Business Licenses

All businesses operating in the City of Pacific Grove are required to have a current business license. The administrations of the business license program is managed in the Finance Department at City Hall. The City has partnered with Fresno-based MuniServices to make business license processes more convenient, equitable, and cost effective. In order to obtain a business license, the business owner must provide information and pay a business license tax and administration fee. The amount of the tax is determined by the amount of annual gross receipts of the business, with a minimum tax of $15 and a maximum tax of $3,000, per year. In addition to the tax, there is an administration fee that is applied depending on the timing of renewals ($14 early payment fee; $20 on-time fee; $40 late fee).

A business license should be obtained before beginning business in the City. The licensing program is only part of the process for starting a business and is not intended to be regulatory in nature. The license does not permit the holder to engage in any activity for which any other permit or procedure is required.

The tax is levied on businesses on an annual basis, following the City fiscal year of July 1 to June 30. Each year renewal notices are sent to businesses, with a form to certify the gross receipts for the license year. The current business license tax rate is .1% (.001) of the annual gross receipts ($1.00 per $1,000 of gross receipts). For new business licenses, forms can be obtained online on the MuniServices website www.revds.com or on the City's Website www.ci.pg.ca.us. Payment for new Business Licenses can be made by check and mailed directly to MuniServices at 438 East Shaw Avenue Box 367, Fresno, CA 93710, Attn: Business License Department or hand-delivered to the Pacific Grove Finance Department at 300 Forest Avenue, Pacific Grove, CA 93950. Business license renewals can be mailed or filed and paid on-line at www.bizlicenseonline.com. Renewals can also be mailed or hand-delivered to the Finace Department at City Hall, 300 Forest Avenue, Pacific Grove, CA 93950.

The annual billing process also serves to keep business ownership data, including emergency contact information, up to date. This can be important, as this data may be used by City public safety services to notify owners of events or conditions that could affect the safety of the business site.