City of Los Altos- New Business License Application

What you need to know to get started:

1. Business licenses are renewed on an annual basis and expire at the end of each year.

2. The business start date is the first date your business started operating in the City of Los Altos. 

3.  For the SIC Code type in at least 3 characters to search for a business description.

4. Employee identification numbers are required for all new businesses.  Sole owner or 
partnerships are required to provide Social Security number or California driver's license number 
for all owners/partners.  LLC, Limited Partnership, Trust or Corporations are required to provide 
a Federal Employee Identification Number (FEIN) or State Employee Identification Number (SEIN) 
for the business.

5. No payment will be required until your application has been reviewed and accepted. 
You will receive an email verifying the receipt of application.  Within 4-5 business days 
you will receive an email containing the amount due and instructions on how to make 
payment online.


The City of Los Altos would like to welcome you to its business community.  
We know that starting a new business can be exciting and challenging.  

We wish you the greatest success in your new venture!


If you need any assistance with the application process, please call (650) 947-2618
to speak with a customer service representative. 

Assembly Bill 3002 went into effect on January 1, 2019 which provides information regarding disability access requirements and resources to business owners. 
To read the full notice, click HERE



Senate Bill (SB) 205, signed by Gov. Newsom in 2019, requires a person or entity who conducts a business operation that is a “regulated industry” 
to demonstrate enrollment with the NPDES permit program. The SB 205 only affects those businesses with primary Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes 
that are identified by the State Water Board as requiring enrollment in the Industrial General Permit (IGP) are affected. Completion and submission of this information 
is required with your business license application. For more information, please click HERE



Starting January 1, 2021, Assembly Bill 1607 requires the prevention of gender-based discrimination of business establishments. A full notice is available in English 
or other languages by clicking HERE.