County Administrative Office
Economic Development

Business Assistance

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Access MONTEREY COUNTY, STATE and FEDERAL

Business Assistance Resources Below:

SBA - 10 Steps To Start Your Business Guide

Starting a Business; Permits Regulations & Business Advocacy

The CA Office of Business and Economic Development "CalGold" Permit Assistant website link below assists you in finding appropriate permit information for your business. It also provides contact information for the various agencies that administer & issue these permits. (If you do not find your business type listed simply enter the words "General Business Information" and select a City or County and click on Search).

CalGold STATE PERMIT ASSISTANCE

Monterey County Permit Resources

Monterey County Planning Department - A permit maybe required depending on the zoning district within which the property is located and the type of use proposed
Monterey County Building Services Department - Building permits and fire protection district approvals are required for most construction work and change of use.
Monterey County Environmental Health - The Monterey County Health Department, Environmental Health Division requires permits for a variety of businesses including restaurants and automotive shops.
Fort Ord Reuse Authority
Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments
Fictitious Business License

State and Regional Resources

California Coastal Rural Development Corporation
Small Business Administration (SBA)

Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development
Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development: Permit Assistance
Franchise Tax Board
State Board of Equalization
Secretary of State – California Business Portal
Employment Development Department
Department of Consumer Affairs
E-Services for Businesses

Contractors State License Board
Alcoholic Beverage Control
California Small Business 24 hour Helpline 1-800-303-6600
Commerce and Economic Development Program
Monterey Bay International Trade Association: https://www.mbita.org/
Central Coast SBDC

Business Advocacy

U.S. Chamber of Commerce
https://www.uschamber.com

California Chamber of Commerce
https://www.calchamber.com

Central California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
https://cchcc.biz/

California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
https://www.cahcc.com/

California Black Chamber of Commerce
https://calbcc.org/

California Asian Chamber of Commerce
https://www.calasiancc.org/

United Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
https://www.ushcc.com/

U.S. Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce
https://www.uspaacc.com/

Carmel Chamber of Commerce
https://www.carmelcalifornia.org/

Marina Chamber of Commerce
https://www.marinachamber.com/

Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce
https://www.mpcc.com/

North Monterey Chamber of Commerce
https://www.northmontereycountychamber.org/

Pacific Grove Chamber of Commerce
https://www.pacificgrove.org/

Pajaro Valley Chamber of Commerce
https://www.pajarovalleychamber.com/

Salinas Valley Chamber of Commerce
https://www.salinaschamber.com/

Seaside, Sand City, Del Rey Oaks & Monterey Chamber of Commerce
https://www.thechamberoffice.org/

Business License

Where to Find a Business License

There are some businesses in the County of Monterey in the unincorporated areas of the County that do require a business license to conduct business. Currently, a business license is only required for commercial cannabis businesses.

A business license is an annual license issued by the Monterey County Treasurer-Tax Collector. Issued for the privilege of conducting business within the unincorporated area of Monterey County. The purpose of a business license is to provide for necessary regulation of certain lawful businesses being conducted. All in the interest of the public health, safety, and welfare of the people of the county. On December 13, 2016, the Monterey County Board of Supervisors adopted Monterey County Code, Section 7.002. This section requires a business license, effective April 1, 2017, for specified businesses being conducted within unincorporated Monterey County. (See Treasurer-Tax Collector web-site).

Cities within the County of Monterey require the purchase of a business license on an annual basis. Below are links to each City’s office of Business Licenses.

Carmel-by-the-Sea
Del Rey Oaks
Gonzales
Greenfield
King City
Marina
Monterey
Pacific Grove
Salinas
Sand City
Seaside
Soledad

Finance Opportunities

Workforce Development Services

Business Technical Assistance Support

Small Business Development Center (SBDC)

El Pajaro Community Development Corporation

California Association for Micro Enterprise Opportunity (CAMEO)

Monterey Bay APEX Accelerator

Service Corp of Retired Executives (SCORE)

Institute for Innovation and Economic Development

Monterey County Business Council (MCBC)

Monterey County Convention & Visitors Bureau

Monterey County Film Commission

Arts Council for Monterey County

Market Research and Other Planning Resources

Monterey County Small Business Resource Network
https://www.co.monterey.ca.us/government/departments-i-z/library/

U. S. Census
http://www.census.gov/

American Community Survey (ACS)
http://www.census.gov/acs/www/

2022 Economic Census
http://www.census.gov/econ/census07/

Local Employment Dynamics
https://lehd.ces.census.gov/

Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
https://www.bls.gov/

Resources for Business Leaders
https://www.bls.gov/audience/business.html

USDA Rural Development Loan Guarantee Program

Center for Economic Development California State University Chico

www.cedcal.com

Site Relocation & Expansion

Information for Locating a Business in Monterey County

The County Economic Development Department is here to help with your relocation, expansion or just keeping your business going. We have a variety of services and informational resources to new companies get start or to make a move a smooth and successful one.