Santa Barbara 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...

Businesses in Santa Barbara County must obtain an Authority to Construct (ATC) permit from the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) before constructing, installing, altering, rep...

After obtaining an Authority to Construct and demonstrating compliance with all applicable emission standards, businesses in Santa Barbara County must obtain and annually renew a Permit to Operate (PT...

Businesses making structural changes, tenant improvements, or alterations to commercial spaces in unincorporated Santa Barbara County must obtain a building permit from the Santa Barbara County Planni...

All businesses located in Santa Barbara County with taxable business personal property having an aggregate cost of $100,000 or more must file an annual Business Property Statement (Form 571-L) with th...

Businesses operating cannabis cultivation, manufacturing, distribution, retail, testing, nursery, or microbusiness operations in unincorporated Santa Barbara County must obtain a cannabis business lic...

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

Businesses in unincorporated Santa Barbara County that conduct operations regulated by the California Fire Code (CFC) must obtain an operational permit from the Santa Barbara County Fire Department. T...

Any business operating a retail food facility in unincorporated Santa Barbara County must obtain an annual health permit from the Santa Barbara County Environmental Health Services (EHS). This include...

Businesses or developers planning grading, earthwork, or excavation activities in unincorporated Santa Barbara County must obtain a Grading Permit from the Santa Barbara County Planning and Developmen...

Any business in Santa Barbara County that handles, stores, or uses hazardous materials at or above reportable thresholds must prepare and submit a Hazardous Materials Business Plan (HMBP) through the ...

Any business undertaking construction, renovation, or tenant improvements to a commercial space in Santa Barbara must obtain a building permit from the Building & Safety Division of the Community Deve...

All businesses operating within the incorporated City of Santa Barbara must obtain a Business Tax Certificate (commonly called a business license) prior to commencing business. The certificate must be...

Any commercial cannabis business operating in the City of Santa Barbara must obtain a City-issued Commercial Cannabis Business Permit in addition to state licensing. The City limits certain license ty...

Certain business uses in the City of Santa Barbara require a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) from the Planning Commission before commencing operations under SBMC Chapter 28.94. CUPs are required for uses...

Businesses in Santa Barbara that conduct operations regulated by the California Fire Code (CFC) must obtain a fire operational permit from the Santa Barbara City Fire Prevention Bureau. The City of Sa...

Any person or business providing fortune telling, clairvoyance, astrology readings, palm reading, tarot card reading, or similar occult services for compensation in Santa Barbara must obtain a Fortune...

Any person or business providing services or conducting commercial activity at the Santa Barbara Harbor must obtain a Harbor Business Activity Permit (BAP) from the City of Santa Barbara Waterfront De...

Businesses in Santa Barbara that provide live entertainment or allow dancing on their premises must obtain a Live Entertainment or Dance Permit from the Santa Barbara Police Department under SBMC Chap...

Any person, association, firm, or corporation operating a massage establishment in the City of Santa Barbara must obtain a Massage Establishment Permit under SBMC Chapter 5.76 before conducting busine...

Any individual providing massage services for compensation in the City of Santa Barbara must obtain a Massage Technician Permit under SBMC Chapter 5.76 in addition to state CAMTC certification. The pe...