El Dorado County Treasurer-Tax Collector

County Business License — unincorporated El Dorado County

The Treasurer-Tax Collector's BL-100 FAQ states: 'Every person engaged or intending to engage in any calling, business, occupation or profession in whole or in part within the unincorporated area of El Dorado County, is required to obtain a business license and pay an annual license fee for the privilege of doing business in the unincorporated area of El Dorado County.' The FAQ adds that a business located outside the unincorporated area that performs work on a construction project inside it also needs the license, that a license is required even if no income has been generated while the business is located in the unincorporated area, that a separate license is required for each separate place of business and for each individual in an itinerant business, that the license must be displayed (transient businesses carry it), and that a license expires on a transfer of ownership. The application form (BL-200) states that 'The taxes are paid annually in advance and are not refundable' and that 'The Tax Collectors office is not required to issue renewal notices.' Under form BL-300, Planning and Building must approve every application except approved home-based businesses; Environmental Management signs off for restaurants, businesses handling food and cottage food operations, and for auto repair shops and businesses storing hazardous waste; the Sheriff signs off for itinerant and special licenses; and the fire district signs off for commercial and industrial businesses. After payment the license is sent 'within seven working days.' A business inside Placerville or South Lake Tahoe follows that city's own business licensing instead. Treasurer-Tax Collector, 360 Fair Lane, Placerville, CA 95667, (530) 621-5800.