California note
Long Beach business licenses start with the business type
Long Beach routes business-license questions through Financial Management, with different paths for online applications, in-person help, renewals, location changes, and required extra permits.
In Long Beach, the first business-license question is bigger than the name of the business. It is what the business does, where it works, and whether the address or owner is changing.
The business-license page is the main source. It links to applying, renewing, paying a bill, updating a license, closing a license, and checking license status. For a general business license, the city also explains that other departments may need to review the application before a license is issued.
That extra review matters in a busy port city with storefronts, home businesses, out-of-city contractors, food uses, entertainment uses, and industrial sites. A simple office may move one way. A place with customers, equipment, signs, food, or stormwater rules may need more checks.
Before starting, write down the business activity, address, owner or entity name, and any permit numbers you already have. If this is a move, ownership change, new activity, or second Long Beach location, treat it like a new question instead of a routine renewal.
Where to see it
Long Beach Business License and General Business License pages.
Official sources
Official pages
Reviewed July 4, 2026
Current rules, forms, fees, deadlines, maps, and office instructions.
Rules, forms, fees, deadlines, and office procedures can change. Check the current page before you file, pay, or rely on a date.
Connected places
Open the local directory
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