Business Licensing & Operations in Ontario, CA (2026)
3 verified business licensing & operations rules for Ontario, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Adult Entertainment
Ontario requires every adult business and adult business performer to register with the City Manager under § 3-1.801 before operating, submitting fingerprints, photographs, criminal history and ownership details, and § 3-1.802 bars anyone convicted of a specified sexual offense within the statutory look-back period from owning, managing or performing at one.
Ontario Adult Business Registration
Significant RestrictionsOntario Municipal Code § 3-1.801 (Adult Businesses; Purpose of registration)
The purpose of this subsection is to facilitate regulation of adult businesses and adult business performers pending resolution of issues regarding the prior-permitting of such establishments and their performers raised in Baby Tam & Co., Inc. v. City of Las Vegas, 154 F.3d 1097 (9th Cir. 1998)... (a) Registration of adult businesses. Any person, association, partnership or corporation desiri...
Secondhand Dealers
Ontario Municipal Code Sec. 5-6.01 lets the Chief of Police grant secondhand-dealer licenses under California's secondhand dealer law, Bus. & Prof. Code Sec. 21625 et seq. Section 5-6.02 requires applicants to pay the state-set fee for an initial license and a Chief-of-Police-set, Council-approved fee for renewals.
Secondhand Dealer Licensing in Ontario
Some RestrictionsOntario Municipal Code Sec. 5-6.01
Subject to the regulatory provisions of the laws of the State of California, including Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 21625 et seq., as they now exist and as they may be amended from time to time, the Chief of Police is authorized to grant such license to secondhand dealers and renewals thereto.
Towing Companies
Ontario requires any company towing vehicles for the Police Department without owner consent to hold both a City business license and a towing carrier permit issued by City Council resolution. Permits are non-exclusive, tied to a written towing services agreement, and carriers rotate on an on-call list the Chief of Police maintains.
Ontario Towing Carrier Permit Required
Significant RestrictionsOntario Municipal Code Sec. 4-19.11; Sec. 4-19.01(e)
No person shall engage in the business of providing towing services to the City or its Police Department without first obtaining a City business license, complying with the provisions of this chapter and entering into a towing services agreement with the City. ... "Non-consensual towing service" shall mean towing services provided to the City's Police Department in situations where vehicle owne...
Looking for San Bernardino County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Ontario city rules.
Business Licensing & Operations in San Bernardino County →