How to Obtain Your New Business License

Welcome to the City of Berkeley business community! You will need a new Business License if you are:

• Starting a new business
• The new owner of an existing business
• Opening an additional location for your current business
• Moving your business to a new location

The following information will help you through the application process for your new Business License, and complements additional information from Planning & Development on Business License Review. Depending on the kind of business you have, the application process may take a few days to several weeks or more.

When applying for your new business license, you may need to contact one or more of these City offices:

• Customer Service Center: 1947 Center Street (510) 981-7200, BusLic@ci.berkeley.ca.us

• Permit Service Center: 1947 Center Street (510) 981-7500, Planning@ci.berkeley.ca.us

• Planning & Development: Business License Review
• Land Use Planning: (510) 981-7410, Planning@ci.berkeley.ca.us
• Building & Safety: (510) 981-7440, Planning@ci.berkeley.ca.us
• Environmental Health: (510) 981-5310, EnvHealth@ci.berkeley.ca.us
  This includes inspections & permits for all food service/food handling
• Toxics Management: (510) 981-7460, Toxics@ci.berkeley.ca.us

• Zero Waste Services:  Commercial refuse, recycling & composting service information (510) 981-7270, CustomerService@CityofBerkeley.info

• Public Safety Building: 2100 Martin Luther King, Jr. Way
  • Fire Marshall: (510) 981-5585, Fire@ci.berkeley.ca.us
  • Police Department – when fingerprinting is required (510) 981-5766
    Information on public fingerprinting.
   

Applying for Your New Business License

• Fill out a Business License Application
• Fillable form with auto calculations (fill-in online, then print)
• Fillable form with no auto calculations (print, then fill it out by hand)

•  
• Refer to the Berkeley Municipal Code (BMC): primarily Title 9, Section 9.04 on Business Licenses and Regulations*

*Note: For access to the Berkeley Municipal Code (BMC), links will take you to the City’s BMC site where you can browse the BMC in .pdf format, or search using Records Online. Search tips are available from the site.

See also:

• Essential Business License Requirements
• Business License Tax Classifications & Rates
• City of Berkeley Business-Related Taxes 
• Disability Access Requirements and Resources
  • English
  • Chinese - Simplified
  • Chinese - Traditional
  • Korean
  • Spanish
  • Tagalog
  • Vietnamese
   

Address Verification

Before accepting your Business License Application, staff must verify that the address of your business, including the suite number, if applicable, is in the City's database. For verification of an address, contact Customer Service or use the City Parcel Conditions Database. If it is not in the database, you need to apply for an Address Assignment. Please see the Planning Department for important information about addressing assignments and land use regulations. Contact staff at the Permit Service Center (PSC) to discuss these requirements.

Fees for Your Business License Application

Your new business license tax payment, submitted as part of the application process, is usually $51 – $77, plus a 1-time registration fee of $25. The application process may take 3 days to 6 months, depending on approvals.

Approvals Required for Your Business License Application

If your business is physically located in Berkeley, you must obtain all necessary approvals &/or permits before the City issues your new Business License. These are based on the kind of business you are going to operate and may include those from Land Use Planning/Zoning, Building & Safety, Environmental Health, Toxics, Fire, and Police (if fingerprinting is required).

• See also: Business Licenses Review

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Information Required to Complete Your New Business License Application

1. Type of business – This will determine your classification and tax rate

    

2. Location in Berkeley (specific physical location with street address)

    

3. Name of business (proof of DBA/fictitious business name, if applicable)

    

4. Name of owner

    

5. Mailing address

    

6. Business and emergency phone numbers

    

7. Federal Tax ID or Social Security #

    

8. Form of ownership (Partnership, Corporation, Sole Owner)

    

9. State Seller's Permit/Resale # (if applicable for your kind of business)

    

10. State contractors license # and expiration date (if applicable)

     

11. Number of employees working in Berkeley

     

12. Number of business vehicles operated in Berkeley (up to 4 decals will be issued for business vehicles, which allow business loading/unloading for a maximum of 20 minutes in yellow zones)

     

13. If the business is female or minority owned

     

14. If the business will sell tobacco products

     

15. Date the business fiscal year ends: If you establish a fiscal year other than the calendar year, you must consistently report your annual gross receipts using this 12-month period

     

16. Email address

     

17. Payments due when filing your new business license application:

     

• $25 New business license registration fee (1-time)
• $51 Minimum tax ($77 for all rental property)
• Nonprofit/charitable organizations must complete the New Business License Application, attach a copy of their IRS exemption letter and pay the $25 registration fee and $26 Minimum tax. 

              Please make all checks payable to: City of Berkeley

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