Business License
General Business License Information
WHO IS REQUIRED TO HAVE AN EL DORADO COUNTY BUSINESS LICENSE?
It is unlawful for any person to transact any kind of business in the unincorporated territory of the County without possessing an unexpired and unrevoked county business license unless the business is exempt from the license requirements.
ANNUAL BUSINESS LICENSE RENEWAL
Business licenses must be renewed annually. A renewal notice will be mailed to you in the month prior to your renewal date.
FEES
The general business license fee is $32.00 annually. Special fees of $130.00 are for secondhand dealers and pawnbrokers, fortunetelling, and carnivals. There is a special fee of $15.00 for Christmas tree lots.
CONTRACTORS
A State Contractor's License is required. The name on the business license application must match exactly the name on the State Contractor's License. This information will be verified by Tax Collector personnel.
EXEMPTIONS
The following businesses are exempt:
A: Agriculture. Includes the sale of agricultural products upon the premises where produced.
B: Employment. A person who works for another at an agreed rate of compensation.
C: Insurance, farmers, charities, religious, fraternal, service and nonprofit organizations.
MULTIPLE BUSINESSES
A separate license and application is required for each physical business location. Only one license is required if a combination of two or more kinds of businesses are operated at the same fixed place of business by the same person. A separate business license is required for each individual engaged in any itinerant business even though any two or more of the individuals are employed by the same person or are associated together in the same business.
FIREARMS LICENSE
Applications to sell firearms must be accompanied by copies of all of the following: a) valid Federal firearms license, b) valid California seller's permit, and c) certificate of eligibility from the Department of Justice.
NOTE 1: The approved application is not a license to conduct business activities. Once issued, the business license must be exhibited in a conspicuous place. Each solicitor must have an individual license in his/her possession at all times.
NOTE 2: Businesses located in the City of Placerville (Phone: (530) 642-5223) and/or the City of South Lake Tahoe (Phone: (530) 542-6012) are required to obtain a separate business license for those jurisdictions.
Businesses located within the City of Placerville and/or the City of South Lake Tahoe that deliver products to or perform services at locations in the unincorporated areas of the county must obtain an El Dorado County Business License.