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12 permits · verified 2026-10-27

What permits do you need to open a fitness studio in Imperial County?

In short

A fitness studio in Imperial County, CA has 2 permits that apply to every business of this type, plus 10 more that depend on your premises, signage or how you are set up. California Secretary of State, Business Programs Division charges $20 per filing, biennial for the statement of information (llc). 6 of the 12 are charged as a range or formula rather than a flat fee. Verified 2026-10-27 against the issuing agencies’ published fee schedules.

Permits particular to a fitness studio in Imperial County

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Public Pool / Spa Annual Health Permitonly if it applies to youImperial County Public Health Department, Environmental Health DivisionPrimary pool/spa/wading pool/spray ground annual health permit $399.00; Secondary pool/spa/wading pool/spray ground $168.00; Dormant pool/spa/wading pool/spray ground $128.00. Re-inspection $163.00; enforcement activity $163.00/hr.annual; renewal fees are due on or before December 1 of each year (County Code §8.02.080)2026-10-27
Environmental Health Plan Review (facility plans and building plan review)only if it applies to youImperial County Public Health Department, Environmental Health DivisionFacility plan review and construction inspections, billed at time and materials (T/M) against a deposit: projects costing less than $5,000 — $500 deposit; $5,001-$30,000 — $1,000.00 deposit; more than $30,000 — $1,500.00 deposit. EH Building Plan Review: base fee $153.00 at submittal; then minor impact review $213.00, moderate impact review $328.00 or major impact review $525.00. EH Water Potability Review $234.00.one-time per project2026-10-27

Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.

Local permits that apply to every type of business in Imperial County

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
County General Business License (unincorporated Imperial County)Imperial County Treasurer-Tax Collector, Licensing DivisionVaries — formula on the Imperial County pagelicense periods of one month or less, or more than one month and up to one full year, per the Treasurer-Tax Collector's sheet2026-10-27
Building Permit (unincorporated Imperial County)only if it applies to youImperial County Planning & Development ServicesVaries — formula on the Imperial County pageper project2026-10-27
Land Use / Zoning Application (unincorporated Imperial County)only if it applies to youImperial County Planning & Development ServicesVaries — formula on the Imperial County pageper application2026-10-27

Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.

CA registrations that apply to every type of business

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Statement of Information (LLC)only if it applies to youCalifornia Secretary of State, Business Programs Division$20 per filing, biennialbiennial2026-09-03
Articles of Organization (LLC)only if it applies to youCalifornia Secretary of State, Business Programs Division$70 one-time filingno expiry, but a Statement of Information is due biennially2026-09-03
Articles of Incorporationonly if it applies to youCalifornia Secretary of State, Business Programs Division$100 one-time filingno expiry, but a Statement of Information is due annually2026-09-03
Statement of Information (Corporation)only if it applies to youCalifornia Secretary of State, Business Programs Division$25 per filing, annualannual2026-09-03
Seller's Permitonly if it applies to youCalifornia Department of Tax and Fee AdministrationNo fee — no fee to applyno expiry while actively engaged in business as a seller2026-09-03
Annual LLC Tax and Minimum Franchise Taxonly if it applies to youCalifornia Franchise Tax BoardVaries — formula on the CA pageannual, until the entity is cancelled2026-09-03
General Business License — California position (city or county, not state)California Secretary of State, Business Programs DivisionNo feeset by the issuing city or county2026-09-03

Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.

How much does it actually cost to permit a fitness studio in Imperial County?

There is no single figure, and any site quoting one is rounding away the part that matters. Of the 12 records listed for a fitness studio in Imperial County, CA, 2 apply to every business of this type and 10 are conditional. Adding every fee on the page together would overstate what most operators pay, because it would include permits they never need.

6 of the 12 are charged as a range or a formula set by the issuing agency, and 1 has no fee published at all. The ones particular to this business that vary:

Public Pool / Spa Annual Health Permit: Primary pool/spa/wading pool/spray ground annual health permit $399.00; Secondary pool/spa/wading pool/spray ground $168.00; Dormant pool/spa/wading pool/spray ground $128.00. Re-inspection $163.00; enforcement activity $163.00/hr.

