Business Licensing & Operations in Anaheim, CA (2026)
7 verified business licensing & operations rules for Anaheim, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Adult Entertainment
Anaheim requires anyone operating a sex-oriented business to first obtain a sex-oriented business permit from the Planning Director in addition to a standard business license. The use must sit outside any redevelopment area, at least 400 feet from a residential zone or use, and 1,000 feet from any school, park, or religious institution, with no more than two such businesses within a 2,500-foot radius.
Anaheim Sex-Oriented Business Permit & Spacing
Significant RestrictionsAnaheim, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 18.54.030 (Sex-Oriented Business Permit)
.010 Permit Required. It shall be unlawful for any person or entity to operate, engage in, conduct or carry on any sex-oriented business within the City of Anaheim, unless the owner of said business first obtains, and continues to maintain in full force and effect, both a sex-oriented business permit and a business license from the City of Anaheim for such business. ... .0502 The sex-oriented b...
Massage Establishments
No one may operate a massage establishment in Anaheim without an operator's permit issued by the Planning Director under Municipal Code Section 18.16.070, following a Police Chief background investigation. Mobile massage is banned citywide, massage in motels is barred outside three named resort specific plans, and operators also owe a $300 annual business tax.
Anaheim Massage Establishment Operator Permits
Significant RestrictionsAnaheim Municipal Code Sec. 18.16.070(.020)
No person shall operate a massage establishment within the City without first obtaining an operator's permit pursuant to Sections 18.16.070.030 and 18.16.070.040 of this chapter. The operator's permit required by this section shall be in addition to any business license required by this Code. Mobile massage operations are not permitted within the City. All massage activities must occur within a...
Tattoo & Body Modification
Anaheim regulates tattoo shops through zoning, not a standalone trade license. Municipal Code § 18.36.040.160 classifies tattoo parlors under the "Personal Services-General" use class, and Table 8-A of § 18.08.030 requires a Conditional Use Permit for that use class in every commercial and office zone in the city.
Anaheim Tattoo Parlor Zoning & CUP Rules
Significant RestrictionsAnaheim Municipal Code § 18.36.040.160 (Personal Services-General Use Class)
Personal Services-General. This use class consists of services and incidental sales of a personal nature not covered by the Personal Services-Restricted use class. Typical uses include beauty salons (including permanent facial make-up); nail salons; aromatherapy; barbershops; tattoo parlors; diet centers; dry cleaners; laundromats; massage or massage establishments; and art, music and photograp...
Tobacco Retail License
Anaheim requires every tobacco and e-cigarette retailer to hold a City-issued tobacco retail permit from the Planning Director before selling any product, and bars new retailers within 1,000 feet of a school, park, library or mental health facility, or within 500 feet of an existing tobacco retailer. Retailers must close between midnight and 6 a.m. and cannot use self-service displays.
Anaheim Tobacco and Vape Retailer Permit Rules
Significant RestrictionsAnaheim, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 18.16.090.020, .0308, .0309 (Tobacco Retail Permit Required; Location Restrictions)
.020 Tobacco Retail Permit Required. It shall be unlawful for any Tobacco Retailer to engage in Tobacco Retailing in the City without first obtaining and maintaining a valid tobacco retail permit from the Planning Director for each location at which Tobacco Retailing is to occur. Engaging in Tobacco Retailing without a valid tobacco retail permit constitutes a public nuisance. ... .0308 Any...
Secondhand Dealers
Anaheim secondhand dealers, junk dealers, auto wreckers and recyclers pay a $250 annual license tax under Sec. 3.32.160.010, with each location needing its own recycler license. Chapter 4.64 layers on a police-reporting regime: every dealer must report acquisitions to the Chief of Police by noon the next day and hold reported property for 30 days before reselling it.
Anaheim Secondhand and Junk Dealer Licensing
Significant RestrictionsAnaheim, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 3.32.160.010 (Second Hand Dealers, Junk Dealers, Auto Wreckers and Recyclers)
.010 Junk Dealers — Auto Wreckers — Recyclers. Every person conducting, managing or carrying on the business of second hand dealer, junk dealer and collector, auto wreckers or recycler shall pay an annual tax of two hundred fifty dollars. For the purpose of this section an auto wrecker is defined to be and construed to mean and include any person who buys any motor vehicle for the purpo...
Pawnbrokers
Anaheim pawnbrokers pay a $300 annual license tax under Sec. 3.32.160.020 and must separately report every item pawned, purchased or taken in trade to the Chief of Police by noon the next day under Sec. 4.64.020. Reported property has to stay on the shelf for 30 days, or up to 90 days if police flag it as possibly stolen.
Anaheim Pawnbroker License and Reporting Rules
Significant RestrictionsAnaheim, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 3.32.160.020 (Pawnbrokers - Annual License Tax)
.020 Pawnbrokers. Every person conducting, managing or carrying on the business of pawnbroker shall pay an annual license tax of three hundred dollars. For the purpose of this section the term "pawnbroker" includes every person conducting, managing or carrying on the business of loaning money either for himself or for any other person, upon any personal property, personal security, or p...
Towing Companies
Anaheim requires a City permit before any company can tow illegally parked vehicles off private property. Chapter 4.75 sets a $500 application fee, mandates warning signs at every entrance, and lets the Chief of Police deny or revoke a permit for cause, with towing without one a misdemeanor.
Anaheim Private-Property Towing Permit
Significant RestrictionsAnaheim Municipal Code Sec. 4.75.020 (Permit Required)
It is unlawful for any person, association, firm, or corporation to engage in, conduct, or carry on, the business of towing or impounding illegally parked vehicles from a private property location within the City of Anaheim in the absence of a permit issued pursuant to the provisions hereinafter set forth.
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