//Citrus Heights, California

How to start a business in Citrus Heights.

Citrus Heights is a suburban retail hub in Sacramento County, anchored by the Sunrise MarketPlace district and the long-planned Sunrise Mall redevelopment, with a deep base of small shops and service businesses. Here is the practical sequence to register, license, and open, with the official links and where to get free help.

Starting a business in Citrus Heights? The official steps and source links are below.

Already operating or launching with budget in place? You can also

Citrus Heights incorporated in 1997, and it has spent the years since building its own identity out of what was once unincorporated Sacramento County. The Sunrise MarketPlace district, roughly ten blocks along Sunrise Boulevard and Greenback Lane, carries hundreds of businesses and gives the city a genuine commercial core. The aging Sunrise Mall sits at the center of the biggest opportunity in town, with the Sunrise Tomorrow plan aiming to turn that acreage into a mixed-use district over the coming years. Around all of it is a steady residential base that keeps everyday businesses busy.

That means your customer might be a MarketPlace shopper, a neighbor who has lived off Greenback for decades, or a family new to a redeveloping corner of the city, and each finds you differently. Getting open cleanly, with the right General Business License, permits, and zoning sign-off, is the first step. Getting found afterward is the second. This guide covers the first in detail, then points you to the second at the end.

//The sequence

How to start a business in Citrus Heights, step by step.

Citrus Heights runs business licensing through its own Business License Division, while the county and state handle the pieces around it. Here is the full order so nothing surprises you late.

1
Register the business and the name
Form an LLC or corporation with the California Secretary of State through bizfile Online, or stay a sole proprietor. If you use a name that is not your legal name, file a fictitious business name (DBA) statement with the Sacramento County Department of Finance, Business License Unit, within 40 days of starting business, in person or by mail. The county says to start publishing within 30 days of filing, once a week for four consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation; state law allows 45, so starting within 30 satisfies both.
CA Secretary of State: bizfile Online Sacramento County Department of Finance: Fictitious Business Names
2
Get your free EIN and any seller's permit
The IRS says you generally need an EIN to hire employees or to operate a partnership or corporation. It issues the number online, immediately if approved, and never charges for it. If you sell or lease goods that would ordinarily be subject to sales tax, you also need a seller's permit from the CDTFA, which does not charge for it but may ask for a security deposit.
IRS: Get an EIN CDTFA: Seller's permit
3
Get your Citrus Heights General Business License
General Business Licenses are required for any business performing business activity within Citrus Heights. State law exempts a few: financial institutions (but not check cashing), long-term residential rentals and care homes, family day care, churches and other public assembly buildings, public libraries, and agriculture. Apply for, renew and print your license online through the city's portal; follow-up questions come by email. Business License Division: 6360 Fountain Square Drive, (916) 727-4907.
City of Citrus Heights: General Business License
4
Know the fees and whether you need a Special license
New license fees, including the $4 state fee and a 4% technology fee: General $108, Special $257.76, and General and Special together $377.36. Renewals are $84.08, $190.16 and $270.24, and the late fee is $25. Contractors working in the city need a General Business License, and a contractor without a valid state contractor's license also needs a Special Business License.
City of Citrus Heights: Business License Fees City of Citrus Heights: Business License FAQs
5
Clear zoning and pull any industry permits
Confirm your use is allowed at the address with the city before you sign a lease. If you sell or serve food: Sacramento County Environmental Management permits and inspects every retail food facility in the county, cities included, and plans for a new facility, a remodel or a change in the type of operation must be submitted before construction begins: Plan Review, (916) 874-6010. The first year's permit fee is billed after you are permitted. For other permits, GO-Biz offers permitting and regulatory help for any size company.
Sacramento County EMD: Retail Food Protection Program Sacramento County EMD: Plan Review FAQs GO-Biz: Permit & Regulatory Assistance
6
Check the $800 California tax rules for your entity
Every California LLC owes the $800 annual tax, even in a year it does no business, until it is cancelled. Corporations owe an $800 minimum franchise tax, but newly incorporated or qualified corporations do not pay it in their first taxable year.
Franchise Tax Board: LLC $800 annual tax Franchise Tax Board: Corporation minimum tax
7
Use the free help that already exists
The Norcal SBDC network offers expert, no-fee advising for new startups and established businesses; its Sacramento Valley SBDC is at 1792 Tribute Rd #270, Sacramento, (916) 655-2100. Use it before you pay a consultant.
Norcal SBDC: Sacramento Valley SBDC (free advising)

//Free Citrus Heights checklist

Take the steps with you.

Get the Citrus Heights business checklist with the city, county, state and federal source links in one place, plus the licensing offices of five Sacramento County cities. We keep the source page dated so you can see when it was last checked.

//Common questions

Things we get asked first.

