Archives: FAQs

Do I need a business license if I rent a single family residence or other undivided single residential premise(s) to one or more family members?

No business license or other administrative fee is required for the rental of a single-family residence or other undivided single residential rental premises as between an owner (or leaseholder) and any immediate relative related by blood, adoption or marriage where the rents received do not exceed the cost of maintaining legal ownership of the premises. … Continued

Do I need a business license if I become a landlord receiving rents from the rental, leasing, subleasing or subletting of commercial or residential property located in the city of Santa Ana?

If you become a landlord and rent, lease, sublease or sublet commercial or residential property within the City, you are required to secure a separate business license for each individual rental property.

Do I need a business license if I wish to operate a home-based business located in the city of Santa Ana?

If you operate a business from a residential premise 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 Home Occupation Permit and comply with any and all applicable provisions … Continued

Do I need a business license if I wish to operate a commercially-based business located in the city of Santa Ana?

If you operate a business from a commercial premise within the City of Santa Ana you are required to secure a business license. Every business, including temporary or itinerant businesses, operating from commercial premises within the City is required to obtain a Certificate of Occupancy for their commercial location and comply with any and all … Continued

May I register to do business from a post office box or private postal mailbox (PMB) located within the city of Santa Ana?

A post office box or private postal mailbox (PMB) address may be used as the mailing address of record for receiving information regarding a Santa Ana business license; however, a post office box or PMB address does not constitute a business location for business licensing purposes. A post office box or PMB address cannot be … Continued

Do I need a business license from the city of Santa Ana if I am located in the unincorporated area of Orange County?

If your business is in the unincorporated area of Orange County, the licensing agency is the Orange County Sheriff Office, located at 550 N. Flower Street, in Santa Ana. For information please contact their office at (714) 647-7000 and ask for business licensing.

Do I need a business license if my business does not do business in the city of Santa Ana, but may perform deliveries or certain other limited activities in the city with connection to a business located outside of the city?

A business license is not required for any business done in the City of Santa Ana where the business conducted is only occasional and incidental to a regularly established business conducted elsewhere. Nevertheless, a City of Santa Ana business license will be required if more than (3) pick-ups or deliveries of goods, merchandise, or business … Continued

Do I need a business license if I am an out of city business doing business in the city of Santa Ana?

If you are an Out-of-City business doing business in the City of Santa Ana, you must obtain your own separate business license. Except where otherwise provided under state law, Out-of-City businesses are exempt from the minimum (or basic) City of Santa Ana business license assessment. Out-of-City businesses are assessed only based on the volume of … Continued

Do I need a business license if I am an out of city state licensed contractor doing business in the city of Santa Ana?

If you are an Out-of-City State Licensed Contractor doing business in the City of Santa Ana you are required to secure your own individual business license(s). The Santa Ana Municipal Code requires that General Contractors (including Builder Owners) submit a verification form identifying all specialty contractors engaged with any building permit obtained to work within … Continued

Do I need a business license if I am an out of city business temporarily conducting business from the premises of an existing licensed business located within the city of Santa Ana?

Out-of-city or itinerant businesses temporarily conducting business from the premises of an existing licensed City of Santa Ana business are required to secure their own separate business license and Certificate of Occupancy.