Permits & licenses

Business License Guide for Sacramento-Area Cities: Elk Grove, Roseville, Folsom, and More

Compare local business licenses around Sacramento: the city, the county, Elk Grove, Roseville, Folsom, Citrus Heights, Rancho Cordova, and West Sacramento.

Last reviewed October 20, 2026 · 8 min read

On this page
  1. How do I know which license I need?
  2. How do Sacramento-area licenses compare?
  3. City of Sacramento
  4. Unincorporated Sacramento County
  5. Elk Grove
  6. Roseville (Placer County)
  7. Folsom
  8. Citrus Heights
  9. Rancho Cordova
  10. West Sacramento (Yolo County)
  11. What you'll need for most city licenses
  12. How long does it take?

Your license usually depends on where your business is based. Some cities also want a license if you just work there. This guide puts them side by side.

How do I know which license I need?

Start with your business address, not your mailing city. Many addresses say "Sacramento" but are in an unincorporated area. Then check every city where you'll actively work.

Table comparing local business licenses and fees for Sacramento, Sacramento County, Elk Grove, Roseville, Folsom, Citrus Heights, Rancho Cordova, and West Sacramento. Local licenses at a glance, checked October 2026. Diagram: Sac Business Launch.

Table comparing local business licenses and fees for Sacramento, Sacramento County, Elk Grove, Roseville, Folsom, Citrus Heights, Rancho Cordova, and West Sacramento. Local licenses at a glance, checked October 2026. Diagram: Sac Business Launch.

How do Sacramento-area licenses compare?

WhereCity of Sacramento

What it's calledBusiness Operations Tax certificate

New feeBased on type and gross receipts

RenewalYearly

WhereUnincorporated Sacramento County

What it's calledGeneral Business License

New fee$262.60 (3 years)

Renewal$124.30 home / $252.48 commercial

WhereElk Grove

What it's calledGeneral Business License

New fee$16 for 2 years*

RenewalEvery 2 years

WhereRoseville

What it's calledBusiness license (annual tax)

New fee$15 to $250 per year

RenewalBy February 1 each year

WhereFolsom

What it's calledBusiness license certificate

New feeSee city portal

RenewalYearly

WhereCitrus Heights

What it's calledGeneral Business License

New fee$108.00

Renewal$84.08

WhereRancho Cordova

What it's calledGeneral or Home-Based Business License

New fee$103

Renewal$103 yearly

WhereWest Sacramento

What it's calledBusiness license

New fee$220.16 commercial or non-local / $96.96 home

Renewal$46.56

*Elk Grove's page lists $16 for a two-year license in two places and $12 in another. We used $16 and suggest confirming.

City of Sacramento

The city doesn't issue a general business license. It requires a Business Operations Tax (BOT) certificate instead. Home businesses also need a home occupation permit. Read our BOT guide.

Unincorporated Sacramento County

Businesses based outside city limits in the county need a General Business License, valid 3 years. Some activities need a Special License too. See our county license guide.

Elk Grove

  • General license: $16 for two years, for businesses with a physical location in the city. Its FAQ explains how home-based businesses are treated.

  • Special license: $125 per year plus a one-time $49 fingerprinting fee, for certain business types like janitorial, pool cleaning, tree trimming, and mobile food vendors.

  • How to apply: Online or at a City Hall kiosk. The city says paper and mailed applications are no longer accepted. Special licenses are filed in person.

  • Timing: About 15 minutes to apply. A digital copy comes in 24 to 48 business hours if approved.

  • Contact: (916) 627-3279.

Roseville (Placer County)

  • Roseville says its license is "an annual tax for doing business within the city limits."

  • You need it for any business activity in the city, even if you're based outside Roseville. That includes home businesses and contractors.

  • Fees range from $15 to $250 a year. Licenses run January 1 to December 31 and must be paid by February 1 to avoid penalties.

  • A DBA, if needed, is filed with the Placer County Clerk.

  • Contact: (916) 727-6868.

Folsom

  • Folsom requires a business license certificate for all businesses operating in city limits before you start.

  • Applications and renewals run through the city's online portal (folsom.hdlgov.com). Home businesses use a Home Occupation Form.

