsylvaniaRegistered officePennsylvania does not require a registered agent at all. It requires a registered office address in the Commonwealth, which a Commercial Registered Office Provider can supply.Street or rural route address in PA, never a PO boxSeptember 30 (LLC annual report)Statement/Certificate of Change of Registered Office (DSCB:15-1507/5507/8625/8825) for domestic entities; foreign associations use DSCB:15-413, Amendment of Foreign Registration
Puerto RicoResident agentDesignated office in PR, identical to the agent’s business addressApril 15, every yearCertificado de Cambio del Agente Residente de una Corporación (Certificate of Change of Resident Agent of a Corporation), filed through the Registro de Corporaciones y Entidades
Rhode IslandResident agentRhode Island’s LLC forms say resident agent while the Secretary of State’s maintenance pages say registered agent — we match the form in front of you.Street address in RI, no PO box or mail dropMay 1 (annual report window closes)Statement of Change of Resident Agent (Form 642) for an LLC; Statement of Change of Registered Agent (Form 640) for a business corporation — Rhode Island uses a different word, and a different form, for each
South CarolinaRegistered agentStreet address in SC for the agentNo LLC annual reportLLC: Notice of Change of Designated Office, Agent or Address of Registered Agent (F0080). Corporation: Notice of Change of Registered Office or Registered Agent or Both (F0077)
South DakotaRegistered agentPhysical and mailing address in SDFirst day of anniversary monthStatement of Change of Registered Office or Registered Agent or Both
TennesseeRegistered agentStreet address in TN, no PO boxFirst day of the fourth monthStatement of Change of Registered Agent by Entity (SS-4534) — filed through the TNCaB portal; a paper form is available on request but the online tool is the state’s primary route
TexasRegistered agentPhysical TX address, not a mail-service boxMay 15 (Comptroller, not SOS)Change of Registered Agent and/or Registered Office (Form 401), with Consent of Registered Agent to Appointment (Form 401-A) signed and retained
UtahRegistered agentStreet address in UT, plus mailing addressLast day of anniversary monthStatement of change under Utah Code § 16-1a-407 (filed through the Division’s online business registration system; a paper registration information change form remains available)
VermontRegistered agentStreet and mailing address in VT3 months after fiscal year endChange of Registered Agent — filed online through the Vermont Online Business Service Center (the Secretary of State names online registration the preferred method, with no extra fee)
VirginiaRegistered agentAddress in VA, identical to the agent’s business officeLast day of anniversary monthStatement of Change of Registered Office and/or Registered Agent (Va. Code § 13.1-1016), filed with the SCC Clerk’s Office or online through the Clerk’s Information System
WashingtonRegistered agentPhysical WA street address, no PO box or PMBLast day of your formation monthStatement of Change — or the Annual Report / Amended Annual Report — filed through the Corporations and Charities Filing System (CCFS)
Washington DCRegistered agentPhysical DC street address, no PO box or mailboxApril 1, every second yearStatement of Change of Registered Agent (Form RA-3), filed on BOSS, the DLCP Corporations Division portal
West VirginiaAgent of processWest Virginia routes service through the Secretary of State; naming your own agent of process is optional.Designated office in WV; agent needs a WV street addressJune 30 annual reportApplication to Appoint or Change Address, Agent, or Officers (Form AAO) — or update the agent on the annual report; both file on the WV One Stop Business Portal
WisconsinRegistered agentStreet address in WI, no PO box or mailbox serviceEnd of your anniversary quarterStatement of Change (Form 13), filed with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions — or update the agent on the annual report
WyomingRegistered agentPhysical WY street address, no PO boxFirst day of anniversary monthChange of an Entity’s Registered Agent and Office (RA-RO ChangeByEntity)

52 jurisdictions published, each sourced from that state’s own filing office and stamped with the month we last checked it. Each state name links to the full requirements page.

