Pacifica compliance requirements
Every filing obligation for small businesses operating in Pacifica, California — federal, state, county, and city-specific.
Breakdown: 106 federal requirements, 220 California state filings, 24 San Mateo County requirements, and 10 Pacifica-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(10)
Administrative Sign Permit
AS NEEDEDPERMITAll new permanent business signs in Pacifica require an administrative sign permit from the Planning Department before installation. Permit application must include drawings showing advertising messag...
Business Alarm System Permit
ANNUALPERMITPacifica Municipal Code Section 5-16.02 requires all business alarm systems within the City to be registered with the Pacifica Police Department through an annual alarm permit. The permit helps reduce...
Cannabis Public Safety License
ANNUALINDUSTRY LICENSECannabis businesses operating in Pacifica must obtain a Cannabis Public Safety License from the City (under Municipal Code Chapter 4-16) and a Cannabis Use Permit (zoning approval) prior to commencing...
City of Pacifica Business License
ANNUALREGISTRATIONAny business operating within Pacifica city limits must obtain a business license before commencing operations. Applies to home-based, commercial, in-city, and out-of-city businesses conducting any ac...
Commercial Building / Tenant Improvement Permit
AS NEEDEDPERMITA building permit from the Pacifica Building Division is required for any commercial construction, tenant improvements, alterations, or renovations to commercial spaces. Plans must be prepared by lice...
Home Occupation Permit
ONE TIMEPERMITBusinesses operating from a residential property in Pacifica must obtain a Home Occupation Permit from the Planning Division, in addition to the standard business license. Tenant applicants must also ...
North County Fire Authority Operational Fire Permit
ANNUALPERMITBusinesses in Pacifica with regulated occupancies — including assembly, hazardous materials storage, sprinkler systems, fire alarms, high-piled storage, or other fire-code-regulated operations — must ...
Short-Term Rental (STR) Permit
ANNUALPERMITOperators renting a residential dwelling (or portion thereof) for fewer than 30 consecutive days must obtain an annual Short-Term Rental Permit from the City of Pacifica in addition to a business lice...
Solicitor / Peddler Permit
AS NEEDEDPERMITAll door-to-door salespersons and peddlers conducting solicitation activities within Pacifica must obtain a Solicitor's Permit from the Pacifica Police Department before commencing any door-to-door sa...
Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) Quarterly Remittance
QUARTERLYTAX FILINGOperators of hotels, motels, bed-and-breakfasts, and short-term rentals in Pacifica must collect a 15% Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) from all transient guests and remit it to the City quarterly. Taxab...
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