Santa Clara County imposes a business license tax on businesses operating in unincorporated areas. Each SCC city operates an independent business tax with varying rate structures; San Jose's Business Tax Ordinance is largest, generating millions annually.
Santa Clara County's business license tax under County Ordinance Code Division B11 applies to all businesses operating in unincorporated areas, with annual fees scaling by gross receipts and number of employees. Most commercial activity occurs inside cities, each with its own structure. San Jose's Business Tax Ordinance (Measure G, 2016 update) charges base $204 plus per-employee tiers up to $150,000 per year for largest firms. Sunnyvale uses gross-receipts brackets from $48 minimum to several thousand. Mountain View, Cupertino, and Palo Alto follow similar gross-receipts or per-employee structures. Cities annually publish rate tables, and businesses must register before commencing operations or face back-tax penalties plus interest.
Operating without a business license triggers 25% per-month penalty on unpaid tax, capped at 100%. Willful evasion is a misdemeanor under California Business and Professions Code §16240, with fines up to $1,000 and six months jail.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Mountain View, CA
Mountain View prohibits disturbing noise between 10pm and 7am weekdays and 10pm to 8am weekends, with enforcement by police and code enforcement officers.
Mountain View, CA
Amplified music from speakers, DJs, and live bands requires compliance with decibel limits and quiet hours; Shoreline Amphitheatre operates under a separate ...
Mountain View, CA
Industrial and commercial properties in Mountain View must comply with stationary noise source limits measured at property lines, with conditions enforced th...
Mountain View, CA
Mountain View Chapter 21 sets specific decibel thresholds varying by zoning district and time of day, measured at property lines with standardized equipment.
Mountain View, CA
Mountain View requires EV charging infrastructure in new construction under CALGreen Tier 2. Residential EV installations follow expedited permitting per AB ...
Mountain View, CA
RVs, trailers, and boats in Mountain View cannot park on public streets over 72 hours and face Large Vehicle Ordinance limits. Residential storage must be on...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Santa Clara County.
See how Mountain View's business tax classification rules stack up against other locations.
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