Business Licensing & Operations in Glendale, CA (2026)
7 verified business licensing & operations rules for Glendale, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Adult Entertainment
Glendale requires a city-issued adult business license before operating an adult motion picture arcade, adult peep show, or sexual encounter establishment. Applicants must submit fingerprints and photos for a police background investigation, and licenses can be denied, suspended, or revoked.
Glendale Adult Business License Requirement
Significant RestrictionsGlendale, CA, Municipal Code § 5.60.030
No person shall operate an adult business without first obtaining an adult business license from the city. Any person wishing to obtain an adult business license shall file an application according to requirements and procedures in Section 5.04.050.
Massage Establishments
Glendale requires every massage establishment owner or operator to hold a current massage establishment owner certificate from the community development department, on top of any CAMTC certification held by individual practitioners. The certificate is valid one year and must be renewed annually.
Glendale Massage Establishment Owner Certificate
Significant RestrictionsGlendale, CA, Municipal Code §§ 5.64.060(A), 5.64.070
A massage establishment owner or operator shall obtain and maintain a current, active, and valid massage establishment owner certificate. B. Regardless of whether a massage establishment owner or operator obtains a massage establishment owner certificate as subsection A of this section requires: 1. Sections 5.64.030 through 5.64.050, 5.64.070 through 5.64.090, and 5.64.150 through 5.64.21...
Tobacco Retail License
Every tobacco retailer in Glendale, including vape and e-cigarette sellers, needs a tobacco retailer license under Municipal Code Chapter 5.44 before selling any product. Sales must come from a fixed, licensed location: peddling tobacco on foot or from a vehicle is banned outright, and clerks must check photo ID for any buyer who looks under 27.
Glendale Tobacco Retailer License Requirements
Significant RestrictionsGlendale, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 5.44.030; Sec. 5.44.060(B); Sec. 5.44.070(A)
No person shall engage in or operate as a tobacco retailer without first obtaining and maintaining a valid tobacco retailer license from the city. ... The sale of tobacco products or paraphernalia from other than a fixed location, including, but not limited to, tobacco retailing by persons on foot or from vehicles is prohibited and no license shall be issued under this article to any such activ...
Secondhand Dealers
Secondhand dealers, junk dealers, and auto wreckers in Glendale need a license under Municipal Code Chapter 5.48. Junk and auto-wrecking storage yards must sit inside a code-compliant building or behind a fence at least six feet high, rising to eight feet near a public way, and these licensees must file transaction reports every Monday and Thursday before 10:00 a.m.
Glendale Secondhand & Junk Dealer License
Significant RestrictionsGlendale, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 5.48.010; Sec. 5.48.040
"Junk dealer" means any person having a fixed place of business in the city and engaging in, conducting, managing or carrying on the business, either wholesale or retail, of buying, selling or otherwise dealing in any old rags, sacks, bottles, cans, papers, metal, rubber or other articles commonly known as junk. "Secondhand dealer" means any person engaging in, conducting, managing or carrying ...
Pawnbrokers
Glendale requires anyone loaning money against pledged personal property, or buying goods with an agreement to resell them back, to hold a pawnbroker license under Municipal Code Chapter 5.48. Pledged or purchased items cannot be resold for 30 days, records must stay open to police at all times, and dealing with anyone under 18 is banned outright.
Glendale Pawnbroker License Requirements
Significant RestrictionsGlendale, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 5.48.010; Sec. 5.48.020; Sec. 5.48.060
"Pawnbroker" means any person engaging in, conducting, managing or carrying on a business of loaning money on the security of personal property pledged in his or her keeping, or of purchasing personal property, and agreeing at or before the time of purchase to resell the same to the vendor at a stipulated price. "Pawnshop" means any room, store or place in which the business of a pawnbroker is ...
Auto Repair on Residential Property
Glendale's home occupation permit law makes running an auto repair or mechanic business out of a residence a nonstarter. Section 30.45.030 requires the director of community development to find no hazardous process, no mechanical equipment beyond normal household use, and no outdoor storage before any home occupation permit can issue.
Glendale Bars Home-Based Auto Repair Shops
Heavy RestrictionsGlendale, CA, Municipal Code § 30.45.030(E), (H), (I) (Home Occupation Permits - Findings of Fact)
A home occupation permit shall be granted only if the director of community development makes the findings that the proposed home occupation complies with the following criteria: ... E. No outdoor storage of materials and/or supplies or other outdoor activity related to the home occupation shall be permitted. ... H. Except for uses permitted or conditionally permitted in designated historic res...
Towing Companies
Glendale bans any towing company from performing non-consensual vehicle towing unless it holds a city contract as an official police tow services provider. Glendale Municipal Code Sec. 10.55.040 closes the market to walk-in wrecker operators: every police-ordered tow, accident tow, or impound in the city must go through one of three district-based contractors selected by the police department.
Glendale Non-Consent Vehicle Towing Rules
Significant RestrictionsGlendale, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 10.55.030; Sec. 10.55.040
"Non-consensual vehicle towing" means towing service: 1. Ordered or requested by the city's police department, park rangers or other city employees who are duly authorized by law to remove, impound or store vehicles; or 2. Done without the vehicle owner's or operator's knowledge, consent or authorization, regardless of whether the vehicle is on public or private property... Sec. 10.55.040. Poli...
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