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Two local digital publishers ask Rich County about business-license rules; county to review ordinances
Summary
Two entrepreneurs representing free or advertising-supported local publications asked the Rich County Commission whether they must obtain the county business license. Commissioners said the county has not previously clarified exemptions for advertising-driven free publications and will consult legal counsel and provide follow-up.
Two local publishers — one identifying a Bear River Media Group franchise and another operating under bearlakeutah.com — told the Rich County Commission on Dec. 10 that they are starting or expanding free, advertising-supported local publications and asked whether the county requires the $50 business license for their operations.
The first presenter described Bear River Media Group as a nationwide franchise of family-friendly, free weekly tabloids and said he was still finishing state LLC paperwork. He asked whether advertising-based publications are exempt from the local business-license requirement. Commissioners and staff said the county does not have a clear ordinance explicitly exempting advertising or free publications and recommended legal-review before a final determination. "You very well could qualify as exempt, but we probably had to have some discussion and have a review by our legal counsel to make sure that, I'm not saying you're not exempt. I'm not saying you are," one commissioner told the presenter.
A second presenter, who said he operates under multiple DBAs including bearlakeutah.com, described a mobile home-based operation that sells local advertising and asked the commission how to register the business name and whether billboard use would require separate permitting. Commissioners said digital advertising and billboard signage raise overlapping questions of zoning and permitting and agreed staff would follow up; if a license is needed the commission said it could place the item on a future consent agenda so the operator would not need to return to the meeting.
Action and follow-up: Commissioners directed staff to review county ordinances and consult legal counsel to clarify whether advertising-driven free publications require a standard business license and to return with a recommendation. For the current license cycle the clerk-auditor will bill according to the existing $25/$50 classification and update the application form to record impact-based fee determinations.
Sources: Public-comment presentations and clerk-auditor staff comments, Rich County Commission meeting, Dec. 10, 2025.
