City Hall / Budget and Finance / Business Licenses

Business Licenses

A business license is required if you want to do business in the City. This web page contains links to the sections of Chapter 19 of the Monterey City Code that govern the issuance of business licenses in the City, including the current business license tax rates. All business licenses expire on June 30th and must be renewed by August 15th to avoid late penalties.

Please be advised that the City's Business License Tax Code has been updated. In November 2016, the voters approved to update and simplify the tax structure effective April 1, 2017. Fact Sheet - Business License Ballot Measure

Depending on the type of business, the location, and whether alterations are planned for the building or property, other permits and fees may be required. To assure that you meet all City requirements, check with the Planning Office. Additional state and county requirements may apply to your business. Visit the starting a business page for more information.

Notice to Applicants for Business Licenses and Commercial Building Permits:

Under Federal and State law, compliance with disability access laws is a serious and significant responsibility that applies to all California building owners and tenants with buildings open to the public. To obtain information about your legal obligations and how to comply with disability access laws, please review the Disability Access Requirements and Resources information sheet.

Business License FAQs

Business License Renewal

Business License Web Search

The City of Monterey Business Registration Search lists most businesses that hold or have held a City Business registration. The information presented here is gathered from City Business registration applications and renewals. It is updated weekly. If a business has recently renewed or applied for a registration, this business will be listed when the NEW registration has been issued. Because this information is "self-reported" by individual businesses, the City is unable to guarantee the accuracy or timeliness of the data. To facilitate quick responses, query results are limited to a maximum of 100.

OPTION 1: Online Business License Application

The City of Monterey has created an Online Business License Application to help business owners streamline the process of applying and submitting their business license application.

OPTION 2: Standard Business License Application

A Business License Application for a new business may also be printed out and submitted to the Revenue Office in the Administrative Services Building located at 735 Pacific Street, Suite A. New business license applications must be originals; we do not accept applications received via email. Please enclose a copy of any state licenses and a check payment with your application.

At the time the business license application is completed and the required tax paid, you will receive a receipt. The final business license will be mailed after all appropriate City Departments have reviewed and approved the application. You should not operate the business until all City requirements are met.

Monterey City Code

Inside Finance

Contact Us

Lauren Lai, CPA
Finance Director
lai@monterey.org

Carol Bouchard, CGFM
Assistant Finance Director
bouchard@monterey.org

General Information

Hours
Monday - Friday
8:00am to 5:00pm

Administration
(831) 646-3940

Accounts Payable
(831) 646-3943

Payroll
(831) 646-3942

Revenue – Accounts Receivable, Pet Licenses, Business Licenses
(831) 646-3944

Mailing Address

Finance Department
735 Pacific Street, Suite A
Monterey, CA 93940
Fax: (831) 655-0562
finance@monterey.org

Business License Tax Calculator

This calculator is used to compute the City of Monterey business license tax and promotion fee, if applicable. Please select the appropriate business license section, indicate whether the business is located in one of the City's promotion districts, and input the annual gross receipts. Select the Calculate button and the business license tax calculator will display the corresponding tax and promotion fee.

Business License Web Search

  1. Select one of the following business license sections – refer to your business license renewal form (also referred to as the Affidavit of Gross Receipts) to determine which license section is applicable for your business:

  2. Select one or none of the following promotion districts, as appropriate – refer to your business license renewal form or contact the Revenue Office if you are not sure whether your business is located within a promotion district:

  3. What are the annual gross receipts for your business, (exclusive of liquor sales and sales tax)?
    PLEASE NOTE: DO NOT USE A DOLLAR SIGN ($) or COMMA (,)


 
Home Businesses

The Zoning Ordinance defines “home occupation” as a business activity conducted in a residential unit that is incidental to the principal residential use of the lot or site. In order to operate a business from your home, you must first have:

  1. a home occupation permit and then
  2. a business license

Applicants apply for a home occupation permit can obtain a tentative approval from the Planning Office and then apply for a business license at the Revenue Office. Details and Application Form

County Health Permits

Information regarding the requirements for obtaining a health permit within the City is also provided in Article 3. Please note that the City of Monterey does not issue health permits. The Environmental Health Division of the County of Monterey Department of Health is responsible for the issuance of these permits. The information is included in this website as a courtesy to those who may be considering starting a business in Monterey that may require the issuance of a health permit.

County of Monterey Department of Health:
1270 Natividad Road
Salinas, CA 93906
(831) 755-4505 or
1200 Aguajito Road
(831) 647-7654
www.co.monterey.ca.us/