What do these permits involve in Placer County?

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General Business License (unincorporated area)

The Treasurer-Tax Collector's Business Licenses page says 'Any resident or non-resident doing business, in the unincorporated areas of Placer County, is required to obtain a business license', and lists the fees as $131 application and $20 annual renewal for a commercial location and $111 application and $20 annual renewal for a home-based business; the county's application forms (Form Rev 5/2024) show the same $131 and $111 amounts. The Apply page says the fee 'is not refundable and must be paid at the time of application submittal', that 'There is a $4 state mandated fee collected for veterans or non-profit organizations', and that 'All license applications must obtain approval from the Planning, Building, Environmental Health and Facilities Departments of the County.' Under County Code §5.12.030 that review checks zoning compatibility and may take up to 45 days, and §5.08.080(B) adds a penalty of 50% of the license fee per year, not exceeding $250, for operating without a license. Under County Code §5.08.110(C), child care facilities that provide for 14 or fewer children and are licensed by the state of California do not need the license. A business located only inside Auburn, Colfax, Lincoln, Loomis, Rocklin or Roseville is directed to that city's business license instead.

Building Permit (unincorporated area)

The county's Building Permit Processing page says a building permit is required to 'erect, construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, improve, remove, convert, or demolish a building or structure', and that 'For property within a city limit, contact your local Building Department', so this county permit covers projects in the unincorporated area. The same page says 'All Building permits will have the Community Development Resource Agency Technology Surcharge Fee added to the total permit amount' at 3.5% with a cap adjusted annually; the CDRA Administrative Fee Schedule effective July 1, 2026 sets that cap at $578.36 per application. Permit and plan review fees are each half of the Table 3-A valuation fee, per the Building Division Fee Schedule effective July 1, 2026, which also lists the $156.22 re-inspection and hourly change-of-occupancy charges. Placer County Code §5.12.030(A) adds that a county business license is reviewed by the Building department for compliance of the structures used.

Conditional Use Permit and Sign Permit (unincorporated area)

Placer County Code §5.12.030(A) says a general business license is reviewed by the county's planning department, among others, to determine that 'the type of business is compatible with zoning regulations at the business location', and §5.12.030(D) says 'A use permit may be required in obtaining certain general business licenses.' Where the zoning requires one, a business in the unincorporated area applies to Planning Services for a Conditional Use Permit, listed at $5,840 in the 'Initial Fee/Deposit' column of the Planning Division Fee Schedule effective July 1, 2026 (a deposit only; the schedule's footnote says additional fees are charged at cost); a business sign needs a Sign Permit, listed at $156 on the same schedule. The county's Application Fees & Forms page says 'A 3.5% technology surcharge fee will be added to all permits' and publishes filing instructions for both applications.

Permit	Issuing agency	Fee	Renews	Last checked
General Business License (unincorporated area)only if it applies to you	Placer County Treasurer-Tax Collector, Business License Division	Commercial location: $131 application fee, $20 annual renewal. Home-based business: $111 application fee, $20 annual renewal. Out-of-county business: $111 (application form). Veterans and non-profit organizations: the $4 state mandated fee, with a DD Form 214 (veterans) or Secretary of State tax-exempt documents (non-profits). Fees are non-refundable and paid with the application.	1 year (County Code §5.08.040(A))	2026-10-13
Building Permit (unincorporated area)only if it applies to you	Placer County Community Development Resource Agency, Building Services	Building permit fee: 50% of the Table 3-A fee. Full plan review: 50% of the Table 3-A fee. Limited review and processing: 10% of the Table 3-A fee or $156.22. Re-inspection $156.22. Change of occupancy $156.22 per hour (1-hour minimum). Electrical inspection fee for commercial signs $157.13 (Electrical Inspection Fees). Technology Surcharge: 3.5% of the total fees assessed per application, not to exceed $578.36 (CDRA Administrative Fee Schedule, effective July 1, 2026).	per project (one-time)	2026-10-13
Conditional Use Permit and Sign Permit (unincorporated area)only if it applies to you	Placer County Community Development Resource Agency, Planning Services	Conditional Use Permit: $5,840 deposit only (the schedule's 'Initial Fee/Deposit' column); additional fees are charged at cost. Sign Permit: $156. A 3.5% technology surcharge is added to all permits.	per application (one-time)	2026-10-13

Business licenses and permits in Placer County, California

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Permits that apply to every type of business in Placer County