County Offices - SCORE Ventura County, California

There are several county offices that are involved with the conduct of business in Ventura County. Which of these apply to your business depends on the nature of your business and, in some cases, where it will operate.

Toll-Free Numbers for Ventura County Offices:
     From Ventura, Saticoy, Ojai, El Rio, Oakview, Camarillo, Oxnard, Port Hueneme, or Point Mugu: 800-654-5000

     From Santa Paula, Fillmore, Piru, Moorpark, Newbury Park, Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village,
              Somis, or Oak Park: 800-660-5474

Fictitious Business Name

If your business name is anything other than your surname or has more than one owner, you will need to file a "Doing Business As" (DBA) name and publish it in a legal newspaper within 30 days of filing your statement, once a week for four weeks. The newspaper in your area sometimes has the forms. To ensure there is no other use of your name, consult the index of business names at the County Clerk's office listed below.

The phone number listed below provides a recording on how to file for a fictitious name. Also, a packet of information is available to you from the County Clerk's office. As of July 1, 2001 the fee for a one-owner filing is $32. For additional owners, add $7 each.

    County Recorder-Clerk
    Hall of Administration, Lower Plaza
    800 South Victoria Avenue
    Ventura, CA 93009
    805-654-3790
    www.ventura.org/recorder/clerk.htm

Business Tax Certificate

As of July 1, 1991, anyone conducting business of any kind in the unincorporated areas of Ventura County must apply for a Business Tax Certificate including those businesses seeking exempt status and those which are in operation only temporarily such as film productions.

For a County Business Tax Certificate contact:

    Tax Collections
    Business Licenses
    800 South Victoria Avenue
    Ventura, CA 93009
    805-654-2653
    805-654-3744

Regulatory Licenses

Regulatory licenses are required for approximately 250 kinds of businesses, such as second-hand dealers, taxi operators, public dances, bingo games, auctioneer, pawn broker, hawkers, itinerant merchants. Contact the Sheriff's Department to first determine if your business requires a license and then to apply for one. After the forms have been processed they can be picked up at the Tax Collection office listed above.

    Sheriff's Department
    Licensing
    Unincorporated Areas
    800 South Victoria Avenue
    Ventura, CA. 93009
    805-654-2371

Health and Safety Permits

A permit to operate must be applied for by any public food service that proposes to operate in any incorporated or unincorporated area of Ventura County. Examples of public food services are Restaurants, Food Vehicles, Food Markets, and Roadside Stands. Permits are also required for pools, spas, body piercing, tattooing, landfills, hazardous waste and others. An inspection is made, then a permit to operate is issued if there has been compliance with the State Health and Safety Regulations.

Applicants for these permits may go to or call:
    Environmental Health Division
    800 South Victoria Avenue, 3rd Floor
    Ventura, CA 93009
    805-654-2813

Business License for Businesses in Unincorporated Areas

The Planning Division issues business licenses for home-based businesses in the unincorporated areas of the County.

    Planning Division
    800 South Victoria Avenue
    Ventura, CA 93009
    Zoning Information: 805-654-2488

Personal Property Tax

All businesses in the County whether home-based or commercial must file yearly to pay a personal property tax. How much depends on the location of your business. The amount varies from 1 to 1.5% of the full cash value assessment of all equipment and fixtures used in the business. If under $2,000, no tax is due. Tax forms are mailed from the Assessor's office in January.

    Assessor
    Property Valuation
    800 South Victoria Avenue
    Ventura, CA 93009
    805-654-2181

    Auditor-Controller
    Property Tax Rate Section
    800 South Victoria Avenue
    Ventura, CA 93009
    805-654-3181

Air Quality Permits

Air Quality permits are required for any equipment or process at a facility which may emit air pollutants. Call APCD for specifics.

    Air Pollution Control District
    669 County Square Drive, 2nd Floor
    Ventura, CA 93003
    General Information:805-645-1400
    Permit Information: 805-645-1401
    www.vcapcd.org