Yes in 44 of the 50 states; not confirmed yet in 4 (Idaho, Maine, Pennsylvania and Vermont); Indiana and New York have special rules, quoted in the table. The common conditions: you are an individual resident of the state, you list a street address (not a PO box), and you are available there during business hours to accept legal papers. Your address then appears on the public record.
Being your own agent saves the yearly fee, which runs $125 to $249 at renewal on the providers we track. It costs privacy and availability: the state and the courts serve papers at the address you list, in person, in office hours.
Owners who move, travel, or work from home usually hire a service for that reason alone. Owners with a staffed office in the state often name themselves. The table quotes each state's condition.
What each state allows
| State | Allowed | Conditions, from the statute |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Yes | registered agent may be an individual who is a resident of this state, or a domestic entity, or a foreign entity registered to transact business in this state, and must maintain a business office at the same address as the entity's registered officeSource: law.justia.com/codes/alabama/2018/title-10a/chapter-1/article-5/divisi (secondary source), read 2026-09-08 |
| Alaska | Yes | must be an individual resident of Alaska whose business office is the same as the registered office (or a domestic/foreign corporation authorized to transact business in the state)Source: law.justia.com/codes/alaska/title-10/chapter-06/article-2/section-10-0 (secondary source), read 2026-09-08 |
| Arizona | Yes | must be an individual who resides in Arizona (or a domestic/foreign corporation or LLC authorized to transact business in the state)Source: azleg.gov/ars/10/00501.htm, read 2026-09-08 |
| Arkansas | Yes | The agent can be a person or an entity the company designates. The agent's address must be a street address in Arkansas and the agent must be located there; a post office box or mail drop may not be used. The official instruction does not name owners specifically; an owner qualifies as a person who meets the address rule.Source: sos.arkansas.gov/uploads/bcs/LLC1_FT_2025.pdf, read 2026-09-18 |
| California | Yes | an individual who is a resident of California, or a registered corporate agent under Section 1505; the LLC cannot name itselfSource: leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml, read 2026-09-08 |
| Colorado | Yes | The registered agent can be either an individual or an entity. An individual must be over 18, must have either their primary residence or a usual place of business in Colorado, and must hold a current valid Colorado driver's license or ID card (or verify residency by an alternative passcode process). An entity registered agent must be in good standing with the Colorado Secretary of State and have a usual place of business in Colorado; an entity 'may serve as its own registered agent after registering and if it is in good standing' via a two-step process (first appoint an eligible individual or another entity, then file a Statement of Change to self-select).Source: coloradosos.gov/pubs/business/FAQs/regAgent.html, read 2026-09-08 |
| Connecticut | Yes | The registered agent for an LLC may be a natural person who is a resident of this state (among other qualifying entity types); the agent must have a place of business in this state (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 34-243n(b)(1) and (e)).Source: cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_613a.htm, read 2026-09-08 |
| Delaware | Yes | "Every corporation shall have and maintain in this State a registered agent, which agent may be any of: (1) The corporation itself; (2) An individual resident in this State; (3) A domestic corporation (other than the corporation itself), a domestic partnership..., a domestic limited liability company or a domestic statutory trust; or (4) A foreign corporation, a foreign limited liability partnership, a foreign limited partnership, a foreign limited liability limited partnership, a foreign limited liability company or a foreign statutory trust" authorized to transact business in the state. A registered agent that is an entity must maintain a business office in Delaware generally open, or if an individual, be generally present at a designated location in the state, at sufficiently frequent times to accept service of process; it may not perform its duties solely through a virtual office or mail-forwarding service.Source: law.justia.com/codes/delaware/title-8/chapter-1/subchapter-iii/section (secondary source), read 2026-09-09 |
| Florida | Yes | an individual who resides in this state and whose business address is identical to the address of the registered officeSource: flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2024/605.0113, read 2026-09-08 |
| Georgia | Yes | eligible registered agents include Georgia resident individuals, domestic corporations, domestic LLCs, and foreign corporations/LLCs with a certificate of authority in GeorgiaSource: law.justia.com/codes/georgia/2020/title-14/chapter-11/article-2/sectio (secondary source), read 2026-09-08 |
| Hawaii | Yes | The registered agent must be an individual residing in Hawaii (with a business address in the state) or a domestic/foreign entity authorized to transact business in the state; the statute does not exclude an owner or officer who otherwise qualifies.Source: law.justia.com/codes/hawaii/title-23/chapter-414/section-414-61/ (secondary source), read 2026-09-08 |
