Business Licensing & Permits
Business Licenses & Permits, compliance with State & Local Regulations, etc.
The following information is only intended to assist small businesses in accessing publicly available information on the regulation and licensing of small businesses in Alameda County, California. For an official interpretation of legal and tax regulations regarding your business at your location, we encourage you to consult with a state licensed attorney and a certified public accountant.
Individuals wishing to start a business would also benefit from attending the Starting a Business Seminar and the Legal and Business Issues Seminar offered regularly by the Alameda County SBDC, please see the Events Calendar for the next offerings of these classes. If you have specific questions regarding licenses or permits, you can call the Alameda County SBDC at 510-208-0410. We can help answer your questions, direct you to other resources that can answer your questions or provide referrals to professional service providers that can assist you. If your issues are especially complex, you may want to consider applying for our free one-on-one counseling services using the Online Request for Services Form.
The state run CalGold Website is an excellent starting point for information on business licensing, permits and regulation. To obtain a license most businesses in Alameda County will need to file a Fictitious Business Name Statement, which is explained below. Also, please see the text descriptions below for a brief explanation on Licenses & Permits in California, Zoning and Building Codes and Ordinances and also the Barrier Free Design regulations associated with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Finally, the navigation menu in the left column of this page (and also the list at the bottom of this page) provides key contacts for obtaining business licenses and permits by municipality within Alameda County.
CalGold Website
In California, the one-stop shop for business license and permit information is the CalGold Website: www.calgold.ca.gov
Enter the business type and location, and the CalGold Website Database will return a wealth of contact information for state, county and local agencies that administer and issue business permits, licenses and registration requirements.
Fictitious Business Name Filing
Most businesses in Alameda County will be required to file a Fictitious Business Name Statement with the County Clerk's Office in Oakland. Check with the agency that issues business licenses in your municipality to verify the need for a Fictitious Business Name Statement.
A fictitious business name, in the case of a sole proprietorship or partnership, means a name that does not include the full name(s) of the individual(s) or a name that suggests the existence of additional owners (e.g. Associates, and Sons, etc.). In the case of a corporation, a fictitious business name is any name other than the full corporate name as shown in the articles of incorporation.
After the fictitious business name statement has been filed with the county clerk, the statement must be published in an Alameda County newspaper of general circulation in the area where the business is to be conducted. The statement must be published once a week for four consecutive weeks with five days between each date of publication. Note that you will also need to file an affidavit of publication with the county clerk within 30 days after the completion of the publication cycle.
In Alameda County, Fictitious Business Name Filing is done through the Alameda County Clerk-Recorder's Office in Oakland:
Alameda County Clerk-Recorder's Office
1106 Madison Street
Oakland, CA 94607
Phone: 510-272-6362
For more information, please see the Fictitious Business Name Filing page on the Alameda County Website: www.co.alameda.ca.us.
State Licenses & Permits, General Information
In California, some businesses and occupations are required to be licensed by the state. The California Department of Consumer Affairs licenses many occupations, such as doctors, dentists, veterinarians, barbers, employment agencies, marriage counselors and many more. For a breakdown of license contacts by profession, please see the Licensee Information page on the Department of Consumer Affairs Website: www.dca.ca.gov
Depending on the specific type of business or manufacturing operation, some businesses may be required to obtain permits covering various construction, operating, production or disposal procedures. For "one-stop" state license information, contact the California Department of Consumer Affairs at (800) 952-5210. Their consumer service representatives can answer consumer and licensee questions in 140 different languages, assist in the filing of complaints, mail helpful publications and refer callers to the appropriate government or private agency for more assistance.
NOTE: Even if you are professionally licensed by the state, local governments will also require a (municipal) business license to conduct business in their city. Contact your county clerk and city clerk to learn about local requirements.
Zoning and Building Codes and Ordinances
When starting or expanding a business, it is important to verify that the facilities you use are in compliance with all laws. To do this, first contact your city assessor or township clerk to assure compliance with local zoning codes. Next, contact the local building inspector to assure compliance with regulations affecting construction (e.g., building, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing codes, and rules on construction, alterations, demolitions, occupancy and use of building). There may also be county zoning requirements. Home-based businesses frequently face special requirements.
Contact your county clerk and city clerk to learn about local Zoning and Building Codes and Ordinances. In Alameda County, you can contact the County Assessor at:
Alameda County Assessor's Office
1221 Oak Street, Room 145
Oakland, CA 94612
Phone: 510-272-3787
Barrier Free Design
In 1992, the Americans with Disabilities Act mandated federal requirements concerning barrier free design. These regulations are intended to ensure that public facilities are accessible to and usable by all citizens, including elderly persons, wheelchair users and individuals with permanent or temporary conditions that reduce coordination or mobility or make walking difficult or insecure. State law also requires that new construction be designed and built in accordance with the barrier free design requirements of the state construction code. Structures that undergo an alteration must comply to a certain degree with the barrier free requirements of the state construction code. Structures that undergo an alteration must comply to a certain degree with the barrier free requirements.
Other Resources
The Alameda County Library has an excellent content section on their Website that deals with the topic of starting a business in Alameda County:
Procedure for Starting a Business (in Alameda County)
The library’s Web page provides more information on the topics: Fictitious Business Name Statement, Business Licenses, County Permits, State Licenses, and Zoning Requirements. And, it also addresses topics such as: Seller's Permits/Resale Numbers, Employer (Tax) Information and Health Permits. Some of their links are obsolete, but overall this is an excellent informational resource.
Printer-friendly version
