Rohnert Park, CA Local Taxes & Fees: Business Tax Classification (2026)
Key Facts
- Classification A (retail)
- $50 first employee, $15 each additional, $5,000 cap
- Classification C (professional)
- Flat $200 per professional plus $15/employee
- Classification D (general contractor)
- $250/year, $100/year if receipts under $75,000
- Classification E (wholesale/manufacturing)
- Same schedule as Classification A
- Misdemeanor penalty
- Up to $500 fine or 6 months jail, § 5.04.270
- New business proration
- Quarterly for first year in every class
Summary
Rohnert Park sorts businesses into license-tax classes A through E, retail, services, professional, contractors and wholesale, each paying an annual per-employee fee under Chapter 5.08. Retail, service and wholesale businesses pay $50 for the first employee and $15 for each additional, capped at $5,000 a year.
Every business engaged in selling to the general public at retail in the goods, wares, merchandise or commodities, including restaurants and other food dispensers, unless otherwise provided for in this chapter and Chapters 5.04 and 5.12 shall pay an annual license tax based upon the average number of persons employed within the city during the previous calendar year at the following rates: ... One employee $50.00 Each additional employee $15.00 each Maximum $5,000.00
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 51 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
00. 020, uses the identical fee schedule and lists dozens of covered occupations by name, from barbershops and dance studios to locksmiths and travel agencies. 030, charges a flat $200 per professional, plus $15 for each nonprofessional employee, covering attorneys, architects, engineers, physicians, accountants and similar licensed occupations. 040, runs on a different scale: a general contractor pays $250 a year, $150 for a half year, or $50 for a single job, dropping to $100 a year for a "small contractor" with gross receipts under $75,000, verified annually with a federal tax return; subcontractors pay $150, $100, or $35 respectively. 050, reuses the Classification A per-employee schedule. New businesses in every classification are prorated for their first year on a quarterly basis. 230.
Violations & Fines
Operating without paying the required license tax, or misrepresenting a material fact to obtain the license, is a misdemeanor under Section 5.04.270, punishable by up to a $500 fine, up to six months in county jail, or both. Unpaid license taxes and penalties are also treated as a debt to the city under Section 5.04.240, collectible through a civil action, and all enforcement remedies are cumulative under Section 5.04.250.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is a Rohnert Park business license tax calculated?
Is there a discount for small contractors?
What happens if I operate without a business license in Rohnert Park?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Rohnert Park
California rules heatmap·Compare Rohnert Park to another location·View the California local taxes & fees overview
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Business Tax Classification in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Sonoma County handle business tax classification.