Los Angeles County Business License Guide

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Managing Editor · Communications & Journalism degree, PR and media specialist with 11 years of experience making complex information clear

Los Angeles County business licensing

Accuracy date: May 18, 2026. Last updated: May 18, 2026. Next review: September 18, 2026.

Los Angeles County business licensing is not one county-wide answer. Your first step is to check the exact business address.

A business inside the City of Los Angeles, Long Beach, Pasadena, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, or another incorporated city may have city rules. A business in an unincorporated part of Los Angeles County may have county rules. Some county permits can still apply even when the business is inside a city.

This guide is informational only. It is not legal, tax, accounting, zoning, or professional advice. Always confirm current rules with the official agency before you apply, pay a fee, sign a lease, buy equipment, or open.

Bottom line: start with the address, not the county name

Los Angeles County does not replace the business license or business tax rules of the many cities inside the county.

The Los Angeles County Treasurer and Tax Collector says the County licenses certain business activities in the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County and in the contract cities of Malibu, Santa Clarita, and Westlake Village. The County says it does not process business license applications outside those jurisdictions.

If your business is inside the City of Los Angeles, the main local city item is usually the City of Los Angeles Business Tax Registration Certificate, or BTRC, handled by the Los Angeles Office of Finance. Other cities in the county may use different names, such as business license, business tax certificate, or business tax registration certificate.

Even if a city handles the local license, Los Angeles County may still handle separate items such as a Fictitious Business Name statement, public health permit, certain environmental health approvals, and some county-wide or unincorporated-area permits.

First, check whether your address is in a city or unincorporated county area

Do not assume your business is under Los Angeles County business license rules just because the mailing address says Los Angeles County.

Los Angeles County has many incorporated cities. It also has unincorporated areas. A ZIP code can cross city and county-area boundaries, so a ZIP code alone is not enough.

Use an address lookup before you apply

Start with the official Los Angeles County District Locator. The County Treasurer and Tax Collector directs business owners to use the District Locator to see whether the location is in an unincorporated area or in the contract cities of Malibu, Santa Clarita, or Westlake Village.

If the lookup shows an incorporated city, contact that city’s business license, business tax, finance, planning, or permitting office. If the lookup shows an unincorporated county area, start with Los Angeles County for county business license and land-use questions.

Address result	Likely first local office	What to check
City of Los Angeles	Los Angeles Office of Finance	Business Tax Registration Certificate, city tax, zoning, building, fire, police/regulatory permits, signs, vending, and other city approvals.
Another incorporated city in Los Angeles County	That city’s finance, business license, tax, or city clerk office	Local business license, business tax certificate, local zoning, signs, building, fire, and local permits.
Unincorporated Los Angeles County	Los Angeles County Treasurer and Tax Collector and LA County Planning	County Business License if the activity is on the County’s list, zoning, planning, building, health, fire, and other county approvals.
Malibu, Santa Clarita, or Westlake Village	Los Angeles County Treasurer and Tax Collector for county-administered business license questions, plus the city for other local rules	County-administered licensable activities, city zoning or local permits, and business-type permits.

For businesses inside the City of Los Angeles, use the related Los Angeles, CA Business License Guide. For businesses inside Long Beach, use the related Long Beach, CA Business License Guide. For California statewide steps, use the California Business License Guide.

What Los Angeles County, CA may handle

Los Angeles County may matter in several different ways. Do not treat all county items as the same thing.

County Business License for certain activities

The exact official term used by the Los Angeles County Treasurer and Tax Collector is Business License.

The County says it licenses certain business activities in the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County and the contract cities of Malibu, Santa Clarita, and Westlake Village. It also says it does not process business license applications outside those jurisdictions.

This means the county business license answer can change by address and activity:

If the business is in an unincorporated county area, check whether the activity is on the County’s list of activities that require a County Business License.
If the business is in Malibu, Santa Clarita, or Westlake Village, check the County Business License page and the city’s own local rules.
If the business is inside another incorporated city, the city usually controls the local business license or business tax registration, but county filings and permits may still apply.

