Do you need Corporate Bylaws? Corporate Bylaw Requirements by State

If you're an owner of a C-Corp or S-Corp, chances are you have to create corporate bylaws. Most states require you to memorialize your bylaws and, even in the states where there is no such requirement, having bylaws is a great idea. After all, corporate bylaws define your business' structure, roles, and specifies how your company will conduct its affairs.

Creating and following your own bylaws is also a key ingredient of corporate compliance.  Along with keeping meeting minutes and regularly filing taxes, following your bylaws allows you to create unique rules and keep your business debts and assets separate from your personal ones.

Check our chart below to find out if your state requires you to create bylaws for your corporation:

State	Bylaws Required?
Alabama	Yes
Alaska	Yes
Arizona	Yes
Arkansas	Yes
California	Yes
Colorado	No
Connecticut	Yes
Delaware	Yes
District of Columbia (DC)	Yes
Florida	Yes
Georgia	Yes
Hawaii	Yes
Idaho	Yes
Illinois	Yes
Indiana	Yes
Iowa	Yes
Kansas	Yes
Kentucky	Yes
Louisiana	No
Maine	Yes
Maryland	Yes
Massachusetts	Yes
Michigan	Yes
Minnesota	No
Mississippi	Yes
Missouri	Yes
Montana	Yes
Nebraska	Yes
Nevada	No
New Hampshire	Yes
New Jersey	Yes
New Mexico	Yes
New York	Yes
North Carolina	Yes
North Dakota	No
Ohio	No
Oklahoma	No
Oregon	Yes
Pennsylvania	Yes
Rhode Island	Yes
South Carolina	Yes
South Dakota	Yes
Tennessee	Yes
Texas	Yes
Utah	No
Vermont	Yes
Virgnia	Yes
Washington	Yes
West Virginia	Yes
Wisconsin	No
Wyoming	Yes

 

Keep in mind that you do not actually need to file these bylaws in any state. Simply create them, keep them with your records, and, by all means, follow them. You can visit our Corporate Compliance Center or our Incorporation Learning Center for more information.

Create your Free Corporate Bylaws

 

Laws on this topic may vary from state to state. This content is not meant to provide you with complete information and it is not intended to be legal or tax advice. It is recommended that you consult with your own attorney, accountant or other advisor regarding your specific situation.