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Current Licensed Businesses in American Canyon:
By Firm Name (American Canyon Only)
By Address (American Canyon Only)
By Firm Name (Other Cities Included)
By Firm Type (Other Cities Included)
Applications and Forms:
If you are planning on doing business within the City limits of American Canyon, you will need to apply for a business license. Please download the appropriate form(s) below.
This pamphlet is provided as a public service to assist those persons interested in establishing and conducting a business in the City of American Canyon.
Businesses Located in American Canyon
Home Occupation Permit Application Procedure
Home Occucation Permit Application Packet
This includes but is not limited to all business which is: home based, do not have a physical location, operate mobile, independent contractors located within the City, and all home offices. A post office box or mail center address can not be utilized as a physical location address per California Business & Professions Code 17538.5.
General Business License Procedures
This includes all business which operate from a commercial, retail or industrial location within the City.
General Business License Application Packet
Businesses Not Located in the City Limits
General Business License Application
This form is for all businesses which are conducting business in the City but do not have a physical location within the City. This includes but is not limited to: all individuals and independent contracts working at licensed establishments, Building Contractors and Sub-Contractors, Consultants, Peddlers or Solicitors, Taxicabs or any other individual or business conducting business directly or indirectly in the City.
Who needs a business license certificate?
Any person, but not limited to, an individual, partnership, corporation or sole proprietor who wishes to conduct either directly or indirectly, any business within the City of American Canyon, must secure a business license certificate. The City ordinance states that it is unlawful for any person to commence, transact, engage in, or carry on any business in the city without first having obtained a valid license and paid the license fee.
Consumer Information
Anyone can contact our office at (707) 647-4354 to verify if any business has a current City of American Canyon business license or find out any of the following information on a business licensed by the City.
- Business Name
- Business Address
- Business Phone Number
- Business Owner's name
A listing of licensed business containing the above information is available though the links published at the top of this page, or they can be purchased at our office.
When hiring a contractor you should always verify that person or business's Contractors License and Business License. You can verify the Contractor's License at thecontractor’s license website or by calling 1-800-321-CSLB.
To find out more about an existing business, contact the Better Business Bureau by calling (510) 238-1000 or visit their web site at http://www.oakland.bbb.org/
The Better Business Bureau also collates information on charities and non-profit organizations. For more information go to http://www.give.org or contact the local Better Business Bureau at (510) 238-1000.
For additional information on businesses licensed by the State of California, such as Beauty Salons, Accountants, Medical Practices, Security Companies, and many others visit the website for the California Department of Consumer Affairs.
Before You Apply
In addition to obtaining the business license certificate, you must also comply with all the city, county, state and federal regulations for zoning, building, health and safety, as well as any others which may directly apply to your type of business.
All businesses are encouraged to visit theCalGold website which can assist in the process for determining what types of Federal, State, and County licenses or permits may be required in addition to your Business License.
Your business activity may require a Seller's Permit from the State Board of Equalization. All employers and many businesses are required to have a Federal Tax Identification Number and/or an Employer Identification Number. For an application, or additional information please contact the Internal Revenue Service or the Franchise Tax Board for assistance. Also if your business will be having employees registration with the Employment Development Department is required.
Visit the California Tax Service Center website for assistance and links to required forms.
If your business intends on selling or serving alcoholic beverages a license is required by the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.
If your business involves preparing and/or selling food at a retail level a Napa County Environmental Health Permit is required. This includes but is not limited to catering businesses, food trucks, ice cream trucks or carts, and retail food establishments. These businesses must present a copy of their health permit to obtain a business license.
If your business is manufacturing, packing, or warehousing processed foods a permit is required from California Department of Health Services. If your business is involved in the processing, sales or use of such things as dairy products, fruits and vegetables, pesticides and fertilizers, organic foods, and more. Check with the California Department of Food and Agriculture for these types of businesses.
Additional permits or licenses may be required from Napa County , including but not limited to Fictitious Name Statements, Hazardous Waste Facilities, public facilities (i.e. swimming pools for public use), and vehicle repairs. The use of a business name that does not include its owner(s) surname is required to file a Fictitious Name Statement with the County Clerk-Recorder’s Office.
