11 permits · verified 2026-10-13
What permits do you need to open a fitness studio in Monterey County?
In short
A fitness studio in Monterey County, CA has 1 permit that applies 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). 5 of the 11 are charged as a range or formula rather than a flat fee. Verified 2026-10-13 against the issuing agencies’ published fee schedules.
Permits particular to a fitness studio in Monterey County
| Permit | Issuing agency | Fee | Renews | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Swimming Pool / Spa Permit and Plan Reviewonly if it applies to you | County of Monterey Health Department, Environmental Health Bureau | Annual permit: Public Swimming Pool $967; Spa Pool $967. Plan review: major pool/spa plan review $3,615; minor pool/spa plan review $1,682; minor equipment remodel $259 per hour. | annual; expires June 30 | 2026-10-13 |
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 Monterey County
| Permit | Issuing agency | Fee | Renews | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Onsite Wastewater Treatment System (Septic) Permitsonly if it applies to you | County of Monterey Health Department, Environmental Health Bureau | Varies — formula on the Monterey County page | construction permit per project; operating permit annual | 2026-10-13 |
| Land-Use Permits (use permit, administrative permit, design approval, variance, zoning verification)only if it applies to you | County of Monterey Housing and Community Development (Building Services and Planning) | Varies — formula on the Monterey County page | per application (one-time) | 2026-10-13 |
| Building Permit (commercial new construction or tenant improvement)only if it applies to you | County of Monterey Housing and Community Development (Building Services and Planning) | Varies — formula on the Monterey County page | per project (one-time) | 2026-10-13 |
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
| Permit | Issuing agency | Fee | Renews | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Statement of Information (LLC)only if it applies to you | California Secretary of State, Business Programs Division | $20 per filing, biennial | biennial | 2026-09-03 |
| Articles of Organization (LLC)only if it applies to you | California Secretary of State, Business Programs Division | $70 one-time filing | no expiry, but a Statement of Information is due biennially | 2026-09-03 |
| Articles of Incorporationonly if it applies to you | California Secretary of State, Business Programs Division | $100 one-time filing | no expiry, but a Statement of Information is due annually | 2026-09-03 |
| Statement of Information (Corporation)only if it applies to you | California Secretary of State, Business Programs Division | $25 per filing, annual | annual | 2026-09-03 |
| Seller's Permitonly if it applies to you | California Department of Tax and Fee Administration | No fee — no fee to apply | no expiry while actively engaged in business as a seller | 2026-09-03 |
| Annual LLC Tax and Minimum Franchise Taxonly if it applies to you | California Franchise Tax Board | Varies — formula on the CA page | annual, until the entity is cancelled | 2026-09-03 |
| General Business License — California position (city or county, not state) | California Secretary of State, Business Programs Division | No fee | set by the issuing city or county | 2026-09-03 |
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 Monterey County?
There is no single figure, and any site quoting one is rounding away the part that matters. Of the 11 records listed for a fitness studio in Monterey County, CA, 1 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.
5 of the 11 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 Swimming Pool / Spa Permit and Plan Review: Annual permit: Public Swimming Pool $967; Spa Pool $967. Plan review: major pool/spa plan review $3,615; minor pool/spa plan review $1,682; minor equipment remodel $259 per hour.
The other 4 variable fees belong to permits that apply to every type of business here; their formulas are set out on the Monterey County permits page and the CA state page.
Which offices issue these permits in Monterey County?
Permits for a fitness studio in Monterey County, CA come from 5 separate offices: County of Monterey Health Department, Environmental Health Bureau, County of Monterey Housing and Community Development (Building Services and Planning), 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.
- County of Monterey Health Department, Environmental Health BureauIssues 2 permits on this page: Public Swimming Pool / Spa Permit and Plan Review, Onsite Wastewater Treatment System (Septic) Permits1270 Natividad Road, Salinas, CA 93906 · (831) 755-4505www.countyofmonterey.gov/government/departments-a-h/health/environmental-health/general/fees
- County of Monterey Housing and Community Development (Building Services and Planning)Issues 2 permits on this page: Land-Use Permits (use permit, administrative permit, design approval, variance, zoning verification), Building Permit (commercial new construction or tenant improvement)1441 Schilling Place, 2nd Floor - South, Salinas, CA 93901 · (831) 755-5025www.countyofmonterey.gov/government/departments-a-h/housing-community-development/permit-center/permits-fees-types
- California Secretary of State, Business Programs DivisionIssues 5 permits on this page, including Statement of Information (LLC), Articles of Organization (LLC), Articles of Incorporation(916) 657-5448bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov
- California Department of Tax and Fee AdministrationIssues 1 permit on this page: Seller's Permitonlineservices.cdtfa.ca.gov
- California Franchise Tax BoardIssues 1 permit on this page: Annual LLC Tax and Minimum Franchise Taxwww.ftb.ca.gov
What does a fitness studio need in Monterey County that other businesses do not?
1 of the 1 permit particular to a fitness studio here applies to no other business type we cover in Monterey County: Public Swimming Pool / Spa Permit and Plan Review.
Public Swimming Pool / Spa Permit and Plan Review
A gym or fitness studio that operates a pool, spa or hot tub used by members or the public needs an annual permit from the Environmental Health Bureau, whose Pools & Spas page says the program 'conducts plan reviews for new and remodeled pools and spas, and issues permits.' A studio without a pool or spa has no pool permit. The annual fee is $967 for a public swimming pool and $967 for a spa pool, and plan review for new or remodelled pools is $3,615 (major) or $1,682 (minor), per Article I.E of the County Master Fee Resolution, adopted as Resolution No. 26-074 on 24 March 2026 and effective July 1, 2026. The Bureau's application form asks permit holders to renew before 'the annual expiration date of June 30th'.
The other 3 local permits in the tables apply to every type of business in Monterey County, CA; what each one involves is set out on the Monterey 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 Monterey County?
The closest match is a auto repair shop, which shares 0 of these permits. A fitness studio also needs Public Swimming Pool / Spa Permit and Plan Review. A auto repair shop needs CUPA Hazardous Waste Generator / Hazardous Materials Permit, which a fitness studio does not.
| Business | Its own permits | Shared with a fitness studio | Only a fitness studio needs | Only it needs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auto repair shops | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Childcare centres | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Coffee shops | 7 | 0 | 1 | 7 |
| Contractors and trades | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Food trucks | 4 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Restaurants | 6 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| Retail stores | 7 | 0 | 1 | 7 |
| Salons and barbers | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Veterinary clinics | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
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 Monterey County permits page and the CA state page. Confirmed by Editorial Team.
- County Master Fee Resolution Article I.E — Health Department, Environmental Health Bureau Fees, Effective July 1, 2026County of Monterey Health Department · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-13
- Pools & SpasCounty of Monterey Health Department, Environmental Health Bureau · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-13
- Resolution No. 26-074 — amending Article I.E of the Monterey County Master Fee Resolution, effective July 1, 2026 (RES 26-036)County of Monterey Board of Supervisors · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-13
- Board Order, Agenda Item No. 24, 24 March 2026 — Resolution No. 26-074 (RES 26-036)County of Monterey Board of Supervisors · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-13
- Environmental Health Bureau Application (food facility and pool permits)County of Monterey Health Department, Environmental Health Bureau · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-13
Related
Commercial Compliance Hub publishes information, not legal advice. Requirements change — confirm anything you rely on with the issuing agency before you file.