Business License Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

An individual, partnership, or corporation who advertises or announces a business and/or intends to conduct or is conducting a business, either directly or indirectly is required to obtain a business license.

Businesses involved in the following operations need to first obtain a permit before applying for a business license:

• Acupressure Establishments
• Acupressurists
• Adult Content
• Advertising by Sound Trucks
• Amusements (Circuses, Menageries, Tent Shows, Theatricals, and Vaudeville Shows)
• Auction Sales
• Entertainment
• Dance Halls
• Late night and early morning operations (Businesses operating between 12:00a.m. midnight and 6:00 a.m.)
• Massage Parlors
• Taxi Cabs or Vehicles for hire

Please contact HDL to apply for a business license. 

City of Artesia C/O HdL Support Center 

8839 N. Cedar Ave. #212

Fresno, CA 93720

(562) 222-8742

Please speak to our Planning Department to make sure the desired business location is in the correct zone to be legally allowed to operate within the City. Our Planning team is available to assist at Artesia City Hall and has counter hours from 8 am – 12 pm Monday – Friday. Please note, City Hall is closed every other Friday. 

You can also reach them at: 

Phone - (562) 865-6262 ext. 238

Email - Planning@cityofartesia.us

There are three types of business license applications: retail, professional, and contractor/out of town service. 

• Businesses that sell to the public and wholesale businesses need to submit a retail application. 
• Professional businesses, such as accountants, doctors, escrow services, etc., need to submit a professional application. 
• Contractors, sub-contractors and persons not having a fixed place of business in the city but provide a service by the use of a vehicle need to submit a contractor license.

Each form in the business license packet must be submitted along with the business license application. In addition, a site plan and a floor plan of the business must be included (refer to the Artesia HDL Business Processing Website).

A business license application will be processed in approximately 30 business days, providing that the business license location complies with the City Planning and Zoning codes. Please make sure to provide all the requested information to prevent any delays in the processing of your application.

Yes, there are business license fees, and they are determined by the gross annual receipts provided by the business on the application. The fee structure Is bracketed depending on the actual or estimated income provided.

You can find them under the City of Artesia Municipal Code 3-1.603 (For Service, Retail, and Wholesale Businesses). A link will be provided here (City of Artesia Business License Tax Amounts) and on the main Business License page. 

Measure V is an additional Business License Tax. In addition to paying any business license tax, any person who operates a service and professional business within the Commercial General (C-G) Zone, Commercial Planned Development (CPD) Zone or Specific Plan (SP) Zones that does not devote at least fifty (50%) percent of its floor area to uses that generate sales tax and does not derive at least fifty (50%) percent of its revenues from sales that generate sales tax shall pay an additional business license tax. It does not affect home businesses. It will appear as a separate line item in the business license invoice as "Measure V." 

The full text can be viewed here: Artesia - 22-934U Measure V Ordinance
Artesia City Code for Business Taxes: Business License Tax Amounts

For the inspection, a business owner needs to provide access to the facility on the day of the requested visit in order for the inspector to do the walkaround to verify that the plans provided (Site and Floor) match the business layout and no unapproved alterations have been made.

If a business owner has already passed the business inspection and paid all applicable fees, a license will be issued. A business owner can contact HdL if a duplicate business license is needed. 

Hours of Operation

Monday - Friday

8 am - 5 pm

Contact Information:

Phone - (562) 222-8742

Email - Artesia@hdlgov.com

All business licenses expire at the end of the calendar year. Renewal applications are mailed to businesses who have a current business license. If a business does not receive the renewal application by the end of November, contact the HdL City of Artesia Processing Center to request an application. Please note that it is the business applicant's responsibility to renew the business license before the end of the calendar year.

Contact Information:

Phone - (562) 222-8742

Email - Artesia@hdlgov.com

If a business license is not renewed by the end of the calendar year, applicants are given a grace period until January 31st. After January 31st a penalty of 15% of the tax fee is assessed. Thereafter, an additional 10% penalty is assessed each month.

Yes, when a business transfers ownership, the new owners must apply for a business license. Business Licenses are not transferable.

If the business address changes, but the business activity stays the same a new business license is still required. However, businesses can keep the same account number.

Yes, the request can be made to the Artesia City Clerk via a Public Records request.