A City Business License may be obtained at City Hall Annex, 6800 Hunter Drive, Suite B, between the hours of 8am-12pm and 1pm-4:30pm Monday through Friday. 585-6725 To apply for a business license, you will need to fill out an application. To determine the appropriate fee, see the rate sheet. To determine if you are a professional classification, see listing. All fees are due upon receipt of the application. The business license will be issued upon approval and mailed to you within three weeks.

If you are a contractor, you have the option of obtaining an annual or half-year license or a one-job only license. Please view the application and fees for a one-time job only license. If you are going to have any subcontractors also working on this job, you will need to fill out the List of Sub-Contractors.

Business Licenses

The following will need Business Licenses:

Rohnert Park

• If you have a home occupation business and your home is in Rohnert Park.
• If your business is based in Rohnert Park.
• If you have a branch office in Rohnert Park.
• If you are a salesperson who does business in town.
• If you have service personnel that come into town, for example, carpet cleaners or pest control, etc.
• If you have a rental property.

For all other Cities:

• For the above categories, remember that you will need to obtain a license for each city you enter to conduct business.
• Not all cities require a license for rental property, please check with the individual cities involved.

Use permits, if necessary (please check if you run a day care with several children, do auto repair or similar work, or are involved in food preparation), may be obtained at the Planning Department, City Hall, 6750 Commerce Boulevard or phone 588-2236.

Businesses, except home occupation, are subject to a fire inspection and building inspection. Please contact the Public Safety Department, 500 City Hall Drive at 584-2600 to schedule a fire inspection. Please contact the Building Department at 120 Avram Avenue, #104 at 588-2239. The Fee is approximately $120.00 for a fire inspection & $40.00 for a building inspection.

You may find the information below helpful in starting your new business:

Fictitious Business Name

If the business name does not contain the full last name of the owner, you will need to see the county for a Fictitious Name Statement. This statement must be filed no later than 40 days after the starting date of the business. The County Clerk's office is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The fee is $30 for one business and owner, plus an additional $7.00 for each additional owner and business (that is listed on the same form).

County Clerk, Sonoma County
2300 County Center Dr, Ste B, Room 177
Santa Rosa
(707)565-3800

Federal ID Number - State ID Number

Businesses with employees, and all non-profit organizations, will need to obtain a Federal and State ID numbers by contacting the following:

Internal Revenue Service
777 Sonoma Ave
Santa Rosa
800-829-1040

Franchise Tax Board
50 D Street, Rm 210
Santa Rosa
(707)576-2100

Non Profit groups call 800 852-5711 for instructions on obtaining non-profit status with the State.

To incorporate, contact Secretary of State, Corporate Filing & Services Division, 1500 11 St, Sacramento, CA 95814. 916 657-5448

Resale License

Resale permits may be obtained from the State Board of Equalization between the hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The process takes about one hour. There is no fee, however, a security deposit may be assessed.

State Board of Equalization
50 D Street, Room 230
Santa Rosa
576-2100 or 1-800-400-7115
www.boe.ca.gov 

Contractors License

Information on obtaining a contractor's license may be obtained at:

State Contractors Board
50 D Street
Santa Rosa
(707)576-2192
800 321-2752

Day Care Licensing

To obtain information about programs and registering with the State call 588-5026.

For the City of Rohnert Park Business License: No license needed for under six children. A license will be needed for more than six children.

Restaurants

If your business intends to sell alcohol beverages contact:

Alcohol Beverage Control
50 D Street, Rm 400
Santa Rosa
(707)576-2165

For health inspections, contact:

Health Department
1030 Center Drive, Ste A
Santa Rosa
(707)565-6565

Help With Beginning A Business

Two local groups are available to assist you in each step of planning and beginning a business. These groups are composed of retired business people with many years of experience. Their service is free of charge.

Redwood Empire Small Business Development Center
520 Mendocino Ave, Ste 210
Santa Rosa
(707)524-1770

SCORE - Small Business Administration
800 634-0245 (This national number will have someone local contact you.)

For further assistance, you may contact the Chamber of Commerce at 5000 Roberts Lake Rd, Rohnert Park. (707)584-1415.

Other

Don't forget to contact PG&E at 800 743-5000, and Pacific Bell at 800 794-4177 (regular businesses) or 800 924-9258 (home occupation businesses).

Professional Classifications
Ordinance 594, Chap 5.08.030