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1. How do I apply for a Business License?

Business Licenses are applied online at https://Palmdale.HdLgov.com for more information call our Business Support Center at 661/247-8384.

2. What is needed to get a business license?

The following list provides information and items that may be required before a business license can be issued. Bold items indicate that special conditions are required or the activity is prohibited when working out of the home.

• File for a Fictitious Business Name (FBN) or Doing Business As (DBA). If your last name is in the name of your business, filing a Fictitious Business Name is not required. FBN/DBA must be filed online or by appointment with the Los Angeles County Registrar Recorder’s Office/County Clerk, then published in a local newspaper in Los Angeles County.  Publications run once a week for four weeks.
• Los Angeles County Registrar Recorder’s Office/County Clerk: 800/201-8999 www.Lavote.net  Lancaster office – 44509 16^th Street West, Suite 101
• Local newspapers are:
  1. Acton-Agua Dulce News  
      Phone: 661-269-1169
  2. Antelope Valley Journal
      Phone: 661-947-5009
  3. Antelope Valley Press
      Phone: 661-273-2700

Verify if your business name is available here – Fictitious Business Name Search

• Retail sales require a Seller's Permit obtained through the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration, which can be reached at 800/400-7115. The Seller’s Permit must display the business address.
• Department of Consumer Affairs – 800/952-5210 www.dca.ca.gov
• Board of Barbering and Cosmetology – 800/952-5210 www.barbercosmo.ca.gov  email barbercosmo@dca.ca.gov 
• Bureau of Automotive Repair – 800/952-5210 www.bar.ca.gov email Barinfo@dca.ca.gov 
• Bureau of Household Goods and Services – 916/999-2041 https://bhgs.dca.ca.gov email HomeProducts@dca.ca.gov 
• Contractors State Licensing Board – 800/321-2752 www.cslb.ca.gov 
• Federal id numbers and tax information contact Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and California Franchise Tax Board.
• The Secretary of State processes corporate and non-profit organization filings. For more information, call 213/897-5310 or 916/657-5448.
• Businesses that sell food products or use or maintain hazardous waste materials require a Los Angeles County Health permit.
  1. Biohazard
      Phone: 213/744-5101
  2. Mobile Food Program
     Phone: 626/430-5500 ehvip@ph.lacounty.gov 
  3. Food
      Phone: 661/471-4880 

 

• If you plan to sell alcoholic beverages, you must notify the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control at 818/901-5017, vannuys@abc.ca.gov, and contact the Planning Division for information on the City of Palmdale's Alcohol Ordinance at Planning@cityofpalmdale.org or by phone 661/267-5200.
• The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives can be reached at 818/265-2500 and must be notified if tobacco or firearms are part of the business.
• For a Home Occupation Permit or a Zoning Clearance - Occupancy Review Form, contact Planning at Planningdiv@cityofpalmdale.org  or by phone at 661/267-5200.

3. How do I establish a business in Palmdale?

The requirements to establish a new business in the City vary by the type and location of the business. You will need to verify the zoning, building, and license requirements applicable to your business. Zoning information is available with the Planning Division at 38250 Sierra Highway – Planningdiv@cityofpalmdale.org or by phone at 661/267-5200.  

Business License staff is available by email - at BusinessLicense@cityofpalmdale.org or by phone at 661/267-5434.  

Apply for a business license by clicking here https://Palmdale.HdLGov.com.  Customer Support Center can be reached Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. by email at Palmdale@HdLgov.com or by phone at 661/247-8384.

City staff is available to answer your questions by telephone Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Staff recommends a careful check of the location's zoning, parking, permitted uses, and Building and Safety records before you buy or lease the property to establish a business. This assures you that the business is allowed in the zone, that development requirements are met, and that no known code violations exist on the property preventing investment of time and money in a site which will not meet your needs.

4. Can I establish a business in my home?

To establish a business in your home, you will need a Home Occupation Permit (HOP) approved by Planning. Businesses may be conducted out of a residence provided they meet specific requirements. To protect other residents in a neighborhood, any business operating out of a home must not change the house's appearance, attract commercial traffic, or involve outdoor operations or storage.

5. What is required for a business license in a commercial or industrial building?

A Zoning Clearance - Occupancy Review Form is required before a business is established in an existing building in any commercial/industrial zone in the City.  Zoning clearances are approved by Planning, Industrial Waste, and Building & Safety. This can be an in-person procedure and is usually handled when the form is submitted.  However, staff may have to retain the form if additional research or site inspections are needed. Changing the use of a building from one type of use to another (for example, retail sales to a restaurant) may require additional permits and/or modifications to the site.

Planning verifies that the General Plan and Zoning designations for the location permit the establishment of your business at the site you have chosen. They also verify that parking, access, and signage meet City standards. Auto repair and restaurant businesses are required to process an Industrial Waste permit.  Building & Safety review its building permit files to confirm that there are no outstanding building permits and that the building is safe for the business requesting a permit. 

They may also require additional paperwork/permits from other permitting agencies, such as the Los Angeles County Fire Department, Los Angeles County Health Department, Antelope Valley Air Quality Management District (AVAQMD), and Los Angeles County Sanitation District. Fees vary for inspections. 

Planning – Planningdev@cityofpalmdale.org  661/267-5200

Industrial Waste – Iw@cityofpalmdale.org  661/267-5244

Building & Safety – B&S@cityofpalmdale.org  661/267-5353

6. Do I need a business license?

If you are doing business in the City of Palmdale, you are required to have a business license. This includes businesses located outside of the City and single-family rentals.

7. I am renting my home. Do I need a business license?

Yes, a business license is required if you are renting your home or even a room.

8. How do I get a Seller's Permit?

You can apply for a Seller’s Permit online with the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration or by phone at 800/400-7115.

9. How do I get a Fictitious Name Filing (Doing Business As)?

Filing for an FBN/DBA is a two-step process:

1. File your FBN/DBA with the Los Angeles County Registrar Recorder’s/County Clerk online or make an appointment. 
2. Publish the filing in any local newspaper in Los Angeles County:
   1. Acton/Agua Dulce News
       3413 Soledad Canyon Road
       Acton, CA 93510
       Phone: 661/269-1169
   2. Antelope Valley Journal
       3166 E. Palmdale Boulevard, Suite 107
       Palmdale, CA 93550
       Phone: 661/647-5009
   3. Antelope Valley Press
       37404 Sierra Highway
       Palmdale, CA 93550
       Phone: 661/273-2700

Verify if your business name is available here – Fictitious Business Name Search

10. Can I transfer my business license to a new owner?

Business licenses are non-transferable. If you sell your business, it is your responsibility to notify our office so your license may be closed. The new owner must apply for a new license in his/her name. To close a business license, click here Business License Support Center – or call 661/247-8384.

11. What is a Home Occupation Permit and who is required to have one?

Every business operating from residential premises within the City is required to have a Home Occupation Permit and comply with all applicable provisions of the Palmdale Municipal Code relating to home-based businesses.  Planning approves these permits. For information on obtaining a Home Occupation Permit, please contact Planning at Planningdiv@cityofpalmdale.org - 661/267-5200.