Business License Associated Fees and Assessments

The fees listed below are determined by location and business activity occuring in the City of Santa Monica and may not apply. This summary is for convenience only. It does not contain all of the City's regulations applicable to all Santa Monica businesses. Any conflict between this summary and the Santa Monica Municipal Code shall be resolved in favor of the municipal code.

To search for the current amount of the fees and rates listed below, search the City's Fees & Rates database.

Assessment / Fee / Permit Name	General Description
Auto Park Permit	A regulatory permit required in addition to the business license. This permit is required for the business activity which consists of automobile storage or parking spaces upon any lot or parcel of land or in any structure designated or used for paid parking or storage of motor vehicles.
Business Improvement District (BID) Assessments	BID fees are assessed to promote the economic revitalization and physical maintenance of business districts in order to create jobs, attract new businesses, and prevent erosion of the business districts. These fees are determined by the location of a business. For detailed information, see BID information.
Duplicate License	After an original business license is issued for the fiscal year, any subsequent request for a certificate will require that this fee is assessed.
Industrial Wastewater Permit Classes 1-99	A permit required for certain commercial and industrial facilities that discharge to the City sewer or storm water collection systems which have potential to impact the publicly owned treatment works or water of the State. For detailed information regarding these permits, please see Industrial Discharge Permit Classifications.
Pawnbroker Permit	A regulatory permit required in addition to the business license. This permit is required for the business activity which consists of loaning money upon any personal property, personal security or purchasing personal property and reselling or agreeing to resell such articles to the vendor or other assignees at prices previously agreed upon.
Police Permit	A regulatory permit required in addition to the business license. The following business activities require a police permit: entertainment in a bar, nightclub or restaurant; firearm sales; massage technicians (non state licensed technicians); massage establishments; and tow truck operators.
Second Hand Dealer Permit	A regulatory permit required in addition to the business license. This permit is required for any person whose principal business is primarily that of engaging in buying, selling, trading, taking in pawn, accepting for sale or consignment, accepting for auctioning or auctioning second hand tangible personal property which bears a serial or personalized initials or inscription.
State Mandated SB1186/AB1379 Fee (CASp)	A fee imposed by the State of California on any applicant for a local business license, or equivalent instrument or permit, for the purpose of increasing disability access and compliance with construction-related accessibility requirements and developing educational resources for businesses to facilitate compliance with and develop education.
Tobacco Retailer License	A permit required for any person who sells, offers for sale or sample, advertises or otherwise promotes any tobacco products. This permit is obtained in conjunction with the business license.
Vendor Permit	A regulatory permit required in addition to the business license.  This permit is required for the sale, offer for sale, expose for sale, solicit offers to purchase or to barter food, goods, merchandise or services in any public area from a motor vehicle or from private property.
Zoning Conformance Review - Commercial	Prior to the issuance of a business license, businesses located physically in commercial locations in Santa Monica must undergo a review conducted by the Planning Division to ensure that the business activity complies with the local zoning regulations.
Zoning Conformance Review - Residential	Prior to the issuance of a business license, businesses located physically in residential located in Santa Monica must undergo a review conducted by the Planning Division to ensure that the business activity complies with the local zoning regulations.