Merced County Community and Economic Development Department, Business Licenses

County Business License (unincorporated area)

The county's County Business License page says 'All businesses either physically located and/or conducting business within the unincorporated areas of Merced County must apply for and obtain a Merced County Business License', with applications submitted through the Licensing & Permitting Portal. Staff then check land use and whether approval is needed from 'other agencies such as Merced County Fire Department, Environmental/Public Health, Buildings Division, and Planning Division', and 'All requirements must be met prior to being issued a business license.' County Code §6.02.030 extends the license to persons without a fixed place of business in the county, and §6.02.170(A) requires a separate license for each branch and each type of business at the same location. The license fee is set under §6.02.040(C) by Exhibit A of the ordinance; no fee is published in County Code Chapter 6.02 or on the county's business license pages, so contact Community & Economic Development at (209) 385-7654 for the amount. The County Business License page says a late renewal adds 'a delinquent charge in the amount of the license fee (excluding the state fee of $4.00)'. Under §6.02.140 'No business license issued pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall be transferable to another address, owner or type of business. If any of these circumstances occur, the business license becomes void and a new business license must be obtained.' For child care, §6.02.130 says 'No business license shall be required for: ... D. Childcare facilities providing for eight or fewer children, and licensed by the State of California.' The portal's Home-Based Business Licenses page says 'Please note that a Home Occupation Permit issued by the Planning Division is required in addition to a Merced County Business License.'