Environmental Health Plan Review (facility plans and building plan review): Facility plan review and construction inspections, billed at time and materials (T/M) against a deposit: projects costing less than $5,000 — $500 deposit; $5,001-$30,000 — $1,000.00 deposit; more than $30,000 — $1,500.00 deposit. EH Building Plan Review: base fee $153.00 at submittal; then minor impact review $213.00, moderate impact review $328.00 or major impact review $525.00. EH Water Potability Review $234.00.

The other 4 variable fees belong to permits that apply to every type of business here; their formulas are set out on the Imperial County permits page and the CA state page.

Which offices issue these permits in Imperial County?

Permits for a fitness studio in Imperial County, CA come from 6 separate offices: Imperial County Treasurer-Tax Collector, Licensing Division, Imperial County Public Health Department, Environmental Health Division, Imperial County Planning & Development Services, California Secretary of State, Business Programs Division, California Department of Tax and Fee Administration, California Franchise Tax Board. No single office issues them all, which is why an opening means filing in several places rather than one.

What does a fitness studio need in Imperial County that other businesses do not?

1 of the 2 permits particular to a fitness studio here applies to no other business type we cover in Imperial County: Public Pool / Spa Annual Health Permit.

Public Pool / Spa Annual Health Permit

Environmental Health's Pools page says the Recreational Health Program 'is responsible for the inspection of public swimming pools, spa pools and special purpose pools in Imperial County', and that plans must be submitted to Environmental Health for review and approval before constructing or remodeling a public pool or spa; 'If the pool or spa is located in an incorporated city, plans must be submitted to the incorporated city and Environmental Health & Consumer Protection for plan checking.' A fitness studio with a pool or spa open to members holds this permit for each pool: $399.00 for the primary pool, $168.00 for each secondary pool and $128.00 for a dormant pool. Fees are as published on the Environmental Health Fees page, effective January 1, 2024; the page's ordinance text says 'Fees can be adjusted annually utilizing Consumer Price Index (CPI)'. Annual pool fees are prorated by inspection frequency for a mid-year application (County Code §8.02.050(D)). A studio without a pool or spa has no pool permit.

Environmental Health Plan Review (facility plans and building plan review)

The Environmental Health Fees page says plan review fees apply to permanent food facilities, mobile food facilities, mobile food support units, public pools, spas and spray grounds, body art facilities and mobile body art operations, among others. Facility plan review is billed at time and materials against a deposit set by project cost; when review is complete, any amount deposited above the T/M cost is refunded, and any amount above the deposit must be paid before plan approval. Separately, every applicant for an Environmental Health building plan review pays the $153.00 base fee when the application is submitted, and a review classed as minor, moderate or major impact then carries the $213.00, $328.00 or $525.00 fee; the page gives simple commercial remodels as moderate impact and new construction, additions over 500 square feet and changes of occupancy or use as major impact. Fees are as published on the Environmental Health Fees page, effective January 1, 2024; the page's ordinance text says 'Fees can be adjusted annually utilizing Consumer Price Index (CPI)'.

The other 3 local permits in the tables apply to every type of business in Imperial County, CA; what each one involves is set out on the Imperial County permits page. The 7 state-level registrations apply to every type of business across CA and are covered on the CA state page.

How does a fitness studio compare with other businesses in Imperial County?

The closest match is a salon or barber, which shares 1 of these permits. A fitness studio also needs Public Pool / Spa Annual Health Permit. A salon or barber needs Body Art Facility Permit and Practitioner Registration and Cosmetology or Barbering Establishment License, which a fitness studio does not.

Permits particular to each business type in Imperial County, CA, compared with a fitness studio
BusinessIts own permitsShared with a fitness studioOnly a fitness studio needsOnly it needs
Salons and barbers3112
Food trucks5114
Coffee shops7116
Restaurants7116
Retail stores7116
Auto repair shops2022
Childcare centres1021
Contractors and trades1021
Veterinary clinics1021

Sources

Every figure for the permits explained on this page was read from one of these government pages on the date shown. Sources for the permits that apply to every type of business are listed on the Imperial County permits page and the CA state page. Confirmed by Editorial Team.

  1. Environmental Health FeesImperial County Public Health Department, Environmental Health Division · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-27
  2. PoolsImperial County Public Health Department, Environmental Health Division · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-27

Related

Commercial Compliance Hub publishes information, not legal advice. Requirements change — confirm anything you rely on with the issuing agency before you file.