Half Moon Bay compliance requirements
Every filing obligation for small businesses operating in Half Moon Bay, California — federal, state, county, and city-specific.
Breakdown: 106 federal requirements, 220 California state filings, 24 San Mateo County requirements, and 16 Half Moon Bay-specific requirements. Each obligation links to an authoritative source — the official government page where available, or the authorized filing portal or publisher otherwise.
Federal Obligations(106)
1099-NEC Filing — Nonemployee Compensation
ANNUALTAX FILINGBusinesses 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...
ADA Title III — Accessibility Compliance for Public Accommodations
AS NEEDEDREGISTRATIONTitle 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,...
ATF Federal Explosives License/Permit
ONE TIMEINDUSTRY LICENSEBusinesses 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...
ATF Form 4473 Firearms Transaction Recordkeeping
AS NEEDEDINDUSTRY LICENSEAll 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...
BIS Export Controls — Export Administration Regulations (EAR)
AS NEEDEDPERMITBusinesses 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...
BOI Report — Beneficial Ownership Information
ONE TIMEREGISTRATIONThe 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...
BOI Report — Updated Report (Ownership Changes)
AS NEEDEDREGISTRATIONUnder 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...
CAN-SPAM Act Compliance
AS NEEDEDREGISTRATIONThe 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...
CBP Import Entry — Customs Declaration for Imported Goods
AS NEEDEDTAX FILINGBusinesses 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...
COBRA Notice Requirements — Continuation of Health Coverage
AS NEEDEDEMPLOYMENTThe 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 ...
California State Obligations(220)
AB 2588 Air Toxics Hot Spots Emissions Inventory Report
EVERY 4 YEARSPERMITUnder 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...
ABC Caterer's License (Type 58)
ANNUALINDUSTRY LICENSECatering 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...
ABC Distilled Spirits Manufacturer License (Type 04)
ONE TIMEINDUSTRY LICENSECalifornia 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...
ABC Off-Sale Beer & Wine License (Type 20) — Original Application
ONE TIMEINDUSTRY LICENSECalifornia 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...
ABC Off-Sale General License (Type 21) — Package Store — Original Application
ONE TIMEINDUSTRY LICENSECalifornia 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...
ABC On-Sale Beer & Wine License (Type 41) — Restaurant — Original Application
ONE TIMEINDUSTRY LICENSECalifornia 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...
ABC On-Sale General License (Type 47) — Restaurant — Annual Renewal
ANNUALINDUSTRY LICENSEAnnual 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...
ABC On-Sale General License (Type 47) — Restaurant — Original Application
ONE TIMEINDUSTRY LICENSECalifornia 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...
ABC Public Premises License (Type 48 — Bar/Tavern)
ANNUALINDUSTRY LICENSEBars 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) ...
ABC Small Beer Manufacturer License (Type 23) — Brewery/Brewpub
ONE TIMEINDUSTRY LICENSECalifornia 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...
San Mateo County Obligations(24)
Body Art Facility Permit
ANNUALPERMITAny business operating a permanent body art facility in San Mateo County must obtain an annual health permit from San Mateo County Environmental Health Services. Body art includes tattooing, piercing,...
Body Art Practitioner Registration
ANNUALREGISTRATIONIndividual body art practitioners (tattoo artists, piercers, permanent cosmetics technicians, branding practitioners) working in San Mateo County must register with San Mateo County Environmental Heal...
Business License (Unincorporated Areas)
ANNUALREGISTRATIONCertain types of businesses operating in the unincorporated areas of San Mateo County are required to obtain a business license from the San Mateo County Tax Collector. All applications are reviewed a...
Business Personal Property Statement (Form 571-L)
ANNUALTAX FILINGAll businesses located in San Mateo County with aggregate business personal property costing $100,000 or more must file an annual Business Property Statement (Form 571-L) with the San Mateo County Ass...
Commercial Building Permit
AS NEEDEDPERMITAny business in unincorporated San Mateo County undertaking construction, alteration, repair, or demolition of a commercial structure must obtain a building permit from the San Mateo County Planning a...
Conditional Use Permit
ONE TIMEPERMITBusinesses in unincorporated San Mateo County that propose a conditionally permitted use under the County Zoning Ordinance must obtain a Use Permit from the San Mateo County Planning and Building Depa...
Encroachment Permit (Public Right-of-Way)
AS NEEDEDPERMITAny business or person conducting work that encroaches into the right-of-way of San Mateo County's unincorporated areas must obtain an encroachment permit from the San Mateo County Department of Publi...
Fictitious Business Name (DBA) Registration
EVERY 5 YEARSREGISTRATIONAny business operating in San Mateo County under a name other than the owner's legal name must file a Fictitious Business Name Statement with the San Mateo County Clerk-Recorder. This includes sole pr...
Food Facility Health Permit
ANNUALPERMITAny business operating a retail food facility in San Mateo County must obtain an annual health permit from the San Mateo County Environmental Health Services (EHS). This includes restaurants, cafes, b...
Grading and Land Clearing Permit
AS NEEDEDPERMITBusinesses or property owners in unincorporated San Mateo County undertaking grading, land clearing, or significant earthwork must obtain a grading permit from the San Mateo County Planning and Buildi...
City Obligations(16)
City Business License Tax
ANNUALREGISTRATIONEvery person conducting any business, trade, profession, or occupation within the City of Half Moon Bay must obtain a city business license and pay annual business license tax before commencing operat...
Coastside Fire Protection District — Business License Inspection
AS NEEDEDPERMITBusinesses opening or changing ownership in Half Moon Bay must obtain a fire inspection from the Coastside Fire Protection District (a CalFire division) as part of the building/business license approv...
Commercial Building Permit (Tenant Improvement / Build-Out)
AS NEEDEDPERMITAny commercial tenant improvement, interior build-out, change of occupancy, or new construction requires a building permit from the City of Half Moon Bay Building Division. Plan review is required for...
Commercial Cannabis Nursery License
ANNUALINDUSTRY LICENSEUnder Half Moon Bay Municipal Code Chapter 3.200, commercial cannabis activities are limited to nursery cultivation of immature, non-flowering cannabis plants on existing greenhouse properties in A-1 ...
Conditional Use Permit (CUP)
ONE TIMEPERMITCertain business uses in Half Moon Bay require a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) from the Planning Division before operating. Uses requiring a CUP include those identified in the zoning code as condition...
Encroachment Permit (Street / Right-of-Way Use)
AS NEEDEDPERMITAny excavation, modification, construction activity, or encroachment within the City's public right-of-way or easement — including sidewalk cafes, outdoor dining, parklets, utility work, driveway appr...
Home Occupation Permit
ONE TIMEPERMITAny business operated from a residential property within Half Moon Bay requires a Home Occupation Permit prior to issuance of a business license. The operator must submit a written description of the ...
Hotel Business Improvement District (BID) Assessment
MONTHLYTAX FILINGHotels, motels, inns, and B&Bs within the Half Moon Bay Hotel Business Improvement District must pay a per-room-night assessment of $2 per rented room night. Funds are used by the Half Moon Bay Coasts...
Local Coastal Development Permit
AS NEEDEDPERMITHalf Moon Bay is almost entirely within the California Coastal Zone. Most physical development — including new construction, substantial remodeling, changes of use, grading, and installation of signs ...
Mobile Vendor Permit
ANNUALPERMITNo person may operate a mobile vending vehicle (food truck or other mobile vendor) on any street, alley, or public way in Half Moon Bay without a currently valid mobile vending permit under Chapter 3....
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