  • We could not confirm a published fee table, so check the portal for your fee.

  • Contact: Folsom@hdlgov.com or (916) 458-4753.

Citrus Heights

  • New general license: $108.00. Renewal: $84.08. Special and combined licenses cost more.

  • Home businesses complete a Home Occupation Clearance form within the online application.

  • The city says the process can take up to 60 days.

  • Veterans with an honorable discharge on their DD-214 are exempt from license fees.

  • Contact: (916) 727-4907.

Rancho Cordova

  • General and home-based licenses: $103 new, $103 renewal, every year.

  • Special license: $318 new (includes a $32 background check), $286 renewal.

  • Apply online through Rancho Cordova Online or in person.

  • Contact: (916) 851-8737.

West Sacramento (Yolo County)

  • New license: $220.16 for local commercial or non-local businesses, $96.96 for home occupations. Higher if County Health review is required.

  • Renewal: $46.56. A $10 penalty applies 7 days after expiration.

  • Non-local businesses that work in West Sacramento need a license too.

  • A DBA, if needed, is filed with the Yolo County Clerk-Recorder.

What you'll need for most city licenses

What you'll need

  • Your business address (and home occupation form, if home-based)

  • Your business structure and owner info

  • Your EIN or SSN, depending on structure

  • Your seller's permit number, if you sell goods (Roseville asks for it)

  • A DBA filing, if you use a name other than your own

How long does it take?

It ranges from a digital license in 24 to 48 business hours after approval (Elk Grove general licenses) to up to 60 days (Citrus Heights). Apply a few weeks before you open.

Launching in one of these cities? We'll go over the license steps with you on a free Business Launch Audit.

This is general information, not legal or tax advice. Fees and rules change, so please check the linked official pages before you file or pay.

Questions people ask

Do I need a business license in every city where I work?

Sometimes. Roseville says you need its license for any business activity in the city, even if you are based outside it. Other cities treat out-of-town businesses differently. Elk Grove, for example, lists professional service businesses based outside the city as exempt; it still issues them a no-charge license after they apply. Check each city where you work.

What is the cheapest business license around Sacramento?

Among the cities we checked, Elk Grove's general license is the lowest at $16 for two years. Its page also lists $12 in one spot, so confirm the amount when you apply.

Does Folsom require a business license?

Yes. Folsom says all businesses operating in city limits need a business license certificate before they start. Folsom handles applications through its online portal at folsom.hdlgov.com. We could not confirm a fee table, so check the portal for your fee.

Is West Sacramento in Sacramento County?

No. West Sacramento is in Yolo County. Its fictitious business name filings go to the Yolo County Clerk-Recorder, not Sacramento County.

Does Roseville have a business license?

Yes. Roseville calls it an annual tax for doing business in the city. Fees range from $15 to $250 per year depending on the business, and the license runs January 1 through December 31.

We walk Sacramento founders through the filings people usually miss.

See the Launch Audit
Words to know

  • Unincorporated area: Land in the county that isn't inside any city's limits.

  • BOT: Business Operations Tax. The City of Sacramento's version of a business license.

  • DBA: "Doing business as." A business name that is different from your legal name. In California the official term is fictitious business name.

  • Seller's permit: A free state permit you need to sell goods in California and collect sales tax.

  • Fingerprinting: A background check some license types require.

Sources

  1. Business Operations Tax - City of Sacramento · cityofsacramento.gov
  2. Business Licensing FAQs - Sacramento County · finance.saccounty.gov
  3. Business License - City of Elk Grove · elkgrove.gov
  4. Starting a Business in the City of Roseville · roseville.ca.gov
  5. Business License - City of Folsom (HdL portal) · folsom.hdlgov.com
  6. Business License Fees - City of Citrus Heights · citrusheights.net
  7. Business Licenses - City of Citrus Heights · citrusheights.net
  8. Business License - City of Rancho Cordova · cityofranchocordova.org
  9. Business License Applications - City of West Sacramento · cityofwestsacramento.org

This is general information for Sacramento and Northern California businesses. We are not attorneys or tax advisors, and this is not legal or tax advice. Check the official sources, and a local pro, before you act.

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