THE COUNTY OF MONTEREY - NEW Online Business License Application.

New Business License Requirement

Effective October 11, 2024, an annual business license is required for all vacation rental operators. The business license is an annual license, issued by the Treasurer-Tax Collector and applies to operators of Hotels/Motels, Commercial Vacation Rental, Limited Vacation Rental, and Homestays. The business license is in addition to the permitting requirements of the Housing and Community Development. You may contact Housing and Community Development at (831) 755-5025.

Business licenses are required for vacation rental operators and commercial cannabis related businesses operating in the unincorporated areas of the County of Monterey. If your business operates within city limits, please contact the city you operate in for their business license requirements.

Assembly Bill 3002 went into effect on January 1, 2019 which provides information regarding disability access requirements and resources to business owners. To read the full notice, click HERE.

A business license is required prior to the commencement of business. Therefore, a business license application should be submitted in advance of the anticipated start date of the business. If you have already commenced business, you should submit a business license application immediately.

Payment will not be required until your application has been accepted. You will receive an email verifying the receipt of application. Within 10 days an email containing the amount due and instructions how to make payment online. Please note, you will not receive your Business License for 10 days AFTER your fees have been paid.

INSTRUCTIONS
Before beginning the application, please be sure to have all required documents and information readily available. On the first page of the application, you must upload in PDF format the following documents. If you do not have them, the application will not allow you to complete it at this time: As appropriate for your business, include the following:

1) Articles of Incorporation, Articles of Organization, Individual owners include a copy of drivers license or goverment issued ID. ALL applicants include list of officers, directors, general partners, managers, and titles

2) Include a list of all persons having financial interest in the business and their percentage of ownership. Must total 100%

3) Proof of Workers Comp Insurance or explanation for exemption signed and dated by taxpayer

4) All required and applicable permits and licenses required by the State of CA and County of Monterey to engage in business. Include copies of sales tax permit and/or cannabis tax permit issued by the CA Dept. Tax and Fee Admin.

5) For individuals completing this application on behalf of the applicant, provide a written signed authorization by the APPLICANT or other equivalent legal instrument authorizing individual to act on behalf of applicant.

IDENTIFY BUSINESS ACTIVITY TYPE(S)
You will need to indicate with Yes or No for each business activity type listed on page 1 of the application.

If you are a first time business owner in the County of Monterey and are eligible to apply for a business license online, click on the 'Begin Registration>>' button to start the online application process.

Per AB 2184, you may protect your residential address by providing a different Service of Process address in accordance with Sections 16000.1(a)(2) and 16100.1(a)(2) of the Business and Professions Code. Should you wish to do so, please complete the necessary fields in the business license application.

Thank you for bringing your business to the County of Monterey! We wish you success!