| Idaho | Not stated on the pages we read | |
| Illinois | Yes | The registered agent may be a natural person or a domestic/foreign entity authorized to transact business in Illinois; a natural-person agent's business office must be the registered office, i.e. an Illinois address.Source: ilsos.gov/departments/business-services/agent-change/corpagentchange.h, read 2026-09-08 |
| Indiana | Not stated on the pages we read | "A business cannot serve as its own registered agent." The registered agent must have an Indiana address; if the business lacks one, it must hire a service company or law firm to act as agent.Source: inbiz.in.gov/business-filings/business-entityreport, read 2026-09-08 |
| Iowa | Yes | An owner or employee of a company may act as the registered agent so long as the individual resides in Iowa, has attained the age of 18 years and has an office within the boundaries of the State of Iowa.Source: help.sos.iowa.gov/what-registered-agent, read 2026-09-08 |
| Kansas | Yes | If the resident agent is an individual, that individual must be generally present in Kansas at the designated location at sufficiently frequent times to accept service of process (no separate exemption or rule for owners).Source: kslegislature.gov/li_2020/b2019_20/statute/017_000_0000_chapter/017_07, read 2026-09-08 |
| Kentucky | Yes | The registered agent shall be an individual resident of this Commonwealth, a Kentucky corporation, a Kentucky nonprofit corporation, a Kentucky limited liability company, a foreign corporation, a foreign nonprofit corporation, or a foreign limited liability company authorized to transact business in Kentucky. The company seeking formation shall not act as its own registered agent.Source: sos.ky.gov/bus/Forms/Documents/RAC-Statment%20of%20Change%20Registered, read 2026-09-08 |
| Louisiana | Yes | An individual agent must be a citizen of the state who resides in Louisiana (R.S. 12:1308(A)(2)(a)). The SoS FAQ: an agent 'can be almost anyone of legal age and a legal resident of Louisiana', including an organizer, a member of an LLC, an employee, an attorney or an accountant. An entity acting as agent needs a certificate on file naming at least two individuals at its Louisiana address. The LLC cannot name itself.Source: sos.la.gov/business-services/frequently-asked-questions, read 2026-09-15 |
| Maine | Not stated on the pages we read | |
| Maryland | Yes | an individual residing in Maryland, or a Maryland corporation, limited liability company, or limited partnership, whose name, address and designation as resident agent are filed with the DepartmentSource: mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText, read 2026-09-29 |
| Massachusetts | Yes | For an LLC, the resident agent 'must be an individual resident of the commonwealth, a domestic corporation, or a foreign corporation authorized to do business in the commonwealth' (M.G.L. c. 156C § 5(2)). So an LLC member/manager may serve as the company's own resident agent if that individual is a Massachusetts resident.Source: malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXXII/Chapter156C/Section, read 2026-09-08 |
| Michigan | Yes | For profit and professional service corporations and for LLCs, the resident agent may be an individual resident in Michigan whose business office or residence is identical with the registered office; or a domestic or foreign corporation/LLC authorized to transact business in Michigan with a business office identical with the registered office. The Annual Reports page separately states 'a business cannot serve as its own resident agent.' MCL 450.4207(1)(b) (LLC Act) reads for LLCs: 'The resident agent may be either an individual resident in this state whose business office or residence is identical with the registered office or any of the following having a business office identical with the registered office: (i) A domestic corporation. (ii) A foreign corporation authorized to transact business in this state. (iii) A domestic limited liability company. (iv) A foreign limited liability company authorized to transact business in this state.'Source: legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL, read 2026-09-08 |
| Minnesota | Yes | If designating a registered agent, it must be a person residing in Minnesota, a Minnesota entity, or a foreign entity authorized to do business in Minnesota. The entity itself may NOT be listed as its own agent on the change form: 'Do not list your entity name on this line, because an entity may not act as its own agent' -- so a business cannot name itself, but an individual associated with the business (e.g. an owner or officer) who resides in Minnesota may serve as its registered agent.Source: sos.mn.gov/media/1382/changeofregisteredofficeagent.pdf, read 2026-09-08 |
| Mississippi | Yes | Any individual, corporation or LLC may act as registered agent for any Mississippi company provided the agent has a physical address in the state of Mississippi.Source: sos.ms.gov/business-services-external-affairs/registered-agents, read 2026-09-08 |
