Utah fishing license: cost, rules, where to buy
Everything you need to fish legally in Utah in 2026, from the DWR fee schedule. Prices are the state’s; FishUT doesn’t sell licenses — buy at wildlifelicense.utah.gov.
Who needs a license
Anyone 12 or older needs a Utah fishing license to fish any public water in the state — rivers, reservoirs, lakes, and the community ponds alike. Kids under 12 fish free, no license needed. Licenses are valid for 365 days from the day you buy them, so there’s no reason to wait for January. One license covers up to two poles on most waters; a handful of waters have their own rules, listed in the guidebook and on each water’s FishUT page.
Resident fishing license fees (2026)
| License | Price |
|---|---|
| 1-year fishing, age 12–13 | $5.00 |
| 1-year fishing, age 14–17 | $16.00 |
| 1-year fishing, age 18–64 | $40.00 |
| Multi-year fishing, age 18–64 | $39.00 / year |
| 1-year fishing, age 65+ | $31.00 |
| Multi-year fishing, age 65+ | $31.00 / year |
| Disabled veteran, 1-year | $12.00 |
| Disabled veteran, multi-year | $12.00 / year |
| 3-day fishing | $19.00 |
| 7-day fishing | $30.00 |
| Setline permit (catfish setlines, Utah Lake etc.) | $22.00 |
Nonresident fishing license fees (2026)
| License | Price |
|---|---|
| 1-year fishing, age 12–13 | $18.00 |
| 1-year fishing, age 14–17 | $44.00 |
| 1-year fishing, age 18+ | $120.00 |
| Multi-year fishing, age 18+ | $119.00 / year |
| 3-day fishing | $44.00 |
| 7-day fishing | $91.00 |
| Setline permit | $48.00 |
Flaming Gorge reciprocal permit (fish the Wyoming side too): $59.00. Combination hunting + fishing licenses are also sold; see the DWR fee page for current combo pricing. Source: wildlife.utah.gov/fees, updated May 2026.
Where to buy
Fastest is online at wildlifelicense.utah.gov or in the free Utah Hunting & Fishing app, which stores the license on your phone — game wardens accept the digital copy. Every DWR license agent (sporting-goods stores, most Walmarts, and the fly shops in our guides & shops directory) sells them over the counter, as do DWR regional offices. Online purchases are good immediately.
Which license should a visitor buy?
For a long weekend, the nonresident 3-day ($44) covers most trips; the 7-day ($91) makes sense for a week in the Uintas or on the Green. If you’ll be back within the year, the annual ($120) beats two 7-day licenses. Residents fishing more than a handful of days a year should just buy the annual ($40) — or the multi-year at $39/year to skip renewals.
Frequently asked
A resident annual fishing license is $40 for ages 18–64, $31 for 65 and older, $16 for ages 14–17, and $5 for ages 12–13. Nonresidents pay $120 for an annual license, $44 for 3 days, or $91 for 7 days. Children under 12 fish free in Utah without a license. (Utah DWR fee schedule, 2026.)
No — everyone under 12 fishes free in Utah with no license. From age 12 a youth license is required ($5 for 12–13, $16 for 14–17 for residents).
Utah annual licenses are valid for 365 days from the date you buy them, not the calendar year, so a license bought in July is good until the following July. Multi-year licenses can be bought for two to five years at a small per-year discount.
Online at wildlifelicense.utah.gov, in the Utah Hunting & Fishing mobile app (which also stores your license on your phone), at any DWR license agent — most sporting-goods stores, Walmarts, and fly shops — or at a DWR office. Online purchases are immediate; you can fish the same day.
Yes. Utah dropped the separate two-pole permit; a standard fishing license lets you fish with up to two poles on most waters. Check the current Utah Fishing Guidebook for the few waters with single-pole rules.
Yes — Utah holds one Free Fishing Day each year, usually the first Saturday in June, when anyone can fish without a license (all other regulations still apply). The DWR announces the exact date each spring.
Flaming Gorge straddles the state line. A Utah license covers the Utah portion; to fish the whole reservoir with one license you buy the Flaming Gorge reciprocal permit ($59) on top of either state's license.
Licensed and ready? See today’s statewide report, waters near you, or the month-by-month calendar.