Santa Monica, CA
City of Santa Monica Business License renewal.
What City of Santa Monica Finance Department, Revenue Division — Business License Unit asks for at renewal, and where you file it directly with the agency.
Quick answer
Santa Monica, CA handles this through online portal, and City of Santa Monica Finance Department, Revenue Division — Business License Unit runs it.
- How it's filed
- Online portal
- Renewal cycle
- Renews every year
- What the notice includes
- Renewal notice, PIN or access code, Certificate number
- Filing agency
- City of Santa Monica Finance Department, Revenue Division — Business License Unit
You file this renewal directly with City of Santa Monica Finance Department, Revenue Division — Business License Unit — the link below opens their site, not ours.
Open the official renewal pageStep by step
What the agency asks for.
Gather first
- Gross receipts
- Business category
- Address or ownership changes
The notice references
- Renewal notice
- PIN or access code
- Certificate number
Keep afterward
- Renewed certificate
- Payment confirmation
- Renewal notice
Renewal is filed through the City's online portal linked from santamonica.gov; operator needs the license number, Web PIN, gross receipts for the preceding calendar year, applicable supplemental forms, and a credit card or e-check.
Fiscal year is July 1 – June 30; renewal is due July 1 with a 60-day grace period (penalties begin September 1).
Late penalty schedule per SMC 6.04.160: penalties begin September 1 and escalate monthly — consult the city fee schedule for current rates.
Gross-receipts figure reported at renewal covers the preceding calendar year (Jan 1 – Dec 31), not the fiscal year.
LA County does NOT issue a separate business license for businesses inside incorporated Santa Monica — only unincorporated LA County areas require a County license.
YourStanding must not calculate the Santa Monica tax amount — fees are classification- and gross-receipts-tiered (minimum fee on first tier of receipts). Direct operators to the City fee schedule.
California-mandated CASp accessibility fee (per SB 1186 / AB 1379 / AB 2164, permanent as of Jan 1 2024) is collected by the City on every renewal — confirmed on the Santa Monica Business License topic page.
Out-of-city business license applications itemize a minimum license tax, processing fee, and CASp fee — confirmed from the City's Out-of-City application explainer.
General contractors must submit the Contractor Sub List form (FRM-Contractor Sub List) confirming each subcontractor holds a current Santa Monica Business License per SMC 6.04.100 — the form requires the sub's Santa Monica Business License Number, not a CSLB number.
Business Improvement District assessments may apply depending on the business address.
If it lapses
Renewing after it expires.
This guide doesn't have reinstatement specifics yet.
Contact City of Santa Monica Finance Department, Revenue Division — Business License Unit directly if this renewal has already lapsed, then keep a copy of the reinstated certificate as proof.
Sources
Where this came from.
Reviewed against current sources on May 2026.
Keep this renewal on track.
Keep City of Santa Monica Business License dates, proof, and official links with the rest of your license work.