Archives: FAQs

No business license tax or other administrative fee is required for the operation of a commercially-based or home-based business specifically exempted by State or Federal Law. Supporting qualifying information establishing your business as specifically exempted must be furnished. A “Fee-Exempt” administrative business license shall be issued to qualifying exempted businesses.

Yes, if you operate a commercially-based or home-based nonprofit business, organization, or institution, you are required to secure a “Non-Profit” Business License. Information supporting qualification of your business as a “non-profit” must be furnished. No business license tax (other than an administrative application processing charge) shall be applied with respect to any bona fide nonprofit … Continued

Yes, if you are a Transportation Network Company Driver based out of the City of Santa Ana receiving a 1099 Form, you must obtain a flat rate City Santa Ana Business License as an independent contractor. Note: once licensed in your home-based city you are not required to obtain a business license in the other … Continued

Yes, regularly operating delivery vehicles, catering trucks, produce trucks, junk collection vehicles, pushcarts or wagons within the city will require a Santa Ana business license. A separate City of Santa Ana Business License must be obtained for each separate type of vehicle operated within the city.

As long as your business location is located outside of the city and your business has no physical presence in the city, and all business activities are conducted outside the City of Santa Ana, there is no need to obtain a Santa Ana Business License. However, if you are conducting business based from your Santa … Continued

Yes, engaging in business in association with, or performing services for, or in the name of a licensed Santa Ana business or nonprofit organization, or government agency does not relive separate business entities, independent contractors, consultants or other self-employed individuals from the requirement to obtain a separate independent City of Santa Ana Business License.

Yes, businesses both large and small are required to obtain a Santa Ana Business License to be in compliance with the Santa Ana Municipal Code. If the consulting work or other independent contractor work is done from a location within the City limits, such as your residence, you are required to obtain a City of … Continued

Yes, if you operate a business from residential premises within the City of Santa Ana you are required to secure a business license. Prior to the issuance of a business license, businesses operating from residential premises within the City, are required to obtain a one-time Home Occupation Permit ($50.32) and comply with all applicable provisions … Continued

Yes, if you operate a business from commercial premises within the City of Santa Ana you are required to secure a business license. Every business, including a temporary or itinerant business, operating from commercial premises within the City, is required to obtain a one-time Certificate of Occupancy ($134.24 for premises less than 5,000 sq. ft. … Continued

Santa Ana Municipal Code Section 21-3 defines business as including “all activities engaged in or caused to be engaged in within the city, including any commercial or industrial enterprise, trade, profession, occupation, vocation, calling, or livelihood, including rental of residential or commercial real estate, and every other kind of activity whether or not carried on … Continued