Lincoln, CA Home Business: Home Occupation Permits (2026)

Per the County's Application for Business License or Business Permit (Treasurer-Tax Collector, rev. 5/2024), anyone operating a business at a residential, commercial or mobile location in the unincorporated areas of Placer County must apply for a business license, as required by Placer County Code, Chapter 5. The non-refundable fee for a home-based license is $111 (commercial is $131; permit $131-tier listed as $111; veteran/non-profit reduced fees apply). A home-based applicant must submit the Home Occupation Business License Questionnaire, which references County Code Section 17.56.120 and is reviewed by multiple departments (Planning, Building, Engineering & Surveying, Environmental Health, and the Sheriff as applicable). Issuance can be expected after all required clearances are completed; the permanent license is typically issued about 30 days after submittal and must be posted conspicuously where business is transacted. Licenses are non-transferable, effective the month the business starts, and renewable one year from that month; delinquent accounts face penalties. Applications can be submitted and paid online at placer.ca.gov/tax. If conducting business under a fictitious name, a Fictitious Business Name Statement from the County Recorder is also required.