Do you plan to open a business in Long Beach, California?
Anyone planning to conduct business in the city of Long Beach is required to pay a business license tax. In order to pay your business license tax, you will need to have a file a business license application. You can request a business license tax application in person at the business license desk at 333 West Ocean Blvd on the fourth floor. Their hours of operation are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Wednesdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The office can be reached by phone at (562) 570-6211.
You can also fill out and print your application from the City of Long Beach website. The application, a two-page document, asks for specific information on your proposed business, including your business name, the physical address of your business, and the mailing and contact information of your Long Beach business. You will need to provide the owner contact information, a description of your business activities, and what type of ownership that your business is under, meaning if you are a sole proprietor, with a larger corporation, in a partnership, an LLC, or an LLP. This information is important because it will determine if you need a Federal Employer’s ID number, a state tax ID number, etc.
You will need to declare if you are handling food, tobacco, alcohol, distributing medical marijuana or providing adult or live entertainment, massage, or dealing with firearms or secondhand merchandise. You need to provide contact information for the owner of your business property and information on the property, including square footage and whether there is a storage facility on site. If your business produces bio-hazards or toxic material, you will need to disclose this and whether you will be storing any hazardous materials on your business site. When you complete this application, you will need to sign and date it. Your signature denotes that you are familiar with and agree to comply with any and all regulations, laws and codes associated with business ownership and that all the information you have provided is true and accurate to the best of your knowledge.
Will you need zoning approval?
It is important that you contact the Development Services Department Zoning Division at (562) 570-6194 to discuss, in detail, all proposed business activities. Your business activities must be approved for your zone before business commences. You should not enter into any real estate contracts before you are certain that your property is approved.
Will you need other Long Beach permits or Long Beach licenses?
There may be additional licenses or permits that will be required, depending on the type of business you are conducting. The City of Long Beach website has very useful information on the process you will take to obtain special permits or licenses for certain businesses, including (and not limited to):
- Barbershop
- Childcare
- Entertainment
- Grocery/liquor sales
- Home-based business
- Massage therapist
- Real estate businesses
Each of these (and other) types of businesses require additional permits and/or licenses. For example, a massage technician will require that you have your business license, that you have your zone approval, and in addition, that you have a fire/building inspection, a health inspection, and a police investigation. All of these inspections and approvals could have added fees that you will need to pay along with your Long Beach business license tax. You will need to contact the Long Beach Business License desk at City Hall by calling (562) 570-6211 to discuss any additional permits, inspections, and/or licenses you may need to conduct your business.
What fees can you expect to incur?
You can expect to pay a Long Beach business tax of $198.68 unless you have special or unique business that requires additional fees. You will need to contact the Business License desk at (562) 570-6211 to determine if you will have additional fees.
Who should you contact for further information?
You can contact the City Hall Business License desk at 333 West Ocean Blvd on the fourth floor. Their hours of operation are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Wednesdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. They can be reached by phone at (562) 570-6211. You can also visit the City of Long Beach website for helpful information on obtaining your business license.
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