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Business Licensing & Operations in Berkeley, CA (2026)

3 verified business licensing & operations rules for Berkeley, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.

Verified from official government sources

Massage Establishments

Massage establishments and individual practitioners in Berkeley operate under a state-aligned permit framework that requires CAMTC certification, zoning clearance, and city business licensing before opening their doors to the public.

Berkeley Massage Establishment Permits

Some Restrictions

Tobacco Retail License

Berkeley requires every tobacco and vape retailer to hold an annual Tobacco Retailer License (TRL), enforces flavored-tobacco and menthol bans, sets minimum pack sizes, and conducts undercover decoy compliance checks.

Berkeley Tobacco Retailer License

Heavy Restrictions

Secondhand Dealers

Berkeley pawnbrokers and secondhand dealers must register with the California Department of Justice, hold a city business license, report transactions through the CDOJ system, and observe statewide hold periods on used merchandise.

Berkeley Secondhand and Pawn Dealer Rules

Some Restrictions

Looking for Alameda County county-wide rules?

County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Berkeley city rules.

Business Licensing & Operations in Alameda County