Clerk Recorder
The county describes electronic filing with signature/payment and a separate signed-paper mail route. Older residence-address paragraphs are not used as current requirements; see the cited state address rules.
- Availability · Electronic filing
- Complete the application, electronic signature and card payment for this electronic route.
Source & saved evidence
FBN requirement — Electronic filing
Complete the online application, and electronically sign the form. Complete your order by credit card payment.
Agent source review: October 15, 2026 · Snapshot
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Before you start · 10 requirements & conditions
- Information & documents · Mail filing
- Print the completed form, obtain the correct original wet signature, and mail it with payment.
Source & saved evidence
FBN requirement — Mail filing
You must download and print your completed FBN, have the appropriate person sign the FBN with wet ink, and mail in your form with payment.
Agent source review: October 15, 2026 · Snapshot
1a02d4b1597c6e0f - Deadlines · Initial filing — state deadline
- File within 40 days after starting business under the fictitious name.
Source & saved evidence
BPC §17910(a)
File a fictitious business name statement in accordance with this chapter not later than 40 days from the time the registrant commences to transact such business.
Agent source review: October 15, 2026 · Snapshot
0a2c0eed48da160e - Eligibility & access · Where to file — principal place of business
- File in the county of your principal California business location. If you have no California business location, file in Sacramento County.
Source & saved evidence
BPC §17915
A fictitious business name statement shall be filed with the clerk of the county in which the registrant has his or her principal place of business in this state or, if the registrant has no place of business in this state, with the Clerk of Sacramento County.
Agent source review: October 15, 2026 · Snapshot
72f48947268dbc68 - Deadlines · New or changed filing — newspaper publication
- Start publication within 45 days after filing. Use a qualifying newspaper in the filing county, or an adjoining county if no qualifying newspaper exists there.
Source & saved evidence
BPC §17917(a)
Within 45 days after a fictitious business name statement has been filed pursuant to this chapter, the registrant shall cause a statement in the form prescribed by subdivision (a) of Section 17913 to be published pursuant to Section 6064 of the Government Code in a newspaper of general circulation in the county where the fictitious business name statement was filed or, if there is no such newspaper in that county, in a newspaper of general circulation in an adjoining county.
Agent source review: October 15, 2026 · Snapshot
36dc0646686452ab - Information & documents · Newspaper notice — publication frequency
- Publish once a week for four successive weeks.
Source & saved evidence
California Legislature · California — FBN publication-frequency (opens in a new tab)
Government Code §6064
Publication of notice pursuant to this section shall be once a week for four successive weeks.
Agent source review: October 15, 2026 · Snapshot
3834dc233248c113 - Deadlines · After publication — file the affidavit
- File the publication affidavit with the County Clerk within 45 days after publication is completed. Check whether your newspaper files it for you.
Source & saved evidence
BPC §17917(d)
An affidavit showing the publication of the statement shall be filed with the county clerk where the fictitious business name statement was filed within 45 days after the completion of the publication.
Agent source review: October 15, 2026 · Snapshot
36dc0646686452ab - Deadlines · Expiration — earlier changes or abandonment can end the statement
- A statement generally lasts five years, but changes or abandonment can end it earlier.
Source & saved evidence
BPC §17920(a)
Unless the statement expires earlier under subdivision (b) or (c), a fictitious business name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the county clerk.
Agent source review: October 15, 2026 · Snapshot
c96f9d2f6a89b488 - Eligibility & access · No-change renewal — publication exception
- An unchanged renewal filed within 40 days after expiration does not need republication. Changes can require a new publication.
Source & saved evidence
BPC §17917(c)
If a refiling is required because the prior statement has expired, the refiling need not be published unless there has been a change in the information required in the expired statement, provided the refiling is filed within 40 days of the date the statement expired.
Agent source review: October 15, 2026 · Snapshot
36dc0646686452ab - Information & documents · California principal business location
- Provide the street address and county of the principal business location. A registrant’s separate mailing-address rule does not remove this requirement.
Source & saved evidence
BPC §17913(b)(2)
If the registrant has a place of business in this state, insert the street address, and county, of the registrant’s principal place of business in this state.
Agent source review: October 15, 2026 · Snapshot
b3d613c6d589c6c1 - Information & documents · Individual registrant — owner mailing address
- For an individual owner, provide the full name and business mailing address if different from the business address. Do not apply older blanket residence-address instructions.
Source & saved evidence
BPC §17913(b)(3)
If the registrant is an individual, insert the registrant’s full name and business mailing address if it differs from the business address.
Agent source review: October 15, 2026 · Snapshot
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Source & saved evidence
Fictitious business name — Fictitious Business Name
Fictitious Business Name
Agent source review: October 15, 2026 · Snapshot 1a02d4b1597c6e0f
Open the Clerk’s FBN application. The county describes electronic signature/payment; a separate signed-paper mail route is also available.
Source & saved evidence
Fictitious business name — Fictitious Business Name Statement Application
Fictitious Business Name Statement Application
Agent source review: October 15, 2026 · Snapshot 1a02d4b1597c6e0f
Contacts & sources · 4 fees published by this office · 1 form