Business Licensing & Operations in San Rafael, CA (2026)
6 verified business licensing & operations rules for San Rafael, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Massage Establishments
No massage establishment can open in San Rafael without a city-issued certified massage establishment certificate or an operator permit, and every practitioner working there must hold current California Massage Therapy Council certification. The chapter also fixes closing hours, 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., and lets the police-led permit authority suspend or revoke a permit for violations.
San Rafael Massage Establishment Permit
Significant RestrictionsSan Rafael Municipal Code §§ 10.90.030, 10.90.050(A), 10.90.090(A)(1)
It shall be unlawful for any person or persons to operate a massage establishment within the city without first obtaining a certified massage establishment certificate or an operator permit pursuant to the requirements of this chapter. ... It shall be unlawful for any individual to practice massage therapy for compensation within the city unless that individual is currently certified as a certi...
Tobacco Retail License
San Rafael restricts 'significant' tobacco retailers, stores devoting 20%+ of floor space to tobacco, to a conditional use permit in GC, C/O and FBWC districts, bars them from NC, O and R/O, and keeps them 1,000 feet from schools and other sensitive uses.
San Rafael Smoke Shop Zoning Rules
Significant RestrictionsSan Rafael Municipal Code § 14.05.020 (Table 14.05.020, 'Tobacco retailer, significant')
Shall not be located within 1,000 feet from schools (public and private elementary, junior high, and high schools), public parks, public libraries, arcades, youth/teen centers, community/recreation centers, licensed day care centers for children, shopping malls, and houses of worship with organized youth programs, as measured from the property lines of each parcel. Toy stores P P P C Varie...
Secondhand Dealers
San Rafael requires secondhand dealers to obtain a city license and log every item bought, pawned, or exchanged in a bound record book that police can inspect on demand.
San Rafael Secondhand Dealer License
Significant RestrictionsSan Rafael Municipal Code § 10.20.020
Every person dealing in secondhand goods, wares, merchandise or articles of any description, other than furniture and household goods, either as pawnbroker or secondhand dealer, shall keep or cause to be kept at the place of business a well bound book containing a record of each article pawned, purchased, exchanged, or otherwise taken into possession. The record shall be legibly entered at the ...
Pawnbrokers
San Rafael requires a city license before anyone opens a pawnshop or secondhand-goods business, and Chapter 10.20 of the municipal code layers on strict recordkeeping. Every pawned or purchased item must be logged, reported to police by 10 a.m. the next morning, and held ten days before resale, and shops may only open seven a.m. to seven p.m., closed Sundays.
San Rafael Pawnbroker and Secondhand Dealer License
Some RestrictionsSan Rafael Municipal Code §§ 10.20.010, 10.20.030, 10.20.080
It is unlawful for any person to engage in or conduct, manage or carry on, within the city of San Rafael the business of pawnbroker or secondhand dealer, without first applying for and receiving a proper license from the city of San Rafael. ... Every pawnbroker and secondhand dealer shall retain in his possession for a period of ten (10) days, all articles pawned, purchased, exchanged or otherw...
Auto Repair on Residential Property
San Rafael's home occupation rules flatly bar running an auto repair business, minor or major, out of a residence, even though many other home-based trades are allowed under the same ordinance.
San Rafael Bars Home Auto Repair Business
Heavy RestrictionsSan Rafael Municipal Code § 14.16.220(F)(b)
the uses specified below, and any use determined by the community development director to be similar in its operations or potential impacts, shall not be permitted as home occupations:a.Animal keeping for commercial purposes (such as commercial pet sitting, boarding or animal training);b.Auto repair, minor or major;c.Auto sales;d.Carpentry;e.Dance instruction;f.Dental or medical offices;g.Paint...
Towing Companies
Any company towing vehicles from public or private property in San Rafael, including reserved customer parking lots, needs a tow car operator's permit from the police chief before it can operate. The chief investigates the applicant's moral character and business practices, permits run one year, and a denial can be appealed to the city council.
San Rafael Tow Car Operator Permit
Significant RestrictionsSan Rafael Municipal Code §§ 10.84.010, 10.84.060, 10.84.090
No person, firm, partnership, or corporation shall engage in the business of towing motor vehicles from public and private property and/or specially reserved private customer parking areas serving business, commercial, professional and industrial establishments within the city requiring the use of public streets to complete the towing services without first having obtained a permit therefor. .....
Looking for Marin County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement San Rafael city rules.
Business Licensing & Operations in Marin County →