Starting Your Business
Planning
and Zoning Permits |
Obtaining A Business License
Filing a Fictitious Business
Name Statement | Sources of
Financing and Tech. Asst.
City
Code, Chapter 19
How Do I Start?
The City of Monterey is anxious to assist new businesses to
assure their successful location in Monterey. Starting a new business requires a major
commitment of time, energy, and capital. You will also be required to obtain a business
license, and other required zoning, planning, and building permits, depending on the
nature of your business. Most important to your success is the development of a business
plan, which describes how your business will be managed and operated. A business plan is
also essential if you are seeking financing for your business.
Zoning
Before selecting a particular location, check with the City of Monterey's Planning
Division to make sure that your business meets Zoning Code requirements. Certain areas of
the City are zoned for Commercial and Industrial Uses. Additional requirements for the
operations of a business are also included in the Zoning Code. You need to verify that the
zoning classification of your proposed location allows the kind of business you plan to
operate. Contact the Current Planning Office in historic Colton Hall at 831.646.3885 for
more information.
Use Permits
Some commercial businesses must also obtain a Use Permit to operate in the City of
Monterey. Use Permits enable the City to review and control The operations of businesses
which might have a detrimental impact on other nearby businesses or residents. Such
businesses include fast food restaurants, businesses providing live entertainment, and/or
businesses with late hours of operation adjacent to residential areas. Contact the
Planning Division at 831.646.3885 to determine whether or not you will need to obtain a
Use Permit.
Home Occupation Permits
Some businesses which have few or no impacts are allowed to be operated out of an
existing residence. Such businesses must obtain a
Home
Occupation Permit. Additional information can be obtained from the Current Planning
office in Colton Hall, or call 831.646.3885. Click here to download a
project application
(in Adobe PDF format).
Sign Permits
All new signs require a sign permit, and may require approval from the Architectural
Review Committee. Information on signage requirements can be obtained from the Current
Planning office in Colton Hall, or by calling 831.646.3885.
New Construction
Construction of a new building or an addition to an existing building will require
approval of the Architectural Review Committee and building permits. Planning Staff can
provide you with information Regarding Planning and Building Code requirements for your
proposed business. Contact the Current Planning office in Colton Hall at 831.646.3885 for
more information.
Building Permits
Once your project has been approved, you need to contact the Building Safety Division
to make sure your proposed project meets current building code and fire safety
requirements. All new construction must be approved by the Building Safety Division and
may require review by the Fire Marshall before you can occupy your new or improved space
and open your business. For more info contact the
Building Safety
Division in Colton Hall at 831.646.3890.
Obtaining A
Business License
If you plan to operate your business in the City of
Monterey, you must apply for your business license in the City of Monterey. The only
requirement is that you have a fixed place of business.
Business license fees are based on your estimated receipts for the next year. If you are a
new business, the fees are based on estimated receipts. In estimating gross receipts,
sales tax receipts should be excluded form the total. Business licenses
are renewed annually in July of each year at the beginning of the fiscal year.
For more info, click here to
visit the City's Finance Department.
Filing
a Fictitious Business Name Statement
If the name of your business is different form your own
legal name you must file a Fictitious Business Name Statement. The Fictitious Business
Name Statement is filed with the County Clerk. It may be necessary for you to go to the
County Clerk's office in Salinas and fill out the forms establishing the name of your
company. If you need to file, you should do so within 40 days of starting your business.
The forms can be obtained from:
Monterey
County Clerk, 168 West Alisal St., 1st Floor, P.O. Box 29,
Salinas, CA 93902, 831.755.5450
The current filing fee is $30 for businesses with one owner
and one business name. There is an additional charge of $7 for each additional business
owner or business name. After filing, you will be required to publish a legal notice of
your business name in any newspaper of general circulation in the County where the
principal place of business is located, once per week for four consecutive weeks, and to
file an affidavit with the County Clerk within 30 days after publication.
Sources of Financing and Technical Assistance
A. California Coastal Rural Development Corporation
operates a variety of small business loan programs. For additional info call:
- Salinas office: 831.424.1099, Wendy Dodson; ext. 222
- Monterey office: 831.641.0722, Frank Nuciforo ext. 11
California Coastal
Rural Development Corp. (www.calcoastal.org)
221 Main Street, Suite 301, P.O. Box 479, Salinas, CA 93901 or
479 Pacific Street, Suite 5-A, Monterey, CA 93940
B. The County of
Monterey, Environmental Resource Policy Division Office of Economic Dev. provides
financing information and assistance to small businesses throughout the County.
For more information call them at 831.755.5065.
Environmental Resource Policy Division Office of Economic
Dev
P.O. Box 180, 240 Church Street - Room 301, Salinas, CA 93902
Phone: 831.755.5065, fax: 831.751.6933
oed@co.monterey.ca.us
http://www.montereycountybusiness.net/indexbusiness.html
C. Central Coast Small Business Development Center:
This organization provides no cost, hands-on technical assistance and support to small
business on the Central Coast. For information or assistance, from Monterey call:
1.800.464.6136, or write to: Central Coast Small Business
Development Center at Cabrillo College, 6500 Soquel Drive, Aptos, CA 95003.
www.centralcoastsbdc.org
D. Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce/SCORE
(Service Core of Retired Executives): The Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce provides
a variety of services to small businesses throughout the Monterey Peninsula. It also
assists the local SCORE Chapter in assisting new businesses. SCORE representatives can
provide guidance and assistance to you in preparing a business plan, or in solving the
specific problems in your existing business. For more information about the Monterey
Peninsula Chamber of Commerce or an appointment with a SCORE representative, call the
Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce at 831.648.5360.
www.montereybayscore.org |