Contractors Licenses
All businesses or individuals who construct or alter any building, highway, road, parking facility, railroad, excavation, or other structure in California must be licensed by the California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) if the total cost (labor and materials) of one or more contacts on the project is $500 or more. Contractors, including subcontractors, specialty contractors, and persons engaged in the business of home improvement (with the exception of joint ventures and projects involving federal funding) must be licensed before submitting bids. Licenses may be issued to individuals, partnerships, corporations, or joint ventures. The CSLB does not issue licenses to Limited Liability Companies (LLC's).
Contractors and sub-contractors are also required to obtain a City Business license.
Your business is exempt from having a Contractor's License if work on a project for which the combined value of labor, materials, and all other costs on one or more contracts is less than $500. Work which is a part of a larger or major project, whether undertaken by the same or different contractors, may not be divided into amounts less than $500 in an attempt to meet the $500 exemption. Unlicensed contractors must provide the purchaser with the written disclosure in B&P Code section 7048 stating that they are not licensed by the CSLB. If the contractor fails to provide the written disclosure, the $500 exemption does not apply and a citation can be issued for work completed by the unlicensed contractor. Businesses which fall into the minor work exception must still obtain a City Business License.
Peddlers & Solicitors
All peddlers and solicitors are required to obtain a business license. This includes but is not limited to: Door-to-door sales, mobile food or ice cream trucks/carts, distributing flyers, products, or advertising in public areas. All peddlers and solicitors are required to provide a copy of their government issued photo identification. The following documents are required at the time of application for all peddlers or solicitors which involve any type of food product:
Daycare Facilities
All day care facilities must be licensed with the State of California, Community Care Licensing Division. Depending on the type of license issued from the State your business may be exempt from a City Business License.
Home Occupation Permits
The use of residential property for business purposes requires a Home Occupation Permit. If your business is home-based in American Canyon please complete the Home Occupation Business License Forms. There are several provisions listed on the reverse side of the Home Occupation Permit. For more details or to receive a complete listing of the Home Occupation Permit regulations, please contact the Planning Department.
Posting and Keeping Licenses
All business license certificates must be displayed on the premises. For those not having a fixed business address, the certificate must be physically carried by the person and presented upon request.
Business License Renewal
Once you have obtained a business license certificate, a courtesy renewal notice will be mailed to you approximately three weeks before the expiration date. Licenses which expire on December 31 must renew by the last business day in January to avoid a penalty. If you do not receive a renewal notice, please contact the business license department at (707) 647-4354. Failure to receive a renewal notice does not relieve the business owner's responsibility to renew the business license.
Business License Fees
Please see the appropriate application for details on the fees. All fees should be payable to the City of American Canyon. Please be aware that we accept Cash, Check, VISA and MasterCard. There is a $25 Returned Check Fee. For businesses located in American Canyon, please follow the outlined procedure and your fees will be payable after your license has been approved. At that time you will receive notification in the mail to make your payment.
If you have any questions about any of the information provided, or any other questions in regards to Business License, please contact the Business License Coordinator at (707) 647-4354.
Additional Contacts and Resources
State Board of Equalization – (707) 428-2041
333 Sunset Avenue, Suite 330
Suisun City, CA 94585
Internal Revenue Service – (800) 829-1040
1301 Clay Street, 1520S
Oakland, CA 94612
Franchise Tax Board – (800) 852-5711
1515 Clay Street, Suite 3N-305
Oakland, CA 94612
Employment Development Department – (707) 648-4024
1440 Marin Street
Vallejo, CA 94590
California Department of Consumer Affairs – (800) 952-5210
1625 North Market Blvd., Suite N 112
Sacramento, CA 95834
California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology – (800) 952-5210
2420 Del Paso Rd, Ste 100
Sacramento, CA 95834
California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control – (707)-576-2165
50 D Street, Room 400
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
Napa County Environmental Health – (707) 253-4246
1195 Third Street, Room 101
Napa, CA 94559
Napa County Clerk-Recorder’s Office – (707) 253-4246
900 Coombs Street, Room 116
Napa, CA 94559
California Department of Health Services – (916) 650-6516
PO Box 997413 MS 7602
Sacramento CA 95899-7413
Department of Food and Agriculture - (916) 654-0462
1220 N Street
Sacramento, California 95814-5607
California Contractors State License Board – (800) 321-2752
9821 Business Park Drive
Sacramento, CA 95827
State of California, Community Care Licensing Division – (707) 588-5026
101 Golf Course Drive, Suite A-230
Rohnert Park, CA 94928
