Arizona LLC Publication Requirement 2026: $0 in Maricopa & Pima

The Maricopa & Pima County Exemption

A.R.S. § 29-3201 directs the Commission to post your formation information to its public database (per A.R.S. § 10-130) whenever the statutory agent's street address sits in a county with a population over 800,000. As of 2026, only two Arizona counties clear that threshold: Maricopa (Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa, Tempe, Chandler) and Pima (Tucson). That online posting legally satisfies the publication requirement, so no newspaper ad is needed.

This exemption arrived with House Bill 2447 (effective 2017), on the logic that the ACC's searchable online database already gives the public notice that a newspaper once provided. Because the large majority of Arizona LLCs base their statutory agent in metro Phoenix or Tucson, most Arizona LLCs never publish anything at all.

Timeline and Deadline

This timeline applies only if your statutory agent is outside Maricopa and Pima County. If you are in either of those counties, there is no timeline to follow — the ACC handles it.

1. Day 0: The ACC files your Articles of Organization (the approval date)
2. Days 1-7: Contact a qualifying newspaper in your statutory agent's county and arrange publication
3. Within 60 days: The notice must run for three consecutive publications (typically about 1-2 weeks)
4. After the runs: The newspaper provides an Affidavit of Publication for your records
5. Optional: File the affidavit with the ACC if you want a recorded copy — there is no deadline and no fee

Publication Costs by County

Your county determines everything. Maricopa and Pima LLCs pay nothing. Everywhere else, the newspaper sets the price, and rates vary because each paper charges its own legal-notice rate. The figures below are typical ranges for the three consecutive runs, not official fees.

How to Complete Publication

Skip this entire section if your statutory agent is in Maricopa or Pima County — you have nothing to do. For every other county, here is the process.

Step 1: Find a Qualifying Newspaper

• Use the ACC's newspaper list for publishing, which is organized by county
• Choose a paper in the county of your statutory agent's street address
• Contact them for a quote and to arrange the publication

Step 2: Provide Required Information

Give the newspaper:

• A copy of your approved Articles of Organization
• Your ACC entity (file) number
• Payment for the three runs

Step 3: Publication Runs

The newspaper runs your notice for three consecutive publications, usually over about 1-2 weeks. You don't need to do anything while it runs.

Step 4: Keep (or File) the Affidavit

• The newspaper provides an Affidavit of Publication once the runs are complete
• Filing it with the ACC is optional — A.R.S. § 29-3201 says it "may be filed," and there is no fee
• Either way, keep a copy as proof that you met the requirement

Consequences of Not Publishing

Failing to publish does not automatically dissolve your LLC, but it can cause problems if you are in a county where publication is required:

Best practice: If you are outside Maricopa and Pima County and missed the 60-day window, publish anyway. Late publication is better than none, and it closes the issue. If you are in Maricopa or Pima County, there is nothing to miss — the ACC's database posting already satisfied the requirement on your behalf.

For the rest of your ongoing Arizona obligations, including the fact that Arizona LLCs file no annual report, see our Arizona LLC annual report guide.