The business licensing process helps the City to understand our business community. The information obtained from business licenses will help make the city’s planning, public works, fire, and public safety activities more responsive to your needs.

The City of Taft Municipal Codes require all individuals, partnerships, and corporations conducting or operating a business within the city to renew their license annually, regardless of whether such business is a fixed location within the City. However, there are some business classifications that may be required to renew quarterly such as salesmen, peddlers and/or solicitors.

FEES
There is a one time non-refundable $35.00 review fee, in addition to the Business License tax. The amount of the Business license tax is determined by a business’s classification. The fees for a business classified under sales and service, would be based upon a sliding scale gauged by the Business’s average monthly gross receipts and sales.

A new or start up business will begin in the $0 - $2000 range and the annual business license tax would be $20.00. So the total fee for the Business License would be $55.00. The Business License tax is prorated depending on what quarter of the year a business begins. Contractor’s/Builders and Professionals, for example, have different classifications, therefore they have different Business License fees.

The city also requires a sewer and refuse deposit, for those who are renting or leasing commercial property within city limits, at the time the Business License fees are paid.

Businesses can not begin operating until their business license fees have been paid and it has been completely processed and approved by the appropriate department heads.