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Business License Applications
Helpful Information
- Business License Office - Information & Phone Numbers
- New Business Handbook
- Home Occupation Zoning Requirements (PDF)
- Guidelines to Prepare for Your Fire Inspection (PDF)
- Tax Rates and Information - Commercial Rental Property Owners
- Tax Rates and Information - General
- Tax Rates and Information - Realtors
- Tax Rates and Information - Contractors
Cannabidiol (CBD) Products
Any business that sells industrial hemp products containing no more than 0.3% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is required to come to the Business Tax Office to sign an affidavit before opening a business license. To see a sample of the form click here.
Note: This form must be signed at the Business Tax Office.
Exemptions & More
- Apportionment Guidelines
- Contractor (State Licensed)
- Disabled Veteran Exemption
- Exempt from Business Tax?
- Limited Income Exemption
- Non-Profit Exemption
Whenever a person engages in business both within and outside the city, the Business Tax shall be fairly apportioned to reflect that portion of business conducted within the city.
All state licensed contractors must obtain a City Business License prior to pulling any building permits. When applying for a business license, contractors cannot report less than $75,000 in gross receipts without proof. If the company is sending an agent to apply for a business license, he or she must provide an Agent Authorization letter with photo I.D.
For any Building Permit questions, please contact the Building & Safety department at (805) 654-7869 or click here.
Useful Links
To Qualify for the Disabled Veteran Exemption, you must be/have:
1. Honorably discharged from the United States Armed Services as a soldier, sailor, marine or airman.
2. Certification of medical or physical inability to obtain a livelihood by manual labor.
3. Voter registration from the State of California.
4. A detailed description of proposed business activity.
Persons applying for a Business License who qualify under the Disabled Veteran Exemption only pay an administrative fee of $20 for a Business Tax Certificate, and do not have to pay the Business License tax.
All businesses MUST have a Business Tax Certificate, even those exempt from the Business Tax. Exempt businesses only pay an administrative fee for a Business Tax Certificate.
Useful Links
Persons applying for a Business License who qualify under the Limited Income Exemption only pay an administrative fee for a Business Tax Certificate, and do not have to pay the Business License tax.
To Qualify as Limited Income:
- A copy of the previous year's tax return showing income of $2,400 or less
- An Administrative fee of $20
A Non-Profit exemption is available for a Nonprofit organization or corporation conducting, managing or carrying on of any business, occupation or activity from a fixed place of business in the city. Those who qualify only pay an administrative fee for a Business Tax Certificate and do not have to pay the Business License tax.
To qualify as non-profit:
- The organization's articles of incorporation is changed within the last 5 years
- Evidence of the organization's non-profit status (i.e. federal or state tax exempt status letter or a recent tax return)
- Pay an administrative fee of $20
Programs & More
- Economic Develop Collaborative
- Fictitious Name Filing
- SCORE
- Seller's Permit
- Women's Economic Ventures WEV
- Business Consulting & Workshops
- Loans & Funding Assistance
- Manufacturing Assistance Program
- How-to on International Trade
- http://edc-vc.com
- Every person who regularly transacts business in this state for profit under a fictitious business name shall file a fictitious business name statement not later than 40 days from the time he/she commences to transact such business.
- https://www.ventura.org/ttc/business-license/
- For Free Business Counseling, you can contact SCORE at (805) 204-6022
- https://www.score.org
- Contact the Board of Equalization or Apply Online at (805) 677-2700
- http://www.boe.ca.gov/
- Business Training
- Loans
- Consulting
- Spanish Services
- http://wevonline.org/