California business license requirements by city

14 of the 78 cities on this site are in California. For each one: whether a general local business license or registration (city, county or metro government) is required, the license name when one is recorded, the issuing office and the date the summary was compiled. Each city page cites its source.

• Anaheim, CA business license requirements
  General local business license required: Yes
  License name: Business License
  Issuing office: Not stated on the source page
  Verified date: 2026-10-06
• Chula Vista, CA business license requirements
  General local business license required: Yes
  License name: Business License
  Issuing office: Finance Department (the source page sits under the Finance Department on the city site)
  Verified date: 2026-10-06
• Fresno, CA business license requirements
  General local business license required: Yes
  License name: Business Tax Certificate
  Issuing office: Finance Department Business Tax (2600 Fresno Street First Floor Room 1096)
  Verified date: 2026-10-06
• Irvine, CA business license requirements
  General local business license required: Yes
  License name: Business License
  Issuing office: Community Development Department; Business Licensing
  Verified date: 2026-10-05
• Long Beach, CA business license requirements
  General local business license required: Yes
  License name: Business License
  Issuing office: Business License Division
  Verified date: 2026-10-05
• Los Angeles, CA business license requirements
  General local business license required: Yes
  License name: Business Tax Registration Certificate (BTRC)
  Issuing office: Office of Finance
  Verified date: 2026-10-06
• Oakland, CA business license requirements
  General local business license required: Yes
  License name: Business Tax Certificate
  Issuing office: Business Tax Office
  Verified date: 2026-10-05
• Riverside, CA business license requirements
  General local business license required: Yes
  License name: Business Tax Certificate
  Issuing office: Business Tax Office (Finance Department)
  Verified date: 2026-10-05
• Sacramento, CA business license requirements
  General local business license required: Yes
  License name: Business Operations Tax certificate
  Issuing office: Revenue Division
  Verified date: 2026-10-05
• San Diego, CA business license requirements
  General local business license required: Yes
  License name: Business Tax Certificate
  Issuing office: Office of the City Treasurer
  Verified date: 2026-10-05
• San Francisco, CA business license requirements
  General local business license required: Yes
  License name: Business Registration
  Issuing office: Office of the Treasurer & Tax Collector
  Verified date: 2026-10-05
• San Jose, CA business license requirements
  General local business license required: Yes
  License name: Business Tax Certificate
  Issuing office: Finance Department (the source page sits under the Finance section of the city site)
  Verified date: 2026-10-06
• Santa Ana, CA business license requirements
  General local business license required: Yes
  License name: Business License
  Issuing office: Business License Tax Section (1st floor of Santa Ana City Hall)
  Verified date: 2026-10-05
• Stockton, CA business license requirements
  General local business license required: Yes
  License name: Business License
  Issuing office: Not stated on the source page
  Verified date: 2026-10-06

The verified date is the day a summary was compiled. Confirm the rule with the issuing office before filing.

This page is part of a free reference covering 78 cities. All cities by state