Starting a Business in Beverly Hills


This information concerning the operation of a business within the City of Beverly Hills is of a general nature. For specific or detailed information please contact the appropriate city, county or state office.

CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY: BHMC SEC. 10-3.2724, requires that a certificate of occupancy be obtained prior to moving into any business location in the City of Beverly Hills. Contact the Building and Safety Department or apply at the Finance Department, business tax division.

BUSINESS TAX: BHMC SEC. 3-1.201, requires that a business tax certificate be applied for prior to the start of business operations. All businesses, i.e., non-professional services; professional services; retail; wholesale, contractors; apartment building owners; rental of commercial property and others are licensed according to business type. Apply at the Finance Department, business tax division.

REGULATORY PERMIT: BHMC, Title 4, requires that certain types of businesses obtain a special permit. Some of the businesses that are required to obtain this permit are: amusements, clubs, escort bureaus, massage, motion picture/television filming, police patrol, second hand dealers, pawnbrokers, peddlers, taxicabs, transient merchants, solicitors/canvassers and others. Apply at the Finance Department, business tax division.

ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES: The sale of alcoholic beverages is under the regulation of the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Board.

BUILDING PERMITS: Special construction permits are required prior to construction or alteration of a structure in the City. Contact the Building and Safety Department.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME: The Los Angeles County Clerk's Office accepts applications for recording fictitious business names. Contact County Clerk's Office for further information. (Commonly called DBA, "doing business as".)

GARAGE SALE PERMITS: BHMC, SEC 4-4.501, requires a permit be issued prior to conducting a garage sale in the City. Contact the Building and Safety Department.

RESALE NUMBER: The State Board of Equalization issues a resale number to every business selling retail merchandise for which sales tax is collected. For further information contact the West Los Angeles office serving Beverly Hills.

SALE OF FOOD: The sale of food is regulated by the Los Angeles County Health Department.

SIGN PERMITS: There are strict sign regulations in Beverly Hills. Contact the Building and Safety Department prior to construction or use of signs in the City.

USE OF COMMERCIAL PROPERTY: An investigation into the proposed use of commercial property may be necessary depending on the type of business activity, i.e., industrial, manufacturing or businesses that affect parking availability. Contact the Building and Safety Department.

USE OF PUBLIC STREETS: The use of public property by private business requires City approval. Contact the Civil Engineering Department for further information.