Apply for a business license

If you operate a business of any size in the City of Piedmont, you need to get a business license. This includes home-based businesses, rental properties, and contractors.

Need to know

• Cost:
  • Based on gross receipts ($100 minimum)
  • Film is $500 per day
  • Auctions are $200 per day
  • All licenses have a $4 State Disability Access fee
• If you don’t get a business license, you are subject to back taxes, fines and interest.

Before you start

Piedmont’s business licenses are processed by a company called HDL.

Required Information

To apply for a business license, you’ll need information about your business including:

• SIC code
• A tax identification number, such as:
  • BOE number
  • SEIN
  • FEIN
  • Social security number
• Total yearly income from sales or services before any deductions
  • If this is a brand new business, provide an estimate
  • If you are located outside of Piedmont, report the income you earned within the city limits

You don’t need to provide a Fictitious business name statement (DBA).

Other documents, depending on business type

Based on the type of business, you may need to include other documents:

• If you run your business out of your home, include your approved home occupation permit.
• If you sell goods, include your seller’s permit.
• If you have employees, include your Workers Compensation Insurance policy.
• If your business is subject to the State’s storm water program, you need a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit before you can get a business license.
• If you are filming, include your approved film permit.

Contractors

State licensed contractors can get a 3-month or a 12-month license.

Rental properties

If you have multiple properties, you need a license for each one. This does not apply to properties you own outside of Piedmont.

Total yearly income

Your tax amount is based on your total yearly income for work in the city of Piedmont. This is also called annual gross receipts. If your business is new, provide an estimate and we will true up based on your actuals when you renew.

If your business is located in Piedmont, you can use your Schedule C to determine this amount.

If your business is not located in Piedmont, you’ll need to calculate the total amount of income from work conducted in Piedmont.

Steps

1. Submit your application.

Complete the online business license application.

Or, if you prefer, you can:

• Download the business license application and submit it by mail or email.
• Call (510) 250-1975 and apply over the phone.

2. We will review your application.

We’ll review your application to make sure it’s complete. This takes 1-3 days. When we’re done we will send you an email with instructions on how to pay and get your certificate.

3. Pay tax.

You can pay by credit card, ACH bank transfer, or by check.

• Credit card payments have a 2.9% processing fee.
• ACH bank transfers have a $2.50 processing fee.
• Mail checks to:
  City of Piedmont
  Business License Processing Center
  8839 N. Cedar Ave #212
  Fresno, CA 93720

What’s next

After you pay, we will email or mail you the business license.

You need to renew your license every year. If you are no longer doing business in Piedmont, you need to close your account.

• If you have a rental property, you need to renew by March 1.
• For all other businesses, your renewal is due on the anniversary of your issue date.

If you are a contractor or another business that’s not based in Piedmont, you need your license to be current while you are doing business in Piedmont. If you close your account, but want to do business again in Piedmont, you’ll need to reapply.

Get help

• Call (510) 250-1975
• Email [email protected]