Commercial Business License
Updated June 19, 2024
Fee Increase Notice
Effective July 1, 2024, Business License fees will be increased by 4%. This increase is based on the Consumer Price Index rise between March 2023 and March 2024, as published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA area.
Business license applications are accepted through the City’s online portal at permits.cerritos.us. Please visit the online portal for instructions on setting up your account and applying for a City of Cerritos business license. As part of your business license application, you will need to upload the following supporting documents in the portal:
- Statement of Use Letter — See Statement of Use Letter Instructions (PDF)
- Applicant Agreement (Commercial) (PDF)
- Property Owner’s Consent (PDF)
- A copy of the owner's government-issued ID card
- County of Los Angeles Fire Department — Statement of Intended Use (PDF)
- Site Plan — See Site Plan/Floor Plan Instructions (PDF)
- Floor Plan — See Site Plan/Floor Plan Instructions (PDF)
- If doing sales in Cerritos, a copy of your California Seller’s Permit
- If applicable, proof of non-profit status such as a letter of exemption from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or 501(c)(3) form
For proposed school/education uses only, you will need to submit a Schedule of Classes (PDF) in addition to the documents listed above.
Resubmit After Making Corrections
Upon submitting an application, you will be notified if corrections are required. To resubmit your application after making the required corrections, please follow the resubmittal instructions here (PDF).
Renewals
To renew your City business license, please follow the renewal instructions on your renewal notice. Renewal notices are mailed and emailed 45 days before business license expiration.
Customer Satisfaction Survey
To help us better serve you, please take a short one-minute customer satisfaction survey to provide any feedback for improvement.
For more information, please call the Business License Office at (562) 916-1236 or email business_license@cerritos.us.