How to Change Your NY LLC County: DOS-1359-f Filing Guide
To change your NY LLC's county, you file a Certificate of Change (form DOS-1359-f) with the New York Department of State under Section 211-A of the LLC Law. The filing fee is $30, and standard processing takes approximately 4–6 weeks. This updates the county listed on your Articles of Organization — but does not change your business name, physical operations, or day-to-day activities. Many LLC owners file a Certificate of Change before completing their publication requirement to publish in a lower-cost county and save hundreds of dollars.
Certificate of Change: Key Facts
What Is a Certificate of Change?
A Certificate of Change is a filing with the New York Department of State that allows an LLC to update certain administrative details on its Articles of Organization without filing a full amendment. It is authorized by Section 211-A of the NY LLC Law.
The Certificate of Change (form DOS-1359-f) can be used to update:
- The county where the LLC's office is located
- The post office address for service of process forwarding
- The registered agent designation or address
- The email address for electronic service notification
It cannot be used to change the LLC's name, purpose, or other substantive provisions — those require a Certificate of Amendment.
County vs. Street Address
New York Articles of Organization list only a county for the LLC's office — not a full street address. When you file a Certificate of Change to update your county, you're changing the county designation on the state's records. Your actual business operations and physical location are not affected.
Why Would You Change Your LLC's County?
The most common reason to change an LLC's county is publication costs. New York requires every LLC to publish notice of formation in two newspapers designated by the county clerk where the LLC is located. Publication costs vary dramatically by county — from under $400 in Albany County to over $2,500 in New York County (Manhattan).
Common scenarios where a county change makes sense:
- Your formation service listed the wrong county. Many online LLC formation services default to Manhattan or another NYC borough, even if you operate elsewhere. This saddles you with expensive publication costs you weren't expecting.
- You didn't know county mattered at formation. Many new LLC owners don't realize their county choice directly impacts publication costs.
- You physically operate in a different county. If your Articles of Organization say "New York County" but you actually run your business from Westchester, correcting this makes practical and financial sense.
- You want to save on publication. Filing a $30 Certificate of Change to move from an expensive county to a more affordable one can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars on the required publication.
Filing a $30 Certificate of Change before publishing can save an LLC owner over $2,000 compared to publishing in New York County.
Certificate of Change vs. Certificate of Amendment
New York offers two ways to update your Articles of Organization. For county changes, the Certificate of Change is the correct and cheaper option.
| Feature | Certificate of Change | Certificate of Amendment |
|---|---|---|
| Form | DOS-1359-f | DOS-2120-f |
| Statute | Section 211-A | Section 211 |
| Filing fee | $30 | $60 |
| Can change county | Yes | Yes |
| Can change name | No | Yes |
| Can change purpose | No | Yes |
| Can change registered agent | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | County, address, agent updates | Name changes, structural changes |
Bottom line: If you only need to change your county (and optionally your service of process address or registered agent), the Certificate of Change saves you $30 compared to a Certificate of Amendment and is the form the NY DOS specifically created for this purpose.
How to File the Certificate of Change (DOS-1359-f)
Step 1: Download the Form
Download form DOS-1359-f from the NY Department of State website. The current revision is dated December 2022.
Step 2: Complete the Form
The form has several sections:
- LLC Name: Enter your LLC's exact legal name as it appears on your Articles of Organization.
- Date of Filing: The date your original Articles of Organization were filed with the Department of State.
- FIRST (County Change): Check the box and enter the name of the new county where the LLC's office will be located.
- SECOND (Process Address): If changing your service of process mailing address, enter the new address. This is optional if you're only changing the county.
- THIRD (Registered Agent): If changing your registered agent, complete this section. Otherwise, leave blank.
- Signature: Must be signed by a member, manager, or other person authorized to sign on behalf of the LLC.
Common Form Confusion
The "THIRD" section about registered agents is the most commonly misunderstood part of the form. If you are not changing your registered agent, leave this section blank. Filling it in incorrectly can cause processing delays or rejection.
Step 3: Submit with Payment
Filing fee: $30 (check or money order payable to "Department of State")
Mail to: New York Department of State, Division of Corporations, One Commerce Plaza, 99 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12231
Payment methods: Check, money order, Visa, MasterCard, or American Express.
