County Business License
COVID-19 Notice
The safety and health of our community is important to us. As such, we are taking the concerns associated with novel coronavirus (COVID-19) seriously and are closely monitoring this fluid situation. For more details on COVID-19, you can visit the Merced County’s Public Health Website on Covid-19.
Please visit Community and Economic Development Department's COVID-19 Procedures webpage to view the Department's complete COVID-19 procedures.
All businesses either physically located and/or conducting business within the unincorporated areas of Merced County must complete and submit a Merced County Business License Application and the associated fees to Merced County Community & Economic Development (CED).
General Information
- An annual business license fee is due on the anniversary date of your approved license. As a courtesy Community and Economic Development will mail a renewal notice approximately one month prior to the expiration date. However, it is the responsibility of the business owner to ensure the renewal payment is made on or before the expiration date of the license.
- If payment is not received by the last day of the following month of license expiration, the license will become delinquent. A notice will be mailed to the business and a delinquent charge in the amount of the license fee (excluding the state fee of $4.00) will be added to the renewal fee. The delinquent fee and renewal fee will be immediately due upon mailing of the delinquent notice.
- If license is not renewed within 60 days of the expiration date the license will expire and a NEW application will have to be processed through the Community & Economic Development Department.
- A business license is NON‐TRANFERRABLE. It becomes void when a CHANGE OF ADDRESS or CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP occurs. Any change to address or ownership will be treated as a NEW application in which application procedure and fees will apply.
- If a business is no longer operating in Merced County it is the business owner’s responsibility to notify Community & Economic Development Department.
- Fee exemptions: Non‐Profits must provide 501c Form. Veterans must provide DD214 form.
Once a complete Merced County Business License Application and the associated fees are submitted to Merced County Community & Economic Development (CED). Your application will then be reviewed by staff. Staff will determine if all land use requirements are met and if additional approval is required by other agencies such as Merced County Fire Department, Environmental/Public Health, Buildings Division. All requirements must be met prior to being issued a business license.
Applications may be submitted to the Department in-person, or via mail.
In-Person Application Submission
Applications and associated fees may be submitted in person by visiting the Merced County Community & Economic Development office at 2222 M Street, 2nd floor, Merced, CA 95340. Our business hours are Monday – Friday, 8:30am – 4:30pm.
Mail-in Application Submission
Applications and associated fees may be mailed to Merced County Community & Economic Development by addressing to:
Merced County Community & Economic Development
Attn: Business License
2222 M Street, 2nd Floor
Merced, CA 95340
Renewing a Business License with NO CHANGES
In-Person Renewal
Renewal payments may be submitted in-person by visiting the Merced County Community & Economic Development office at 2222 M Street, 2nd floor, Merced, CA 95340. Our business hours are Monday – Friday, 8:30am – 4:30pm.
Mailed Renewal
Renewal payments along with the signed renewal notice may be mailed to Merced County Community & Economic Development by addressing to:
Merced County Community & Economic Development
Attn: Business License
2222 M Street, 2nd Floor
Merced, CA 95340
Renewing Business License WITH CHANGES
Merced County Business Licenses are non-transferrable (Merced County Code Section 06.02.140). Changes to business information may require the submission of a new application and issuance of a new business license or a change in fees.
Please contact Merced Community & Economic Development at businesslicense@countyofmerced.com or at 209-385-7654 so that staff may determine if changes will require a new business license.
Updating an Existing Business License
If there have been changes to your business license information that you need to update you may do so before it is time to renew. Please keep in mind that since Merced County Business Licenses are non-transferrable (Merced County Code Section 6.02.140), some changes may require the closure of your current business license and a new business license will be issued.
These changes may include changes to:
- Physical business location
- Business name
- Ownership.
If you are making any these changes please submit a New Business License Application (see New Business License for instructions).
Contact Us
Most businesses must meet local, state and federal regulations governing business activities. If you are interested in starting a business or expanding your business within the unincorporated areas of Merced County, please contact the Merced County Community and Economic Development Department at (209) 385-7654 or businesslicense@countyofmerced.com for information regarding local regulations, processes and procedures.