State Guide

California Business License

This guide covers California's general business license requirements — state-level registration, local city and county licenses, fees, and renewal timelines.

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Overview

California does not issue a general state business license. Instead, businesses must register at the local (city or county) level and obtain a Seller's Permit from the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) if they sell taxable goods.

Most California cities require a Business Tax Certificate (commonly called a business license). Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, and virtually every California municipality runs its own business license program with separate fees, renewal timelines, and requirements.

California Seller's Permit

Primary agencyCalifornia Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA)
Legal authorityCalifornia Revenue and Taxation Code § 6066
Key noteNo general state business license. Seller's Permit required for businesses selling or leasing tangible personal property.

Initial Registration

Filing methodOnline at CDTFA.ca.gov or at a CDTFA field office
Agency feeNo fee for Seller's Permit
NotesPermit issued immediately; required before making first sale.

Registration Renewal

Filing methodSeller's Permit does not expire; sales tax returns filed regularly
Agency feeNo renewal fee
Due dateSales tax returns due monthly, quarterly, or annually

Local General Business Licenses

California's 482 cities and 58 counties each run their own business licensing programs. Fees, requirements, and renewal dates vary widely by jurisdiction.

Counties

Alameda CountyAlpine CountyAmador CountyButte CountyCalaveras CountyColusa CountyContra Costa CountyDel Norte CountyEl Dorado CountyFresno CountyGlenn CountyHumboldt CountyImperial CountyInyo CountyKern CountyKings CountyLake CountyLassen CountyLos Angeles CountyMadera CountyMarin CountyMariposa CountyMendocino CountyMerced CountyModoc CountyMono CountyMonterey CountyNapa CountyNevada CountyOrange CountyPlacer CountyPlumas CountyRiverside CountySacramento CountySan Benito CountySan Bernardino CountySan Diego CountySan Francisco CountySan Joaquin CountySan Luis Obispo CountySan Mateo CountySanta Barbara CountySanta Clara CountySanta Cruz CountyShasta CountySierra CountySiskiyou CountySolano CountySonoma CountyStanislaus CountySutter CountyTehama CountyTrinity CountyTulare CountyTuolumne CountyVentura CountyYolo CountyYuba County

Cities & Townships

AdelantoAlamedaAlbanyAlhambraAnaheimArcadiaAuburnAzusaBakersfieldBaldwin ParkBanningBeaumontBelmontBeniciaBerkeleyBeverly HillsBrawleyBreaBuena ParkBurbankBurlingameCamarilloCampbellCanyon LakeCarlsbadCarpinteriaCarsonCathedral CityChicoChino HillsChula VistaCoachellaColtonCommerceComptonConcordCorcoranCoronaCoronadoCosta MesaCovinaCulver CityCupertinoCypressDavisDixonDowneyDublinEastvaleEl CajonEl CentroEl SegundoElk GroveEmeryvilleEscondidoFairfieldFillmoreFolsomFontanaFoster CityFountain ValleyFremontFresnoFullertonGarden GroveGardenaGilroyGlendaleGlendoraGoletaGrass ValleyHalf Moon BayHanfordHawthorneHaywardHealdsburgHemetHerculesHighlandHillsboroughHuntington BeachIndioInglewoodIrvineJurupa ValleyLa Canada FlintridgeLa MesaLa PuenteLake ElsinoreLake ForestLakewoodLancasterLarkspurLathropLivermoreLivingstonLodiLong BeachLos AlamitosLos AngelesLos GatosManhattan BeachMarinaMenifeeMenlo ParkMillbraeMilpitasModestoMontclairMontebelloMontereyMonterey ParkMoorparkMoreno ValleyMorro BayMountain ViewMurrietaNapaNational CityNewport BeachNorcoNorwalkNovatoOaklandOceansideOntarioOrangeOxnardPacific GrovePalm DesertPalm SpringsPalmdalePalo AltoPasadenaPerrisPico RiveraPiedmontPittsburgPleasantonPomonaRancho CordovaRancho CucamongaRancho MirageRancho Palos VerdesReddingRedlandsRedondo BeachRedwood CityReedleyRialtoRichmondRiversideRosevilleSacramentoSalinasSan BernardinoSan BrunoSan CarlosSan ClementeSan DiegoSan DimasSan FranciscoSan JacintoSan JoseSan Juan CapistranoSan LeandroSan Luis ObispoSan MarcosSan MarinoSan MateoSan RafaelSan RamonSanta AnaSanta BarbaraSanta ClaraSanta ClaritaSanta CruzSanta Fe SpringsSanta MariaSanta MonicaSanta RosaSanteeSaratogaSierra MadreSignal HillSimi ValleySonomaSouth Lake TahoeSouth PasadenaSouth San FranciscoStantonStocktonSuisun CitySunnyvaleTemeculaThousand OaksTorranceTracyTustinUkiahUplandVacavilleVallejoVenturaVictorvilleVisaliaVistaWalnut CreekWatsonvilleWest CovinaWest HollywoodWest SacramentoWhittierWildomarWindsorYorba LindaYuba CityYucaipa

EntityEngine does not provide tax, financial, or legal advice. Requirements change — always verify with the issuing agency. Confirm with California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) →

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