| Missouri | Yes | An agent may be either an individual who is a resident of Missouri and whose business office is identical with the entity's registered office, or it may be a corporation authorized to transact business in Missouri and which has a business office identical with the entity's registered office.Source: sos.mo.gov/business/faqs, read 2026-09-08 |
| Montana | Yes | A registered agent must have a physical and mailing address in Montana. If you do not have one, you must hire a commercial registered agent. (FAQ advises searching for the business's actual registered agent rather than listing yourself, 'unless you are serving in that role,' implying an owner may serve as their own agent if they meet the Montana address requirement.)Source: help.sosmt.gov/en/article/i-was-informed-that-i-must-register-my-busin, read 2026-09-08 |
| Nebraska | Yes | The registered agent can be a member of the business entity or a designated third party who resides in Nebraska. The registered agent may be another business entity if the business entity is authorized to transact business in Nebraska. The registered agent's office must be identical to the registered office.Source: sos.nebraska.gov/business-services/updating-registered-agent-informati, read 2026-09-08 |
| Nevada | Yes | If the Represented Entity has a physical address in Nevada it may elect to serve as its own registered agent by setting forth a specific office or position (President, Office Manager, Owner, Controller, etc.) within the entity as the Registered Agent.Source: nvsos.gov/businesses/commercial-recordings/forms-fees/registered-agent, read 2026-09-08 |
| New Hampshire | Yes | individuals, business owners, managers, or employees can be listed as the registered agent for the business as long as they can be located at the registered agent address in this stateSource: sos.nh.gov/corporations-0/registered-agents, read 2026-09-08 |
| New Jersey | Yes | An agent for service of process of a limited liability company or foreign limited liability company shall be an individual who is a resident of this State or other person with authority to transact business in this State.Source: law.justia.com/codes/new-jersey/title-42/section-42-2c-14/ (secondary source), read 2026-09-08 |
| New Mexico | Yes | The agent may be an individual who is a resident of New Mexico, or a domestic or authorized foreign corporation, LLC or partnership whose New Mexico place of business is the same as the registered office. The successor agent must sign a statement accepting the appointment. The statute does not name owners specifically; an owner who is a New Mexico resident qualifies as an individual.Source: law.justia.com/codes/new-mexico/chapter-53/article-19/section-53-19-5/ (secondary source), read 2026-09-18 |
| New York | Not stated on the pages we read | not applicable in the traditional sense: New York requires no privately-designated registered agent because the Secretary of State is agent by default for every entity; an LLC/corporation may optionally also designate its own owner/officer as a supplemental registered agent under LLC Law §302 / BCL §305.Source: nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/LLC/302, read 2026-09-08 |
| North Carolina | Yes | the registered agent must be an individual who resides in the state with a business office identical to the registered office, or a domestic corporation/LLC whose business office is identical with the registered officeSource: law.justia.com/codes/north-carolina/2013/chapter-55d/article-4/section (secondary source), read 2026-09-08 |
| North Dakota | Yes | A business may not serve as its own registered agent. However, an individual from the business could serve as the noncommercial registered agent if they reside in North Dakota.Source: sos.nd.gov/business/business-services/registered-agents, read 2026-09-08 |
| Ohio | Yes | must be a natural person who is a resident of Ohio, or a domestic/foreign entity that has a business address in OhioSource: codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-1706.09, read 2026-09-08 |
| Oklahoma | Yes | the LLC's registered agent for service of process may be the LLC itself, an individual resident of Oklahoma, or a domestic/qualified foreign corporation, LLC, or limited partnershipSource: law.justia.com/codes/oklahoma/title-18/section-18-2010/ (secondary source), read 2026-09-08 |
| Oregon | Yes | An entity cannot designate itself as its own registered agent, but an individual owner can be the registered agent for their business. The registered agent must have a physical street address in Oregon (no P.O. box or mail-forwarding business) where they maintain a business office during normal business hours and can accept or sign for legal service.Source: sos.oregon.gov/business/pages/registered-agents-service-of-process.asp, read 2026-09-08 |
| Pennsylvania | Not stated on the pages we read | |
| Rhode Island | Yes | an individual resident in Rhode Island whose business office is identical with the registered office; if the agent is an attorney, the business address need not be identical to the registered office and may instead be the attorney's usual business addressSource: webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE7/7-1.2/7-5/7-1.2-501.htm, read 2026-09-08 |
| South Carolina | Yes | for LLCs, an agent must be an individual resident of South Carolina, a domestic corporation, another LLC, or a foreign corporation/LLC authorized to do business in the state; for corporations, an individual who resides in the state and whose business office is identical with the registered officeSource: scstatehouse.gov/code/t33c044.php, read 2026-09-29 |