Examples of county-licensed activities

The County’s list of activities that require a County Business License includes many specific activities. Examples include food establishments, restaurants, body art establishments, massage establishments or technicians, apartment houses, hotels and motels, billiard rooms, bingo, carnivals, circuses, outdoor festivals, towing, taxicabs, theaters, tobacco shops, salvage dealers, pawnbrokers, locksmiths, valet parking, public swimming pools, and other regulated activities.

This list is activity-specific. A small consulting business in an unincorporated area may not be treated the same as a restaurant, massage establishment, tow truck operator, public pool, or peddler. Confirm the current list before assuming you do or do not need the county license.

County office that handles the County Business License

The business license office is the Los Angeles County Treasurer and Tax Collector, Business License Section. The County also uses the EPIC-LA permitting portal for online application steps.

The Los Angeles County Business License Commission may also be involved for certain licensing matters under Title 7 of the Los Angeles County Code. The Commission’s official page describes licensing matters connected to public health, safety, and welfare in unincorporated areas and contract cities.

County business license is not the same as city business tax

The County Treasurer and Tax Collector explains that the county business license fee is not a business tax based on gross receipts. City systems may be different. For example, the City of Los Angeles uses a Business Tax Registration Certificate and business tax rules through the Office of Finance.

What cities or towns may handle

Most businesses in incorporated parts of Los Angeles County need to start with the exact city. Each city may use its own words, forms, taxes, renewal dates, departments, and permit routing.

City of Los Angeles

The City of Los Angeles Office of Finance says all individuals or entities conducting business activities within the City of Los Angeles are required to apply for and obtain a Business Tax Registration Certificate.

The City also uses the term Tax Registration Certificate, or TRC, in some business tax information. Do not treat a City of Los Angeles BTRC as a county license, seller’s permit, FBN, health permit, zoning approval, or professional license.

Long Beach, Pasadena, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, and other cities

Other Los Angeles County cities can have their own systems. For example:

Long Beach has a Business License Division and says businesses doing business in Long Beach are required to get a business license and pay the business license tax.
Pasadena has city business license rules through its Department of Finance.
Santa Monica has business license and regulatory permit rules.
Beverly Hills uses Business Tax Registration Certificate wording for businesses located in or conducting business within the city limits.

These examples show why one Los Angeles County article cannot replace a city check. If your address is in a city, use that city’s official business license, business tax, planning, building, fire, and health-permit pages.

Mobile, online, contractor, and out-of-city businesses

Do not assume city rules apply only to storefronts. Many cities require local registration for home-based businesses, online sellers, contractors, service providers, landlords, mobile vendors, or out-of-city businesses that perform work inside city limits.

Ask each city whether your activity counts as doing business there. Be ready to explain where you work, where customers are, whether you deliver or install goods, whether you use a vehicle or cart, whether you work from home, and whether you have employees or contractors in that city.

State-level registrations to check

California state registrations are separate from Los Angeles County and city rules. A state filing does not normally replace a city or county license.

State item	Who handles it	When to check
LLC, corporation, limited partnership, and some other entity filings	California Secretary of State, Business Entities	Check if you are forming or maintaining a state-registered business entity. A sole proprietor may not need an entity filing, but may still need local licenses and FBN filing.
California seller’s permit	California Department of Tax and Fee Administration	Check if you sell or lease tangible personal property that would normally be subject to sales tax at retail.
Employer payroll tax account	California Employment Development Department	Check if you have employees or begin paying wages that trigger employer registration.
Industry or professional license	State licensing board or agency	Check for contractors, alcohol, cannabis, child care, health professions, real estate, beauty, security, automotive, and other regulated work.
Permit lookup by location and business type	CalGold permit assistance tool	Use it as a starting point to identify possible state, county, and local agencies. Still confirm directly with each agency.

For broader statewide details, see the California Business License Guide.