Do I need a business license in Citrus Heights?

Yes. General Business Licenses are required for any business performing business activity within the city. State law exempts financial institutions (but not check cashing), long-term residential rentals and care homes, family day care, churches and similar halls, public libraries, and agriculture.

Source: City of Citrus Heights, General Business License

How much does a Citrus Heights business license cost?

A new General license is $108 and renews at $84.08, including the $4 state fee and a 4% technology fee. A Special license is $257.76 new and $190.16 to renew, and a business needing both pays $377.36, then $270.24. The late fee is $25.

Source: City of Citrus Heights, Fees

Do contractors need a Citrus Heights business license?

Yes. If you are doing work in Citrus Heights, you need a General Business License, and if you do not have a valid state contractor's license, you also need a Special Business License.

Source: City of Citrus Heights, Business License FAQs

How do I apply for a Citrus Heights license?

Online, through the city's business license portal, where you can also renew and print your license. The Business License Division sends follow-up questions by email, and its lobby at 6360 Fountain Square Drive is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays.

Source: City of Citrus Heights, General Business License

How do I open a restaurant in Citrus Heights?

Beyond the Citrus Heights General Business License, every retail food facility needs a health permit from Sacramento County Environmental Management, which covers all the cities. Submit plans before any construction, remodel or change in the type of operation (Plan Review: (916) 874-6010), and schedule the final inspection at least two days ahead once all equipment works: (916) 875-8440. After opening you post the green, yellow or red placard from your latest inspection.

Sources: Sacramento County EMD, Plan Review FAQs and Retail Food Protection Program

How do I register a business name in Sacramento County?

If you use a name that is not your legal name, file a fictitious business name (DBA) statement with the Sacramento County Department of Finance, Business License Unit, within 40 days of starting business, in person or by mail. The county says to start publishing within 30 days of filing, once a week for four consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation; state law allows 45, so starting within 30 satisfies both.

Source: Sacramento County Department of Finance, Fictitious Business Name FAQs

//Already operating?

The marketing question starts after the filing question.

If the business is already open, or the launch is funded, tell our founders what you want to change. We will look at the business before recommending SEO, paid media, the website or anything else.

For operating businesses and funded launches with budget available to act on the plan.

//Bookmark these

Official Citrus Heights, Sacramento County, and California resources.

Every link here goes straight to a government or nonprofit source. These are the agencies that actually issue your registrations and permits, so go to them directly rather than a paid middleman.

City of Citrus Heights: General Business License
Required for any business activity in the city, with a few exemptions set by state law. Business License Division: (916) 727-4907.
City of Citrus Heights: Business License Fees
A new General license is $108, and $84.08 to renew, including the $4 state fee and a 4% technology fee.
City of Citrus Heights: Business License FAQs
Contractors working in the city need a General license, and a Special license without a state contractor's license.
Sacramento County: Business Licensing
The county licenses businesses in the unincorporated area, outside Sacramento, Elk Grove, Citrus Heights, Folsom, Rancho Cordova, Galt and Isleton. (916) 874-6644.
Sacramento County: Business Licensing FAQs
County license fees ($262.60 for three years), special licenses, zoning checks and home occupation standards.
Sacramento County Department of Finance: Fictitious Business Names
Filed with the Business License Unit, in person or by mail. The county says to start publishing within 30 days. (916) 874-6644.
Sacramento County EMD: Retail Food Protection Program
Permits and inspects every retail food facility in the county, cities included, and posts green, yellow or red placards.
Sacramento County EMD: Plan Review FAQs
Plans before any new construction, remodel or change in the type of operation. Plan Review: (916) 874-6010.
Sacramento County Assessor: Business Personal Property
File if your business property cost $100,000 or more, or the Assessor asks. (916) 875-0730.
Norcal SBDC: Sacramento Valley SBDC (free advising)
No-fee advising for startups and established businesses. 1792 Tribute Rd #270, Sacramento, (916) 655-2100.
CA Secretary of State: bizfile Online
Where LLCs and corporations file with the California Secretary of State.
IRS: Get an EIN
Your federal tax ID. Apply online and, if approved, the number is issued immediately. The IRS never charges a fee for an EIN.
CDTFA: Seller's permit
Required if you sell or lease goods that would ordinarily be subject to sales tax. The CDTFA does not charge for it, though it may ask for a security deposit.
Franchise Tax Board: LLC $800 annual tax
Every LLC doing business or organized in California owes the $800 annual tax, even in a year it does no business, until the LLC is cancelled.
Franchise Tax Board: Corporation minimum tax
Corporations owe an $800 minimum franchise tax, but newly incorporated or qualified corporations do not pay it in their first taxable year.
GO-Biz: Permit & Regulatory Assistance
The Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development says it will assist any size company with permitting and regulatory questions.