Do You Plan to Open a Business in San Rafael, California?
Anyone who plans to operate a business in San Rafael will need to apply for a business license, even those who are purchasing an already established business, operating a home business, or those whose business is based outside of the city but enters the city to do business. You can request a business license application in person at City Hall, they are located at 1400 Fifth Ave in San Rafael, or you can simply download and print an application form the City of San Rafael website. In addition to a business license, you will need to have zoning approval from the Planning Division. Zoning approval is determined by the areas of town where businesses are permitted. If your proposed business property is not in the correct zone, you will need to find other property, which is why it is important that you get zoning approval prior to singing any real estate contracts on any business property. The Planning Division can be reached at (415)485-3085.
 CLICK
HERE TO APPLY FOR A BUSINESS
LICENSE IN San Rafael
Disclaimer: This site is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial or tax advise. The information on this site should not be relied upon as an official source of information and should be independently verified. |
Which Business License Application Should You Submit?
San Rafael breaks their business into four categories which are: In-Town, Out of Town, Property (rentals) and Film Shooting.
In-town business license application: If you are operating your business in the city limits, even a home business, you will choose this application.
Out of town business license application: This application is for those who have businesses that are based outside of the city, but who plan to travel into the city to conduct their business, such as a delivery service, a contractor, etc. It is also used for seasonal business such as a christmas tree lot, which do not have a business office inside the city limits.
Property business license: If you are planning to rent property, such as apartments or homes, business locations etc, you will file this application.
Film shoot application: Those filming on private property or public property will need to use this application.
When you have determined which application best suites your business venture, you will need to fill it in with specific information about yourself and your business. For instance, the general, in-city application requests information about the name, the physical location, mailing address and phone contact information of your business. It asks for a detailed description of your business, any information on the owner of your business property, and the ownership type of your business(LLC, LP, LLC, corporation, partnership, trust or sole ownership). Owner information will include your name, all contact information, a valid driver’s license and social security number.
There is information that may be applicable to some businesses and not others, such as a federal tax ID number, state tax ID number, state license, resale number etc. This application also requests information specific to only in-town business, such as planning information, fire inspection information, whether you are operating a home business, etc. The property rental business application lacks all the planning, and fire inspection information as well, but you should be aware that all property rentals with three or more units will be periodically inspected by the Housing Inspection Program. For questions regarding these inspections, call (415)483-3097.
A film shoot application has the basic information found on all the other applications, but in addition, it has a section for providing the time, date and address of the filming location, and has the fees posted on the application for both public property filming and private property filming. All applications has a space for you to provide your signature that verifies that all the information that you have provided is true and accurate to the best of your knowledge.
Are There Other Agencies That You May Need To Contact?
Depending on the type of business you plan to conduct, you may be required to apply for additional permits or licenses, or have inspections or approvals. You will want to contact City Hall to discuss your planned business activities to determine if you will be required to obtain any other applications from other federal, state and/or local entities.
Do You Need More Information?
You can contact the Business License Office in City hall by calling (415)485-3051, or you can visit them in person at 1400 Fifth Ave, in San Rafael, CA. The
City of San Rafael website has useful information for those planning to open their own businesses in their city as well.
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Disclaimer: This site is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial or tax advise. The information on this site should not be relied upon as an official source of information and should be independently verified. |