DBA, fictitious name, assumed name, and trade name layer

California commonly uses the term Fictitious Business Name, often shortened to FBN. Many people also call this a DBA.

Who may need a Los Angeles County FBN

The Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk says persons doing business for profit under a fictitious name may need to file a Fictitious Business Name Statement. The statement is filed in the county of the principal place of business.

An FBN is a name filing. It is not a business license, LLC, corporation, seller’s permit, trademark, zoning approval, professional license, or tax account.

County Clerk office

Los Angeles County FBN filings are handled by the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk.

The County Clerk’s general FBN page also says that office does not issue business licenses. For a city business, contact the city where the business will be conducted. For a business in an unincorporated county area, contact the Los Angeles County Business License office.

Publication and renewal

The County Clerk’s publication page says state law requires publication within 45 days of filing, once a week for four consecutive weeks, in a newspaper of general circulation in the county where the principal place of business is located. The same page says a renewal does not require publication.

The County Clerk’s renewal page says an FBN statement expires five years from the date it is filed and should be renewed before expiration if the business keeps using the name and there are no changes from the original.

Watch for confusing mailers. Fictitious business name renewals can attract official-looking third-party notices. Use the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk’s official pages before paying any renewal or publication-related fee.

Zoning, home occupation, building, fire, health, and industry permits

A business license or tax registration is only one layer. Many businesses need other reviews before opening or operating.

Zoning and land use in unincorporated Los Angeles County

LA County Planning says it is the planning department for all areas outside a city in Los Angeles County. It handles land use planning functions for unincorporated areas.

LA County Planning says zoning lists allowable uses and design requirements. It also says the department processes land use permits for areas outside a city and checks allowable uses, design requirements, and certain local requirements.

If you are in a city, use that city’s planning or zoning office instead.

Home-based businesses

A home business may still need a local business license, business tax registration, home occupation permit, zoning clearance, or health review. Rules may depend on customers visiting, employees, signage, inventory, deliveries, noise, parking, food, beauty services, repairs, childcare, or storage.

For an unincorporated county address, ask LA County Planning whether the home activity is allowed. For a city address, ask that city’s planning office.

Building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, grading, and inspections

The Los Angeles County Public Works Building & Safety EPIC-LA help page says questions about permits for private property, including building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, or grading, should go to the Building and Safety office that serves the property.

For businesses in cities, the city may have its own building and safety department. Do not assume a county building permit applies inside a city.

Public health permits

Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Environmental Health handles many public health permits and inspections. Its public health permit materials state that new food facilities, body art facilities, swimming pools, organized and children’s camps, and cannabis facilities require design and construction approval and must submit plans through the plan check process.

The department also has specific guidance for food facilities and body art businesses. Some cities, such as Pasadena, Long Beach, and Vernon, operate their own health departments for some topics, so the correct health office may depend on the city and business type.

Fire and hazardous materials

The Los Angeles County Fire Department permits and fees page explains that the Los Angeles County Certified Unified Program Agency handles consolidated permits for regulated businesses with program elements such as hazardous waste, aboveground storage tanks, underground storage tanks, hazardous materials, and California Accidental Release Prevention.

Food trucks, industrial uses, auto repair, fuel, chemicals, warehouses, assembly uses, cannabis, and certain high-risk activities should ask about fire review early.

Short-term rentals and transient occupancy tax in unincorporated areas

The Los Angeles County Treasurer and Tax Collector says a Short-Term Rental Registration Certificate is required before renting out a home or room as a short-term rental in unincorporated Los Angeles County.

LA County Planning says the short-term rental ordinance is tied to Title 22 zoning and Title 7 business license rules. The Treasurer and Tax Collector also says unincorporated-area short-term rental hosts may have Transient Occupancy Tax responsibilities.

If the property is inside an incorporated city, check that city’s short-term rental, zoning, business license, and transient occupancy tax rules instead.

Signs, vending, events, and special activities

Signs, sidewalk vending, mobile vending, outdoor events, entertainment, massage, towing, tobacco, cannabis, alcohol, body art, and similar activities often have extra rules. These may come from a city, Los Angeles County, the state, or more than one agency.