| South Dakota | Yes | A registered agent MUST be a resident of South Dakota, with BOTH a physical and mailing address in South Dakota. An office holder of the organization may serve as registered agent; per the SOS FAQ this specific option does NOT apply to LLCs.Source: sdsos.gov/Division%20of%20Business%20Services/FAQs/default.aspx, read 2026-09-08 |
| Tennessee | Yes | A registered agent "who maintains an office at the same street address as the registered office" may be: "(A) An individual who resides in this state, a domestic corporation, a not-for-profit domestic corporation, a domestic LLC, a domestic general partnership, a domestic limited partnership, or a domestic registered limited liability partnership; or (B) A foreign corporation, a not-for-profit foreign corporation, a foreign LLC, a foreign general partnership, a foreign limited partnership, or a foreign registered limited liability partnership that is authorized to transact business in this state." The LLC itself is not listed as an eligible registered agent for itself.Source: law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/title-48/limited-liability-companies/ch (secondary source), read 2026-09-09 |
| Texas | Yes | Generally, an individual Texas resident or an organization that is registered or authorized to do business in Texas with a business office at the same address as the entity's registered office may consent to serve as the registered agent. Although an officer, owner, or employee may serve as an entity's registered agent, an entity may not serve as its own registered agent. The secretary of state, or other governmental agency or authority, cannot serve as an entity's registered agent.Source: sos.state.tx.us/corp/registeredagentfaqs.shtml, read 2026-09-29 |
| Utah | Yes | "The Registered Agent is a business or individual designated to receive service of process when a business entity is a party in a legal action such as a lawsuit or summons. The Division also sends all correspondence to the Registered Agent. A Utah street address is required."Source: corporations.utah.gov/business-entities/considerations-in-forming-a-li, read 2026-09-08 |
| Vermont | Not stated on the pages we read | |
| Virginia | Yes | Registered agents must meet the following requirements: Be a Virginia resident; Have a Virginia physical business address, registered office; Be available during normal business hours. In addition, registered agents must meet one of these qualifications: a member of the Virginia State Bar, OR a member of the business entity's management (officer or director of a corporation, a member or manager of a limited liability company, a trustee of a business trust, a general partner of a limited partnership, or a partner of a registered limited liability partnership). A business entity cannot act as its own registered agent.Source: scc.virginia.gov/businesses/business-faqs/registered-agents, read 2026-09-08 |
| Washington | Yes | A Noncommercial Registered Agent may be an individual, a business, or an office/position within the business (e.g. President, Secretary, Treasurer, Member) -- so a business may act as its own registered agent via an internal office or position. Must be a physical street address in Washington State; no PO Box or PMB. A separate Washington State mailing address is optional.Source: sos.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2025-12/6.2025%20-%20Annual%20Report%20, read 2026-09-08 |
| West Virginia | Yes | LLC: an individual resident of West Virginia, a domestic corporation, another LLC, or a foreign corporation or company authorized to do business in the state (§ 31B-1-108(b)). Corporation: an individual who resides in the state and whose business office is identical with the registered office, or a domestic or authorized foreign corporation with the same condition (§ 31D-5-501(2)). Neither section lets the entity name itself; a resident owner may serve as an individual.Source: code.wvlegislature.gov/31D-5-501/, read 2026-09-15 |
| Wisconsin | Yes | A natural person who resides in Wisconsin and whose business office is the same as the registered office may be the agent; so may a qualifying domestic or authorized foreign entity. The registered office must be a real street address, not only a post office box, mailbox service or answering service. The statute does not name owners specifically; an owner who is a Wisconsin resident at that office qualifies as a natural person.Source: docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/183.0115, read 2026-09-18 |
| Wyoming | Yes | An individual may serve as the registered agent for a business entity if they: are at least 18 years of age, reside in Wyoming, and have a physical Wyoming address which is not a PO box, drop box, mail forwarding service, UPS store, etc. (A domestic or foreign business entity may also itself serve as registered agent for another entity under W.S. 17-28-101(a)(ii)(B)-(C) if its business office is identical to the registered office and it has a written agency agreement with a natural person for service of process.)Source: sos.wyo.gov/Business/Docs/HowToFindOrBecomeARegisteredAgent.pdf, read 2026-09-08 |
State guides
Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming
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