Expedited processing options:
| Speed | Additional Fee | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Standard (mail) | None | $30 |
| 24-hour expedited | +$25 | $55 |
| Same-day | +$75 | $105 |
| 2-hour | +$150 | $180 |
How Long Does the Filing Take?
Standard processing (by mail): Approximately 4–6 weeks, though processing times can vary depending on the Department of State's workload. During busy periods, some filers report longer waits.
Expedited processing: If you need the county change processed faster — for example, to begin publication sooner — expedited options are available for an additional fee (see table above).
After the filing is processed, the Department of State will return a filed copy confirming the change. This is your proof that the county has been officially updated on the state's records.
What Changes After Filing (and What Doesn't)
What changes:
- The county listed on your Articles of Organization with the Department of State
- Which county's newspapers you must use for publication
- The county clerk who designates your newspapers
What does NOT change:
- Your LLC's legal name
- Your physical business address or day-to-day operations
- Your date of formation
- Your EIN or tax registrations
- Any contracts, bank accounts, or licenses in your LLC's name
- Local permits or NYC-specific registrations (which are tied to physical location, not DOS county)
Important Distinction
The county on your Articles of Organization is an administrative designation with the state. It determines your publication county and certain legal venue considerations, but it does not change where you physically operate or do business.
Does Changing Your County Require Republication?
Generally, no. The Section 206 publication requirement is a one-time obligation that applies at formation. It requires publication in the county designated in the LLC's original or amended Articles of Organization. Once you have completed the publication requirement, changing your county afterward does not trigger a new publication obligation.
This is why many LLC owners file a Certificate of Change before completing publication — to publish in a county where designated newspaper advertising rates are lower. If your LLC's Articles of Organization list an expensive county but you haven't completed publication yet, you can file a Certificate of Change to update to a more affordable county, then publish in the new county at significantly lower cost.
However, if you never completed the initial publication, changing your county does not exempt you — you still need to publish. You would publish in whatever county is listed on your Articles of Organization after the change. For more details, see our guide on whether address changes require republication.
Ready to skip the hassle?
We handle everything — newspapers, affidavits, and state filing.
Get StartedDIY vs. Using a Publication Service
| Factor | DIY | Using LLC Publishers |
|---|---|---|
| State filing fee | $30 (you pay) | $30 (included) |
| Who fills out DOS-1359-f | You | We handle it |
| Submit to DOS | You mail it | We submit it |
| Monitor processing | You check status | We track approval |
| Arrange publication | Separate step | Seamless — we start publication once approved |
| Track affidavits | Separate step | Included in service |
| File Certificate of Publication | Separate step | Included |
| Timeline management | You manage | We manage end-to-end |
The DIY path works if you're comfortable filling out government forms, mailing them to Albany, monitoring the Department of State for approval, and then separately arranging your publication in the new county.
Using a service makes sense if you want the county change and publication handled as one seamless process. Rather than coordinating two separate multi-week workflows, you place one order and the service handles the rest — from filing the Certificate of Change through completing publication and obtaining your Certificate of Publication.
How LLC Publishers Handles County Changes
When you order publication through LLC Publishers and need a county change, the process is seamless:
- You place your order. Tell us your current county and where you'd like to publish. You select the county — we execute the filing.
- We file the Certificate of Change. We prepare and submit form DOS-1359-f to the Department of State on your behalf.
- We monitor DOS approval. We track the filing until the Department of State processes it and confirms the county update.
- We begin publication. Once the county change is approved, we arrange publication with two designated newspapers in your new county.
- We complete the process. We collect affidavits, file the Certificate of Publication, and deliver your completed certificate.
The entire process is handled end-to-end for a flat fee — no surprises, no separate filings to manage. Check our pricing page for current rates.
Common Mistakes When Filing
Based on our experience handling county change filings, these are the most frequent issues that cause delays or rejections:
- Name mismatch: The LLC name on the Certificate of Change must exactly match what's on file with the Department of State — including punctuation, capitalization, and "LLC" vs. "L.L.C."
- Wrong filing date: The form asks for the date of your original Articles of Organization filing, not today's date. This must match DOS records.
- Filling in the wrong sections: If you're only changing your county, only complete the FIRST section. Leaving the THIRD section (registered agent) partially filled or incorrect is the most common processing error.
