Our job in the Revenue Services Division is to help guide you through the process of starting a business in the City of Hermosa Beach, and to assist you in continuing to do business in this community. Our staff issues business licenses (good for one year and must be renewed annually), answers questions for existing licensees, assists applicants in the completion of their application and does follow-up on the approval and issuance of licenses.

Opening a new business in Hermosa Beach? The City waives the first year of business license taxes for most businesses (excepting bars & restaurants serving alcohol which close after midnight). To apply or renew a business license:

• Apply or Renew a Business License Online or

• Fill out a Business License Application and:
  • If your business is located in the City of Hermosa Beach and you are not an independent contractor, submit a Commercial Business Application or Home Occupation Application in addition to the Business License Application;
  • Determine the requirements that your business is subject to under Senate Bill 205 (SB 205) Business Licenses: Stormwater Compliance by reviewing the SB 205 Frequently Asked Questions and visiting https://waterboards.ca.gov/water issues/programs
  •  Complete  and submit  Business License Application Supplemental NPDES/SB 205 Form ;
  • E-Mail to: business_license@hermosabeach.gov; or
  • Mail to: 

  City of Hermosa Beach - Revenue Services 
  1315 Valley Drive
  Hermosa Beach, CA 90254

Please visit our Opening a New Business page for more information regarding additional forms, permits, and requirements necessary to start your business in Hermosa Beach. 

Should you have any questions, please contact Tim Anhorn at (310) 318-0206.

Business License Regulations 

To learn more about doing business in the City of Hermosa Beach, please see Chapter 5 of the City of Hermosa Beach Municipal Code (HBMC)

Ban on Certain Polystyrene Products, Single-use Plastic Products, and Single-Use Products

Ordinance 19-1938's effective date is December 18, 2019. This Ordinance shall become operative eight months after its effective date. Please be aware that all businesses that are subject to this chapter shall certify compliance with this chapter on the annual business license renewal application. 

Disability Access Requirements 

In October 2017, Governor Brown signed into law AB 1379, which adds a state fee of $4 on any applicant for a local business license or similar instrument or permit, or renewal thereof. The purpose is to increase disability access and compliance with construction-related accessibility requirements and to develop educational resources for businesses in order to facilitate compliance with federal and state disability laws, as specified. 

Under federal and state law, compliance with disability access laws is a serious and significant responsibility that applies to all California building owners and tenants with buildings open to the public. You may obtain information about your legal obligations and how to comply with disability access laws at the following agencies:

• The Division of the State Architect at dgs.ca.gov/dsa
• The Department of Rehabilitation at www.dor.ca.gov/
• The California Commission on Disability Access at www.dgs.ca.gov/ccda
• Disability Access Requirements and Resources (Notice AB 3002 Business License, Building Permit Model Notice) can be accessed at gs.ca.gov/DSA/Resources/Page-Content/Resources-List-Folder/AB-3002 or you can download the Disability Access Requirement and Resources in the language you need below.
  • English
  • Chinese - Simplified
  • Chinese - Traditional
  • Korean
  • Spanish
  • Tagalog
  • Vietnamese

Prevention of Gender-Based Discrimination

Existing law prohibits a business establishment from discriminating against a person because of the person’s gender with respect to the price charged for services of similar or like kind. Existing law also requires specified business establishments to disclose in writing the pricing for each standard service, as defined, to display, in a specified manner, a sign stating that it is illegal to base pricing on gender and that a complete price list is available upon request, and to display, in a specified manner, a price list, and to provide the customer with a copy of the complete price list upon request.

Please take time to download and read the Prevention of Gender-Based Discrimination: Business Establishments' Legal Obligations  guide created by the California Department of Consumer Affairs.

The guide is also available in the languages below:

     ◦ Chinese - Simplified
     ◦ Chinese - Traditional
     ◦ Korean
     ◦ Spanish
     ◦ Tagalog
     ◦ Vietnamese