Ask about these before buying equipment, printing signs, booking an event, signing a lease, or advertising an opening date.

Step-by-step checklist for Los Angeles County businesses

Write down your exact activity. Example: home bookkeeping, restaurant, food truck, online clothing seller, contractor, massage, body art, short-term rental, salon, auto repair, or sidewalk vending.
Check the exact address. Use the Los Angeles County District Locator or the city’s address tool. Do not rely only on ZIP code or mailing city.
Identify the local jurisdiction. Is it City of Los Angeles, another incorporated city, unincorporated Los Angeles County, or a county contract city?
Check the local business license or business tax requirement. Use the city’s official page or the Los Angeles County Treasurer and Tax Collector page for unincorporated areas and contract cities.
Check zoning before committing to a location. Ask whether the use is allowed, whether home occupation rules apply, and whether signs, parking, customer visits, deliveries, or outdoor activity are limited.
Check building and safety. Ask about building permits, change of use, certificate of occupancy, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, grading, tenant improvements, and inspections.
Check health permits. Food, body art, pools, lodging, cannabis, camps, and certain facilities should contact the correct health department before opening or remodeling.
Check fire and hazardous materials. Ask about fire review, fire permits, hazardous materials, tanks, storage, hood systems, occupancy, and emergency information if relevant.
File an FBN if needed. Use the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk if your principal place of business is in Los Angeles County and your business name requires it.
Register with California agencies if needed. Check Secretary of State filings, CDTFA seller’s permit, EDD employer account, and professional or industry boards.
Check federal items if relevant. Many businesses need an EIN, and some industries need federal permits. Most small businesses do not have a general federal business license.
Keep copies and calendar renewals. Save license numbers, permit numbers, emails, receipts, renewal dates, and inspection results.

Common mistakes in Los Angeles County

Assuming “Los Angeles” always means City of Los Angeles. Many places in Los Angeles County are not inside the City of Los Angeles.
Using a ZIP code as proof of jurisdiction. ZIP codes can cross city and unincorporated-area lines.
Applying to the county when the city controls the business tax registration. The County says it does not process business license applications outside unincorporated areas and the listed contract cities.
Thinking a City of Los Angeles BTRC is a full operating permit. It does not replace zoning, building, fire, health, police, seller’s permit, FBN, or professional licenses.
Confusing an FBN with an LLC. A fictitious business name filing is not entity formation and does not give trademark rights.
Buying restaurant, cart, body art, pool, or cannabis equipment before health plan check. Public health approval may affect layout, equipment, construction, and timing.
Signing a lease before zoning review. A landlord’s approval does not mean the city or county allows the use.
Forgetting cities besides Los Angeles. Long Beach, Pasadena, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, and other cities may have separate business license or tax rules.
Missing short-term rental rules. Unincorporated Los Angeles County and cities can have different short-term rental and transient occupancy tax rules.
Trusting unofficial filing websites or mailers. Use official county, city, and state links before paying.

What to ask county and city offices before applying

Before calling or emailing, have your business activity, exact address, ownership structure, business name, start date, and setup ready.

Address and jurisdiction script

Hello, I plan to operate a [business type] at [address]. Can you confirm whether this location is inside [city name] or in unincorporated Los Angeles County? Which office handles the local business license, business tax registration, zoning, and permit review for this address?

County Business License script

Hello, my business activity is [describe activity] at [address or area]. I used the District Locator and it appears to be [unincorporated Los Angeles County / Malibu / Santa Clarita / Westlake Village / another city]. Is this activity on the Los Angeles County list of business activities that require a County Business License? Are any other county departments required before approval?

City business tax or license script

Hello, I plan to operate [business type] at [address] and may also work at [customer sites / online / events / mobile locations]. Does the city require a business license, business tax certificate, tax registration certificate, or similar registration? Are zoning, fire, building, health, police, sign, or vending approvals needed before I operate?