- Wrong fee amount: The filing fee is $30 for a Certificate of Change. Sending $60 (the Certificate of Amendment fee) or other amounts will cause delays.
- Missing signature: The form must be signed by an authorized person — a member, manager, or authorized representative of the LLC.
How We Maintain This Data
This article references official New York State sources and is maintained by the LLC Publishers team.
Sources:
- NY DOS: Certificate of Change for Domestic LLCs
- Form DOS-1359-f (PDF)
- NY LLC Law Section 211-A — Certificate of Change statute
- NY LLC Law Section 206 — Publication requirement statute
Last verified: February 2026
FAQ
Can I change my LLC's county back after publication?
Yes. After completing publication in the new county, you can file another Certificate of Change ($30) to update the county again if needed. The publication requirement under Section 206 is a one-time obligation — changing your county afterward does not require additional publication.
Can my registered agent file the Certificate of Change for me?
A registered agent can file a limited version of the Certificate of Change (form DOS-1375-f under Section 211-A(b)) to update their own address and the process mailing address. However, an agent-filed certificate cannot change the county. Only the LLC itself can file form DOS-1359-f to change the county designation.
Do I need a lawyer to file a Certificate of Change?
A Certificate of Change is an administrative filing, not a legal proceeding. Many LLC owners file it themselves without an attorney. However, if you have questions about how a county change might affect your specific legal or business situation, consulting with an attorney is advisable.
What if the Department of State rejects my filing?
If your filing is rejected, the DOS will typically return it with a letter explaining the issue. Common reasons include name mismatches, incorrect fees, or incomplete sections. You can correct the issue and resubmit. When LLC Publishers handles the filing, we address any rejection and resubmit at no additional cost.
Can I file the Certificate of Change online?
The primary documented filing method is by mail to the Department of State in Albany. The NY DOS E-Corp Online Filing System may support online filing for some document types, but availability should be verified on the portal before relying on it.
Is a Certificate of Change the same as a Certificate of Amendment?
No. A Certificate of Change (DOS-1359-f, $30) is a streamlined form for updating county, address, and registered agent information. A Certificate of Amendment (DOS-2120-f, $60) is broader and can change any provision in the Articles of Organization, including the LLC's name. For county changes only, the Certificate of Change is the correct and cheaper option. See our comparison table above.
How much does it cost total to change county and publish?
The Certificate of Change filing fee is $30. Publication costs depend on the county — ranging from under $180-$350+ for DIY in Albany to over $1,400-$1,900+ for DIY in Manhattan. With LLC Publishers, we offer all-inclusive pricing starting at $395.00 that covers the county change filing, publication, and Certificate of Publication. See our county-by-county cost breakdown.
What counties can I change to?
You can change to any of New York's 62 counties. The county you choose should reflect where your LLC maintains its office. For publication cost purposes, counties like Albany and Westchester are among the most affordable. However, your county choice can affect legal venue and other considerations — you are responsible for selecting the county that is appropriate for your business.
Disclaimer
The information in this article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. While we strive for accuracy, laws and procedures may change. For specific legal questions about your LLC, consult with a qualified attorney. LLC Publishers provides publication services and administrative filing assistance, but we are not a law firm and cannot provide legal advice. When we handle county changes, the customer selects the county and we execute the filing on their behalf.
Key Takeaways
- A Certificate of Change (DOS-1359-f) is the correct form for updating your LLC's county with the NY Department of State. It costs $30 — half the price of a Certificate of Amendment.
- Section 211-A of the NY LLC Law authorizes this filing. It's limited to county, address, registered agent, and email changes.
- Processing takes approximately 4–6 weeks by standard mail. Expedited options are available for $25–$150 additional.
- Changing your county does not generally require republication. The Section 206 publication requirement is a one-time obligation at formation.
- Many LLC owners file a county change before publication to publish in a lower-cost county and save significantly on the required newspaper notices.
- Common filing mistakes include name mismatches, wrong dates, and filling in sections that should be left blank.
- LLC Publishers handles county changes as part of our publication service — we file the Certificate of Change, monitor approval, and seamlessly proceed with publication in the new county. Visit our pricing page for current rates.