Sunnyvale 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...

No person may conduct, operate, or keep any pet shop, commercial kennel, private kennel, pet grooming parlor, animal menagerie, animal shelter, or horse establishment in Santa Clara County without fir...

A building permit must be obtained from the Santa Clara County Department of Planning and Development before constructing, enlarging, altering, moving, replacing, repairing, improving, converting, dem...

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

Businesses in Santa Clara County that own or operate commercial weighing or measuring devices (scales, meters, fuel dispensers, etc.) used in commercial transactions must register their devices with t...

An Encroachment Permit is required from the Santa Clara County Roads and Airports Department for all construction work and proposed activities that encroach within, under, or over the County right-of-...

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

Businesses in unincorporated Santa Clara County and certain cities served by the County Fire Marshal's Office that conduct operations involving fire hazards must obtain a Fire Prevention Permit. This ...

Any business operating a food facility (restaurant, grocery store, bakery, deli, cafe, bar, or other retail food establishment) in unincorporated Santa Clara County or in cities where the County DEH p...

A grading permit is required from the Santa Clara County Department of Planning and Development for any land-disturbing activity in unincorporated areas, including excavation, fill, and earthwork asso...

Any business in Santa Clara County that handles, stores, or uses hazardous materials at or above reportable quantities must submit a Hazardous Materials Business Plan (HMBP) through the California Env...

Every person transacting, engaging in, or carrying on any business within the City of Sunnyvale must obtain a Business License Tax Certificate before commencing business operations. The license is ren...

Certain industrial businesses in Sunnyvale (based on their Standard Industrial Classification / SIC code) must obtain coverage under the California State Water Resources Control Board's Industrial Gen...

Adult entertainment establishments in Sunnyvale must obtain a license from the Department of Public Safety under Sunnyvale Municipal Code Chapter 9.40. Paper applications only are accepted. New employ...

All businesses operating an alarm system (burglar alarm, fire alarm, or other) at a commercial premises in Sunnyvale must register the alarm with the City and obtain an annual alarm permit under Sunny...

Any business constructing a new commercial building, making alterations to an existing commercial space (tenant improvement), changing the use of a space, or performing structural or mechanical work m...

All businesses located within the Downtown Sunnyvale Business Improvement District (BID) pay an annual benefit assessment under SMC Chapter 3.60. The BID is organized into three benefit zones (A, B, C...

Any commercial filming activity (motion pictures, television, commercials, still photography) conducted on public property or requiring City services in Sunnyvale requires a Film Permit. Applications ...

Businesses in Sunnyvale that store, handle, or use hazardous materials above threshold quantities must obtain a Hazardous Materials Permit from the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety, which is a Ce...

Any business operating from a residential dwelling unit in Sunnyvale must comply with the Home Occupation standards of the Sunnyvale Zoning Code (SMC Chapter 19.42). Home occupations are allowed in an...

Sunnyvale has its own local minimum wage ordinance (SMC Chapter 3.80) that exceeds the California state minimum. The local minimum wage applies to any employee who works at least 2 hours per week with...