Planning and zoning script

Hello, I want to use [address] for [business activity]. Before I sign a lease or open, can you confirm whether this use is allowed at the location? Do I need a home occupation permit, zoning clearance, conditional use permit, parking review, sign permit, outdoor use permit, or other land-use approval?

Health, building, and fire script

Hello, I am opening [restaurant / food cart / body art business / pool / lodging / cannabis facility / auto repair / warehouse / other regulated business]. Which health, building, fire, hazardous materials, plan check, inspection, or operating permits should I complete before I buy equipment, remodel, or open?

Official sources used for this guide

FAQ

Does Los Angeles County require a general county business license?

Los Angeles County uses the term County Business License for certain business activities in unincorporated Los Angeles County and the contract cities of Malibu, Santa Clarita, and Westlake Village. The County says it does not process business license applications outside those jurisdictions. Check your address and activity before applying.

Does the answer change if my business is inside a city?

Yes. If the business is inside an incorporated city, that city may have its own business license, business tax certificate, tax registration certificate, zoning, building, fire, sign, vending, or local permit rules. County filings and permits, such as FBN filings or public health permits, may still apply.

What is the main local business registration in the City of Los Angeles?

The City of Los Angeles Office of Finance uses the term Business Tax Registration Certificate, often shortened to BTRC. This is a city business tax registration. It is not the same as a county license, seller’s permit, FBN, zoning approval, health permit, or professional license.

Who handles fictitious business names in Los Angeles County?

Los Angeles County Fictitious Business Name statements are handled by the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk. A fictitious business name filing is a name filing. It does not form an LLC, issue a city license, issue a seller’s permit, or approve zoning.

Do food businesses need a Los Angeles County health permit?

Many food businesses in Los Angeles County need public health review, plan check, or a Public Health Permit/License. The correct health department can depend on the city and business type. Contact the official health department before buying equipment, remodeling, or opening.

Do home-based businesses need to check zoning?

Yes. A home-based business may need a local license or tax registration and may also need zoning or home occupation approval. Rules may depend on customers, signs, deliveries, employees, inventory, noise, parking, food, beauty services, repairs, storage, or other activity.

Is a California seller’s permit the same as a Los Angeles County business license?

No. A California seller’s permit is handled by the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration and is tied to selling or leasing taxable tangible personal property. A Los Angeles County Business License, when required, is a local county license for certain activities in certain county jurisdictions.

Do short-term rentals in Los Angeles County need a county certificate?

In unincorporated Los Angeles County, the Treasurer and Tax Collector says a Short-Term Rental Registration Certificate is required before renting out a home or room as a short-term rental. Incorporated cities may have their own short-term rental and transient occupancy tax rules.

Disclaimer

This guide is for general information only. It is not legal, tax, accounting, real estate, zoning, health, safety, insurance, employment, or professional advice. Business licensing rules can change, and the correct answer may depend on your exact address, activity, ownership structure, city, county area, building, equipment, employees, and industry.

Before you act, confirm current requirements with the official city, county, state, or federal agency. If you need advice about legal duties, taxes, liability, contracts, employment, or regulated professional work, contact a qualified professional.

About the author

Analic Mata-Murray

Managing Editor, businesslicenseguide.com

🎓 BA Communications & Journalism 📋 11+ years in benefits navigation 🌎 Bilingual English / Spanish 🤝 Salvation Army volunteer translator

Analic Mata-Murray holds a Communications degree with a focus in Journalism and Advertising from Universidad Católica Andrés Bello. For over 11 years, she volunteered as a translator for The Salvation Army — sitting across the table from Spanish-speaking families trying to access government programs, emergency housing, and poverty relief when they needed it most.

What she learned in that work shapes everything on this site: most people who don't get help don't miss out because they don't qualify. They miss out because nobody bothered to explain the system in plain English.

As Managing Editor of Business License Guide, Analic oversees every guide published here. Her job is simple — If a guide is vague, jargon-heavy, or out of date, it doesn't go live.