States that use a different term

Most jurisdictions call the role a registered agent. A handful do not, and leading with the wrong word on a filing is a common mistake. Arizona and Ohio say statutory agent. Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Rhode Island and Puerto Rico say resident agent. California says agent for service of process on Forms LLC-1 and LLC-12. Pennsylvania frames the requirement around a registered office rather than a named agent, and does not require a registered agent at all. Minnesota requires a registered office and leaves the agent optional. New York appoints the Secretary of State as your agent automatically and treats a private agent as an optional extra. West Virginia says agent of process, and asks for one only if you choose to name it, because service runs through the Secretary of State. Massachusetts splits by entity type: LLCs name a resident agent under M.G.L. c. 156C § 5, corporations a registered agent under c. 156D § 5.01. Everywhere else the core duties are the same and only the label changes. For a full breakdown, see our guide on statutory agent vs registered agent.

States with a publication requirement

A few states add a newspaper publication step on top of the agent requirement, and most states add none at all. New York requires LLCs, LLPs and LPs — not business corporations — to publish once a week for six successive weeks in two county-designated newspapers and file a Certificate of Publication within 120 days, or the authority to transact business is suspended (NY LLC Law § 206). Arizona requires a new LLC to publish its formation notice three consecutive times within 60 days, except when its known place of business is in Maricopa or Pima County — which covers Phoenix and Tucson, where the Corporation Commission posts the notice itself. Nebraska requires a notice of organization published three successive weeks in a legal newspaper near the designated office, with proof of publication filed with the Secretary of State. Pennsylvania and Georgia have their own narrower incorporation-notice rules. If you form anywhere else, publication almost certainly does not apply to you — and we will say so rather than arrange one you do not need.

How often these rules change

State rules and deadlines change more often than most owners expect. Alabama removed its minimum Business Privilege Tax for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2024 and moved its corporation annual report to the Secretary of State in 2024; Pennsylvania replaced its decennial report with an annual report beginning in 2025; Montana has continued its on-time annual report incentive. Because a single wrong deadline on a reference page can be costly, we verify every fact against the state filing office, stamp a last-reviewed date, and refresh the data on an annual cycle.

FAQ

Do all 50 states require a registered agent?

Almost, but not all. Most US jurisdictions require an LLC or corporation to appoint and continuously maintain an agent for service of process, and you cannot finish your formation filing without satisfying that state’s version of the rule. A handful do it differently. Pennsylvania does not require a registered agent at all — it requires a registered office address in the Commonwealth, which a Commercial Registered Office Provider can supply. Minnesota requires a registered office and makes the agent optional. New York designates the Secretary of State as your LLC’s agent for service of process automatically (NY LLC Law § 301), so a private registered agent there is optional but strongly advised (§ 302). West Virginia asks for an agent of process only if you name one, because the Secretary of State is appointed by law to accept service for registered businesses.

Which states call it something else?

Arizona and Ohio say statutory agent. Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Rhode Island and Puerto Rico say resident agent. California says agent for service of process, and West Virginia says agent of process. Pennsylvania asks for a registered office rather than a named agent. Massachusetts splits by entity type — LLCs name a resident agent, corporations a registered agent. Nevada used to say resident agent, but NRS Chapter 77, the Model Registered Agents Act, replaced that scheme in 2013 and the Secretary of State’s forms have said registered agent ever since.

Can the same company be my agent in every state?

Yes. A nationwide provider can serve as your agent in all 50 states plus Washington DC and Puerto Rico at once, which is why owners with entities in more than one state use a single provider. One relationship then covers every state you expand into, under one login and one point of contact. The filing deadlines themselves stay on each state’s own schedule — no provider can merge those — but we track all of them for you.

How often do these requirements change?

Rules and deadlines change regularly, often year to year. We verify each fact against the state filing office, stamp a last-reviewed date on every page, and refresh the data annually so the reference stays accurate.

Related guides

Reviewed by the LLCity editorial team · Last updated September 2026. Where the rules vary by state, each state page carries its own source, the month we checked it, and a Draft badge if it is not confirmed yet.