City of Gardena ~ City Government

Business License On-Line Renewals
For your convenience, the City of Gardena now offers residents and businesses the option to renew their business license on-line.

Click here to renew your business License on-line.

Who Needs a 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, pawnshop or secondhand dealer, etc. For a complete list of business types that require a permit to operate click here.

To assist prospective business owners and managers in the preliminary planning and application process of opening a new business, we prepared a document entitled Business License & Permit Planning Guidelines that is recommended for your review.

The Business License Application Process

1. Complete a Business License Application. Read the application thoroughly and

complete all sections. Depending on the type of business, you may need to obtain

a fictitious name, Federal ID number, resale number or contractor's license from the

appropriate governmental agency before all information is available to complete a

business license application with the City.

Helpful Hint: Home-based businesses and any business that is planning to serve

alcohol will need to apply for a permit at the Community Development Department

before a business license application can be accepted. For information regarding Home

Occupation Permits and Conditional Use Permits contact the Community Development

Department at (310) 217-9526 or click here.

2. Submit the completed application to the Permits and Licenses Office and pay fees.

If your business is located WITHIN the City limits, you must apply in person to obtain

a zoning clearance from the Community Development Department unless you are

applying for a residential or non-residential rental property license. If your business is

located OUTSIDE the City limits or if you are applying for a residential or non-

residential rental property license, your license application can be processed by mail or

fax. The fax number is (310) 217-9698.

Helpful Hint: One of the most important steps in planning your business is to obtain a

location that is zoned properly for the type of business you are intending to open. We

recommend that all business owners receive a zoning clearance from the Community

Development Department for the proposed location of your business prior to entering

into any purchase, lease or rental agreement for the property.

3. Receive a Certificate of Occupancy. Most businesses located in the City must obtain a

Certificate of Occupancy in order to occupy the premises. An inspection of the

premises is conducted to ensure the business location is in compliance with zoning,

fire, and building and safety requirements. The time and date of the business

inspection is set by appointment only. The owner or manager must be present at

the business during the inspection. A business license and certificate of occupancy will

not be issued for the business until the Community Development Department signs off

that the inspection process has been completed. Exceptions to the Certificate of

Occupancy inspection requirement include: any business located outside of the

City, home-based businesses, residential rental property, and non-residential rental

property.

Business License Application Forms
Business license applications are provided below and they are also available for pick up at the Permits and Licenses Office located in City Hall, Room 101, 1700 W. 162nd Street, Gardena, CA 90247 during the following business hours:

7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday

7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Fridays

There are four different types of business license application forms. Select the appropriate license application form from the list provided below that most accurately describes the type of business you are planning to open.

If your business falls under any of the categories listed below and you intend to pay the business license fee with MasterCard or Visa, you can either mail in your renewal form and payment OR you can fax the completed application form to (310) 217-9698. Be sure to complete all sections on the form. A business license certificate will be mailed to the address indicated on your application form approximately three weeks from the receipt of your payment. If you want to verify receipt of your payment, you may do so by calling (310) 217-6191 and speak to a Business License staff member. If your business does not fall into one of the categories listed below, then you will need to visit the Permits and Licenses Office IN PERSON to process your application and receive a zoning clearance.

Any Business located OUTSIDE the city

Contractor located OUTSIDE the city

Residential Rental Property WITHIN the city

Non-Residential Rental Property WITHIN the city

If you have specific questions on how to obtain a business license or renew an existing license either call the Permits and Licenses Office at (310) 217-6191, contact us by email businesslicense.web@ci.gardena.ca.us or stop by the Office to speak with a Business License staff member.

Business License Fees and Renewal
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.

If you received a renewal notice for your business license and intend to pay with either MasterCard or Visa, you can either mail in your renewal form and payment OR you can fax the completed renewal form to (310) 217-9698. Be sure to complete all sections of the form and make any corrections needed to update the information as requested on the backside of the renewal notice. 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) 217-6191.