City of Santa Cruz — Business licensing information
Find the local office for a business license or business tax certificate. Check the business activity and place covered by each service.[6]
Source checked October 28, 2026[6]www.santacruzca.gov
Opens this office’s own website. CountyWiki does not process applications, take payments or provide personal records.
Contact details & office locations ↓Online services & information
Use the links below for official services and provider information. Check each service’s instructions and service area.
The official source lists “Business Licenses and Permits”. Follow the issuing provider's instructions for requirements and availability.
Service area: City of Santa Cruz [1]
In addition to the basic business license tax, applicants for a new license are charged a $35 registration fee and a $4 fee mandated by the State of California for accessibility compliance through AB 1379. Annual business license renewals are charged the business license tax, a renewal fee of $16, and the $4 state-mandated fee. These fees are authorized by Council Resolution NS-29,343(PDF, 87KB) and, except for the accessibility compliance fee, will be adjusted every January 1 for increases in the Consumer Price Index. Registration, renewal, and state-mandated fees are not prorated and not refundable.
Service area: City of Santa Cruz [1]
Business License Discontinuance Form(PDF, 129KB) - Submit this form if you are no longer doing business in the City of Santa Cruz.
Service area: City of Santa Cruz [1]
Check Status or Search Business License Database - Our Search Feature is Currently Unavailable. For Status, Please call (831)420-5070 or email revenue@santacruzca.gov
Service area: City of Santa Cruz [1]
Fees
Fees are quoted only when a source document supports the amount and conditions.
Check the official website for its current fee schedule. No fee should be assumed to be free.
Forms & documents
Official forms and document pages for this office’s services.
Sources & last checked1 source page · 6 citations
Sources were checked by an AI-assisted research process. A checked website does not mean every service or fee on it has been reviewed.
- [1] Santa Cruz — business licensing discovery (opens in a new tab)
Santa Cruz municipal government · HTML text
Source reviewed October 26, 2026View supporting excerpt
Santa Cruz Wharf
- [2] Santa Cruz — business licensing discovery (opens in a new tab)
Santa Cruz municipal government · Exact named official link (entrance only; linked contents not reviewed)
Source reviewed October 28, 2026View supporting excerpt
Business Licenses and Permits
- [3] Santa Cruz — business licensing discovery (opens in a new tab)
Santa Cruz municipal government · Visible topic-specific information on the official page
Source reviewed October 28, 2026View supporting excerpt
In addition to the basic business license tax, applicants for a new license are charged a $35 registration fee and a $4 fee mandated by the State of California for accessibility compliance through AB 1379. Annual business license renewals are charged the business license tax, a renewal fee of $16, and the $4 state-mandated fee. These fees are authorized by Council Resolution NS-29,343(PDF, 87KB) and, except for the accessibility compliance fee, will be adjusted every January 1 for increases in the Consumer Price Index. Registration, renewal, and state-mandated fees are not prorated and not refundable.
- [4] Santa Cruz — business licensing discovery (opens in a new tab)
Santa Cruz municipal government · Visible topic-specific information on the official page
Source reviewed October 28, 2026View supporting excerpt
Business License Discontinuance Form(PDF, 129KB) - Submit this form if you are no longer doing business in the City of Santa Cruz.
- [5] Santa Cruz — business licensing discovery (opens in a new tab)
Santa Cruz municipal government · Visible topic-specific information on the official page
Source reviewed October 28, 2026View supporting excerpt
Check Status or Search Business License Database - Our Search Feature is Currently Unavailable. For Status, Please call (831)420-5070 or email revenue@santacruzca.gov
- [6] Santa Cruz — business licensing discovery (opens in a new tab)
Santa Cruz municipal government · City-published business licensing information/referral; municipal identity and city geography retain separate original citations
Source reviewed October 28, 2026View supporting excerpt
Business Licenses and Permits