Monterey County, California · Business and licensing

Check or apply for a business license in Monterey County

Check local business license or business tax certificate requirements, the right authority and application options.

5 providers · 6 official links (1 online) · 3 reviewed requirements · sources checked October 28, 2026

In Monterey County, 4 city governments and 1 county department publish 6 official links for this service, 1 of them online. Reviewed requirements cover eligibility (3). 1 provider publishes reviewed fee items on their guides.

These are the Monterey County providers with a reviewed service link for this task. Other offices may also help, and a provider may serve only part of the county: check each service area. Fees and forms stay on each office’s guide, where their sources are cited.

City government

City of Gonzales — Business licensing information

City of Gonzales

Business license information — City of GonzalesOfficial instructions

The official source lists “Business License”. Follow the issuing provider's instructions for requirements and availability.

Service area: City of Gonzales

Source & saved evidence

Gonzales municipal government · Gonzales — business licensing discovery (opens in a new tab)

Exact named official link (entrance only; linked contents not reviewed)

Business License

Agent source review: October 28, 2026 · Snapshot 245e778dd0412981

Contacts & sources

City government

City of Marina — Business licensing information

City of Marina

Business license information — City of MarinaOfficial instructions

The official source lists “Business License”. Follow the issuing provider's instructions for requirements and availability.

Service area: City of Marina

Source & saved evidence

Marina municipal government · Marina — business licensing discovery (opens in a new tab)

Exact named official link (entrance only; linked contents not reviewed)

Business License

Agent source review: October 28, 2026 · Snapshot 271f511afbb9896b

Contacts & sources

City government

City of Salinas — Business licensing information

City of Salinas

Business license information — City of SalinasOfficial instructions

The official source lists “Business Licenses and Home-Based Business Permits”. Follow the issuing provider's instructions for requirements and availability.

Service area: City of Salinas

Source & saved evidence

Salinas municipal government · Salinas — business licensing discovery (opens in a new tab)

Exact named official link (entrance only; linked contents not reviewed)

Business Licenses and Home-Based Business Permits

Agent source review: October 28, 2026 · Snapshot 936af0a9d3dc3ae9

Contacts & sources

City government

City of Seaside — Business licensing information

City of Seaside

Business license information — City of SeasideOfficial instructions

The official source lists “Business Licenses”. Follow the issuing provider's instructions for requirements and availability.

Service area: City of Seaside

Source & saved evidence

Seaside municipal government · Seaside — business licensing discovery (opens in a new tab)

Exact named official link (entrance only; linked contents not reviewed)

Business Licenses

Agent source review: October 28, 2026 · Snapshot f33762abcf49c2b0

Contacts & sources

County government

Tax Collector

County business licenses for lodging, vacation rentals and commercial cannabisOfficial instructions

Use the current Treasurer-Tax Collector requirements for the specified business categories. The county license is additional to Housing and Community Development permits, and does not replace city licensing.

Service area: The specified lodging, vacation-rental and commercial cannabis activities in unincorporated Monterey County.

Before you start · 3 requirements & conditions

Eligibility & access · Current county-licensed categories: The current Tax Collector page lists hotels/motels, commercial and limited vacation rentals, homestays and commercial cannabis; the older economic-development page’s cannabis-only wording is superseded.
Source & saved evidence
Monterey County official website · Monterey County Treasurer-Tax Collector business-license requirements (opens in a new tab)
Reviewed business licensing instructions
A business license is required for operators of Hotels/Motels, commercial and limited vacation rentals, homestays and commercial cannabis businesses.
Agent source review: October 16, 2026 · Snapshot b8e40f15252f8ec2
Eligibility & access · Lodging and vacation-rental expansion: The current county page dates the licensing requirement for its listed TOT operators toOctober 11, 2024; check the separate lodging permits as well.
Source & saved evidence
Monterey County official website · Monterey County Treasurer-Tax Collector business-license requirements (opens in a new tab)
Reviewed business licensing instructions
Effective October 11, 2024, an annual business license is required for all Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) operators. The business license is an annual license, issued by the Treasurer-Tax Collector and applies to operators of Hotels/Motels, Commercial Vacation Rental, Limited Vacation Rental, and Homestays.
Agent source review: October 16, 2026 · Snapshot b8e40f15252f8ec2
Eligibility & access: The business license does not replace Housing and Community Development permits.
Source & saved evidence
Monterey County official website · Monterey County Treasurer-Tax Collector business-license requirements (opens in a new tab)
Reviewed business licensing instructions
The business license is in addition to the permitting requirements of the Housing and Community Development.
Agent source review: October 16, 2026 · Snapshot b8e40f15252f8ec2

Source & saved evidence

Monterey County official website · Monterey County Treasurer-Tax Collector business-license requirements (opens in a new tab)

Reviewed business licensing instructions

A business license is an annual license issued by the Monterey County Treasurer-Tax Collector for the privilege of conducting business within the unincorporated area of Monterey County.

Agent source review: October 16, 2026 · Snapshot b8e40f15252f8ec2

Start a county business-license applicationOnline service

Official county application portal for the listed licensed activities. Apply before beginning business and check any separate permit approvals.

Service area: County applications for the specified businesses in unincorporated Monterey County.

Source & saved evidence

Monterey County official website · Monterey County Treasurer-Tax Collector business-license requirements (opens in a new tab)

Reviewed business licensing instructions