Business License

Any person who conducts any business, trade, profession, enterprise, establishment or occupation within the City of Gardena is required to obtain a license whether or not the physical business address is in or outside of the City. These include but are not limited to:

  • Businesses located WITHIN the City’s boundaries such as: retailers, wholesalers, manufacturers, professional service providers, home-based businesses, non-residential (commercial) and residential rental property, etc.
  • Businesses located OUTSIDE the City’s boundaries that transact business or provide service in the City, such as: construction contractors, independent service providers, repair and handyman services, gardeners, delivery services, real estate sales, janitorial services, temporary employment services, security services, property management, etc.
  • Mobile vendors such as: ice cream trucks, catering trucks and itinerant sales representatives.

There are certain types of business activities that are not permitted to operate in the City unless the owner or operator has been awarded a franchise or has received a permit from City Council. Examples of such businesses include: trash haulers, cable television, fireworks sales, taxicab operations, massage establishment, and pawnshops or secondhand dealer.

FEE SCHEDULE

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

MONTHLY NEW BUSINESS LICENSE LIST

SPECIAL PERMITS

In-City Businesses are those businesses that are located within the City of Gardena jurisdiction. New business must submit a City Business License Application Form as well as the supporting documents.

BUSINESS LICENSE APPLICATION

Please refer to the Business License Checklist to make sure you have all necessary documents to process the business license:

BUSINESS LICENSE CHECKLIST

More information can be found in the Business License Guideline and Flowchart:

BUSINESS LICENSE APPLICATION GUIDELINE

BUSINESS LICENSE FLOWCHART

Are you located in Gardena?

Find out by searching your address on our interactive map. Click here.

Contractors and subcontractors are also required to obtain a business license if providing services in the City of Gardena.

Note: In order for agents of contractors to pull licenses and permits, it is the agent’s responsibility to have a notarized letter and a copy of the state contractor’s card. Otherwise, only a valid driver’s license and the state license card are needed.

  • A – General Engineering Contractor $150 (business tax) + $4 (SB1186Fee)
  • B – General Building Contractor $150 (business tax) + $4 (SB1186Fee)
  • C/D – Specialty Contractor $75 (business tax) + $4 (SB1186Fee)

*Business tax is prorated at 50% beginning July 1st until November 30th of each year.

More information can be found in the Business License Guideline:

BUSINESS LICENSE APPLICATION – OUT-OF-CITY (STATE LICENSED CONTRACTORS)

OUT-OF-CITY BUSINESS LICENSE APPLICATION GUIDELINE

Home based businesses within the City Of Gardena are require to obtain a Home Occupation License along with a Business License Application

HOME OCCUPATION PERMIT APPLICATION

BUSINESS LICENSE APPLICATION

Business License Residential Rental Property Application needs to be submitted along with the following:

  1. Copy of Grant/Trust Deed- proof of ownership
  2. Photo ID/DL

BUSINESS LICENSE APPLICATION- RESDIENTIAL RENTAL PROPERTY

Business License Non-Residential Rental Property Application needs to be submitted along with the following:

  • Copy of Grant/Trust Deed- proof of ownership
  • Photo ID/DL

BUSINESS LICENSE APPLICATION – NON-RESIDENTIAL RENTAL PROPERTY

Click here to renew your business license online.

The City of Gardena offers residents and businesses the option to renew their business license via the Internet. All you need to access this service is your business license account number and security code. This information is pre-printed on your business license renewal notice in the upper right-hand corner. NOTE: If you do not have the original letter mailed out with your security code and account number, please contact the City of Gardena at blrenewals@cityofgardena.org or call (310) 217-9521 to obtain a reprint of your renewal notice.

Renewal notices are mailed out mid-December every year. If you do not receive your notice, please call the City of Gardena Revenue & Collections Office at (310) 217-9521.

FEE

Business license taxes are set by City ordinance and are calculated either as a “flat rate” or on “gross revenues” depending on the type of business operation. To view a listing of business license fees, click here. Business licenses expire on December 31st of each year and must be renewed annually to continue business operations in the city. Late fees will apply upon failure to renew the license within 30 days after the annual expiration date for businesses that have a flat fee rate and by February 28 for businesses that have fees based on gross revenues.

Business License Renewal State Mandated Fee Increase

** On October 11, 2017 Governor Brown signed into law AB-1379 which increases the SB-1186 fee from $1 to $4 on any application for a local business license or similar instrument or permit, or renewal thereof. The purpose of this fee is to increase disability access and compliance with construction-related accessibility requirements and to develop educational resources for businesses in order to facilitate compliance with federal and state disability laws, as specified.

If you have received a RENEWAL NOTICE for your business license and intend to pay with a credit card, you can either renew On-Line or pay your license renewal fee in person at City Hall, Administrative Services, 1700 W. 162nd in Gardena. The business hours for City Hall are Monday – Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Fridays. Be sure to complete all sections of the form and make any corrections needed to update the information.

A business license certificate will be mailed to the address indicated on your renewal form approximately three weeks from the receipt of your payment. If you want to verify the receipt of your payment, you may do so by calling (310) 217-9521 or click on the link provided below.

How To Calculate Renewal Fees

Changes to the following: Business Name, Owner/Partner or Corporate Name, Business Location in Gardena may require additional paperwork to be submitted.

Change of Ownership and/or Change of Business Address will need to apply for a new business license.

For any change of information, please fill out the Business License Application:

BUSINESS LICENSE APPLICATION

SB 205 Business Licenses: Stormwater Discharge Compliance

** California Senate Bill No. 205, which was approved on October 2, 2019 and applies to all initial business license and business license renewal applications submitted on and after January 1, 2020, mandates industrial facilities operating with the City of Gardena to demonstrate coverage under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Industrial General Permit (IGP) program prior to being issued a new or renewed business license by the City of Gardena.

If you are terminating a business, please submit your request by completing the Transaction Request Form below or checking the box in the Business License Renewal form.

TRANSACTION REQUEST FORM

For payments over e-mail, please complete and submit the credit card authorization form below:

CREDIT CARD FORM