Berkeley compliance requirements

Businesses that pay $600 or more to a non-employee (independent contractor, freelancer, etc.) during the year must file Form 1099-NEC with the IRS and provide a copy to the recipient by January 31. Th...

Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires businesses that are places of public accommodation (restaurants, retail stores, hotels, theaters, medical offices, professional offices,...

Businesses that manufacture, import, deal in, or use explosive materials must obtain a federal explosives license or permit from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Licenses...

All Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs) must complete and retain ATF Form 4473 (Firearms Transaction Record) for every firearm transaction conducted through the licensee. Per the Bipartisan Safer Commun...

Businesses exporting goods, software, or technology from the United States must comply with the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) administered by the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS). Expor...

The Corporate Transparency Act requires certain companies to report their beneficial ownership information (BOI) to FinCEN. As of March 2025, FinCEN issued a rule exempting all domestic companies from...

Under the Corporate Transparency Act, reporting companies must file an updated Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) report with FinCEN within 30 calendar days of any change to previously reported in...

The CAN-SPAM Act (Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act) applies to all businesses that send commercial email messages — any electronic mail message whose primary purp...

Businesses importing goods into the United States with a value exceeding $2,500 must file an entry with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Formal entries require a customs bond and use of a lic...

The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) requires employers with 20 or more employees who sponsor group health plans to offer continuation coverage to employees and their dependents ...

Under the Air Toxics Hot Spots Information and Assessment Act (AB 2588), facilities emitting 10 or more tons per year of criteria air pollutants must submit an emissions inventory report to their loca...

Catering businesses serving alcohol at client locations must obtain a Type 58 Caterer's Permit from the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. Requires a commissary (licensed premises) and allows s...

California ABC Type 04 Distilled Spirits Manufacturer license authorizes the distillation and rectification of spirits, and the sale of distilled spirits to wholesalers and on the licensed premises. D...

California ABC Type 20 Off-Sale Beer and Wine license authorizes a retail establishment (grocery store, convenience store, drug store) to sell beer and wine in sealed containers for off-premises consu...

California ABC Type 21 Off-Sale General license authorizes a retail store (package store, liquor store) to sell beer, wine, and distilled spirits in sealed containers for off-premises consumption. Req...

California ABC Type 41 On-Sale Beer and Wine license authorizes a bona fide eating place (restaurant) to sell beer and wine (no distilled spirits) for on-premises consumption. Lower cost alternative t...

Annual renewal of the California ABC Type 47 On-Sale General license for restaurants. Renewal must be completed before the license anniversary date to avoid late penalties. Renewal fee varies by count...

California ABC Type 47 On-Sale General license authorizes a bona fide eating place (restaurant) to sell beer, wine, and distilled spirits for consumption on the premises. Required before selling any a...

Bars and taverns where alcohol is the primary revenue source (50%+ of revenue from alcohol sales, not food) must obtain a Type 48 Public Premises license from ABC. Different from Type 47 (restaurant) ...

California ABC Type 23 Small Beer Manufacturer license authorizes the manufacture of beer (under 60,000 barrels per year) and sale to wholesalers, retailers, and on the licensed premises. Breweries an...

Any business in Alameda County that stores petroleum products in aboveground storage tanks with an aggregate capacity of 1,320 gallons or more (or 660 gallons for a single tank within 100 feet of surf...

Any person or business in unincorporated Alameda County that keeps more than two dogs, more than two cats, or any livestock as accessory to a dwelling in a residential (R) zoning district must obtain ...

Any business operating a body art facility in Alameda County (except the City of Berkeley) must obtain a permit from the Alameda County Department of Environmental Health. This covers facilities perfo...

Any individual performing body art services (tattooing, body piercing, permanent cosmetics, branding) in Alameda County must register as a body art practitioner with the Alameda County Department of E...

All businesses located in Alameda County with aggregate business personal property costing $100,000 or more must file an annual Business Property Statement (Form 571-L) with the Alameda County Assesso...

Any commercial construction, tenant improvement, alteration, or new building project in unincorporated Alameda County requires a building permit from the Alameda County Public Works Agency Building In...

Certain business uses in unincorporated Alameda County that are not permitted by right in a given zoning district require a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) from the Alameda County Planning Department. CU...

All dogs over the age of four months in unincorporated Alameda County must be licensed per Alameda County Code Chapter 5.16. Businesses that keep dogs (such as security companies, farms, or dog-relate...

Any business or person that needs to dig, place, or install anything within the public right-of-way in unincorporated Alameda County must obtain an encroachment permit from the Alameda County Public W...

Any business operating in Alameda County under a name other than the owner's legal name must file a Fictitious Business Name Statement with the Alameda County Clerk-Recorder. This includes sole propri...

An Administrative Use Permit (AUP) from the City of Berkeley is required to begin service of alcoholic beverages at a commercial establishment, unless alcohol service is incidental to food service. Th...

All construction work, most repairs, tenant improvements, and building modifications in Berkeley require building permits unless specifically exempted. Commercial tenant improvements, remodeling, and ...

All businesses operating within the City of Berkeley must obtain a business license and pay the annual business license tax based on gross receipts. Tax rates vary by business classification: Retail T...

Cannabis businesses operating in Berkeley must obtain a city business license with a cannabis classification, a local use permit, and a valid state license from the California Department of Cannabis C...

Berkeley imposes an annual Empty Homes Tax on owners of residential units that are vacant for more than 182 days (consecutive or nonconsecutive) in a calendar year. For the first year vacant: $3,000 p...

Owners of five or more residential rental units in Berkeley are subject to an enhanced business license tax rate of $28.80 per $1,000 of gross rental receipts (2.880%), as approved by voters under Mea...

The Ronald V. Dellums Fair Chance Access to Housing and Public Health and Safety Ordinance prohibits Berkeley landlords from asking about or considering an applicant's criminal history during the rent...

Berkeley's Fair Workweek Ordinance (BMC Chapter 13.102, effective January 12, 2024) requires covered employers to provide 14 days' advance notice of work schedules and predictability pay for last-minu...

Under BMC Chapter 13.101, Berkeley employers with 10 or more employees must allow employees who have worked at least 3 months and 8 hours per week to request flexible or predictable work schedules. Re...

All filming activities in Berkeley require a filming permit issued by the Berkeley Film Office. Applications must be submitted at least five business days in advance. The permit application must inclu...