Business Licenses

Highland Municipal Code 5.04.030 states that no person shall conduct any business in the City without first having obtained a business license, paid the appropriate license fee, and complied with any and all applicable provisions of this code.

Before You Apply

Before applying for a business license, please contact our City Planning Division by calling 909-864-6861 or come into City Hall. A City Planner will be able to tell you about City zoning requirements for your type of business and other requirements you need to follow in order to conduct business in the City of Highland. All businesses must comply with all applicable City, County, State and Federal laws and regulations. To find out if your business needs further licensing, please visit the CalGold website at www.calgold.ca.gov. This website is a comprehensive website that assists business owners in finding the appropriate permit information for their business. It also provides contact information for the various agencies that administer and issue permits.

The City of Highland is proud to offer a new online business license application portal. By clicking on the link, you will be taken to the application portal. You will need to click on the icon to the left of the application type that you are applying for. Please review our Business License Application Type & Description section for more information on business types.

To apply in person or through mail please review our Business License Application Type & Description section for more information on business types. Once you have determined the license that applies to your business you can visit our Applications section and fill out the pdf application or come into City Hall and use the iPad in the lobby to complete the application.

You may remit payment via mail or in person to City Hall Business License Division, 27215 Base Line, Highland, CA 92346.

Any required document uploads are listed at the bottom of each application and must be uploaded at time of submittal. A checklist of documents that might be applicable to each business type are also located in the Required Documents section.

Business license fees shall be paid at the time your Business License Application is submitted to the City. This fee is non-refundable. Your application will be reviewed by the applicable departments. If your application is approved, your Business License will be emailed to you within approximately three weeks. If your application is not approved, or if additional information is needed, you will be contacted.

  1. On or after the first day of the month your license is set to expire you can follow the steps below to Renew your business license online.
  2. Click on theSearch icon which is under Search Existing Business License/Business License Renewal.
  3. Search your business by Entity # or Business Name.
  4. Click on the Pay Invoice link that appears in the bottom right corner.
  5. Pay applicable fees.

Your renewal will be sent to our Business License Division for approval and your new license will be emailed/mailed back to you within 1 to 2 weeks. If your renewal is not approved, or if additional information is needed, you will be contacted.

  1. You will receive a courtesy invoice/renewal form from the City of Highland at the beginning of the month your current license is set to expire. The invoice will be sent via email or mail depending on your account preferences.
  2. Our Business License Division will review your renewal. If approved, your new license will be emailed/mailed back to you within 1 to 2 weeks. If your renewal is not approved, or if additional information is needed, you will be contacted.

A Booth Rental license is required for any business attached to or within a licensed commercial location within the City. For detailed information on if this application type applies to your business and for a checklist of required documents click here.

Application Fee-$69 (Application Fee-$65 & AB1379 State Fee-$4)

A Commercial license is required for any business with a physical location within the City of Highland. For detailed information on if this application type applies to your business and for a checklist of required documents click here.

Application Fee-$629 (Application Fee-$310, Building Certificate of Occupancy Inspection-$175, Fire Inspection-$140 & AB1379 State Fee-$4)

A Home Occupation license is required for any home-based business within the City of Highland. For detailed information on if this application type applies to your business and for a checklist of required documents click here.

Application Fee-$138 (Application Fee-$134 & AB1379 State Fee-$4)

An Ice Cream Vendor license is required for anyone that wants to engage in the business of selling ice cream from a cart or vehicle in the City of Highland. For detailed information on if this application type applies to your business and for a checklist of required documents click here.

Application Fee-$213 (Application Fee-$175, Live Scan Fee-$34 per person, & AB1379 State Fee-$4)

A Massage Establishment (new) license is required for businesses looking to operate a massage establishment in the City of Highland. For detailed information on if this application type applies to your business and for a checklist of required documents click here.

New-Application Fee-$733 (Application Fee-$380, Live Scan Fee-$34, AB1379 State Fee-$4, Building Certificate of Occupancy Inspection-$175, Fire Inspection-$140)

Existing-Application Fee-$488 (Application Fee-$310, Live Scan Fee-$34, AB1379 State Fee-$4, Fire Inspection-$140)

A Massage Technician (CAMTC Certified) license is for CAMTC certified applicants that are planning to engage in the business of massage in the City of Highland. For detailed information on if this application type applies to your business and for a checklist of required documents click here.

Application Fee-$78 (Application Fee-$40, Live Scan Fee-$34, AB1379 State Fee-$4)

A Massage Technician (No CAMTC Certification) license is for Non-CAMTC certified applicants that are planning to engage in the business of massage in the City of Highland. For detailed information on if this application type applies to your business and for a checklist of required documents click here.

Application Fee-$213 (Application Fee-$175, Live Scan Fee-$34, AB1379 State Fee-$4)

A Mobile Vendor license is required for anyone not having a fixed place of business within the City of Highland who delivers goods, wares, or merchandise of any kind by vehicle or who provides any service by use of vehicle. For detailed information on if this application type applies to your business and for a checklist of required documents click here.

Application Fee-$333 (Application Fee-$175, Live Scan Fee-$34, Mobile Water User Fee-$120 & AB1379 State Fee-$4)

An Out of City license is for vendors or contractors whose physical location exists outside of the city limits; however, they are planning to engage in business within the City of Highland. For detailed information on if this application type applies to your business and for a checklist of required documents click here.

We offer weekly, monthly and yearly options:

Weekly-Application Fee-$28 ($24 per week & AB1379 State Fee-$4-no option to renew)

Monthly-Application Fee-$46 ($42 per month & AB1379 State Fee-$4-no option to renew)

Yearly-Application Fee-$184 ($180 & AB1379 State Fee-$4 with option to renew for current fee of $54 per year)

A Peddler/Solicitor license is required for anyone that wants to engage in the business of peddling goods, wares, merchandise, or anyone soliciting orders for goods or services for repair or improvement of real property exceeding $25 in cost or value, within the City of Highland. For detailed information on if this application type applies to your business and for a checklist of required documents click here.

Application Fee-$213 (Application Fee-$175, Live Scan Fee-$34 per person, & AB1379 State Fee-$4)

A Residential Rental license is required for any businesses consisting of the rental of residential units in City of Highland. For detailed information on if this application type applies to your business and for a checklist of required documents click here.

Application Fee-$124 (Application Fee-$120 & AB1379 State Fee-$4)

A Sidewalk Vendor license is required for any person who vends from a vending cart or from one’s person, upon a public sidewalk, parkway, pedestrian path or other public right of way available to pedestrians. For detailed information on if this application type applies to your business and for a checklist of required documents click here.

Application fee $69 (Application Fee-$65 and AB1379 State Fee-$4)