Resolve the jurisdiction
An incorporated city and an unincorporated county area have different local governments. A mailing address alone can be misleading.
Activity + jurisdiction
There is no single California business license
CalGOLD helps find agency contacts. It does not issue permits, answer questions about an existing license or promise a complete list.
Open California permit assistance ↗Name the activity
Retail, consulting, food preparation, construction and licensed professional work can involve different agencies.
Check the property
Land use, occupancy, signs, fire and build-out questions belong to the authority responsible for the exact premises.
City of Los Angeles
Use the Office of Finance for the city business-registration process and City Planning for the specific site's zoning record. Activity-specific departments may still be involved.
Unincorporated Los Angeles County
The County Treasurer and Tax Collector licenses only listed activities in its jurisdiction. County Planning handles land-use and zoning questions outside incorporated cities. Confirm the jurisdiction before using either route.
Outside current coverage
Use CalGOLD to identify the likely authorities, then verify the incorporated city or county office yourself. This site does not reuse Los Angeles requirements for another California location.