LA County Code Title 7 requires a county business license for trades operating in unincorporated areas, with classifications driving fees, inspections, and gross-receipts taxes. The Treasurer-Tax Collector and TTC Business License Unit administer the program.
Title 7 of the LA County Code lists more than 80 regulated business categories, from auctioneers to tow yards to massage establishments, each with classification-specific fees and standards. Most non-regulated commerce in unincorporated areas needs only a basic business license, while sensitive categories trigger LASD background checks and Department of Consumer and Business Affairs review. LA County does not impose a broad gross-receipts tax on most businesses, but specific categories pay flat or tiered fees set by Board ordinance. Cities such as Los Angeles run their own classification systems; a contractor working across jurisdictions may need multiple registrations layered on the county license.
Operating without the required Title 7 license exposes a business to misdemeanor charges, daily fines, equipment seizure for some categories, and a back-bill for unpaid fees plus interest under LA County Code Title 7.04.
See how Pasadena's business tax classification rules stack up against other locations.
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