Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk
Read the County Clerk’s filing options, requirements and fees. A business license is obtained separately from the relevant city or county licensing authority.
Before you start · 10 requirements & conditions
- Information & documents · Mail filing only
- Mail a completed statement and a notarized Affidavit of Identity to the Norwalk headquarters. District offices do not process mailed filings.
Source & saved evidence
Los Angeles County — business name filing · Los Angeles — FBN filing (opens in a new tab)
FBN requirement — Mail filing only
All mail requests must include a completed Fictitious Business Name Statement and a notarized Affidavit of Identity form.
Agent source review: October 15, 2026 · Snapshot
6b3fb1bb36220b46 - Deadlines · Initial filing — state deadline
- File within 40 days after starting business under the fictitious name.
Source & saved evidence
BPC §17910(a)
File a fictitious business name statement in accordance with this chapter not later than 40 days from the time the registrant commences to transact such business.
Agent source review: October 15, 2026 · Snapshot
0a2c0eed48da160e - Eligibility & access · Where to file — principal place of business
- File in the county of your principal California business location. If you have no California business location, file in Sacramento County.
Source & saved evidence
BPC §17915
A fictitious business name statement shall be filed with the clerk of the county in which the registrant has his or her principal place of business in this state or, if the registrant has no place of business in this state, with the Clerk of Sacramento County.
Agent source review: October 15, 2026 · Snapshot
72f48947268dbc68 - Deadlines · New or changed filing — newspaper publication
- Start publication within 45 days after filing. Use a qualifying newspaper in the filing county, or an adjoining county if no qualifying newspaper exists there.
Source & saved evidence
BPC §17917(a)
Within 45 days after a fictitious business name statement has been filed pursuant to this chapter, the registrant shall cause a statement in the form prescribed by subdivision (a) of Section 17913 to be published pursuant to Section 6064 of the Government Code in a newspaper of general circulation in the county where the fictitious business name statement was filed or, if there is no such newspaper in that county, in a newspaper of general circulation in an adjoining county.
Agent source review: October 15, 2026 · Snapshot
36dc0646686452ab - Information & documents · Newspaper notice — publication frequency
- Publish once a week for four successive weeks.
Source & saved evidence
California Legislature · California — FBN publication-frequency (opens in a new tab)
Government Code §6064
Publication of notice pursuant to this section shall be once a week for four successive weeks.
Agent source review: October 15, 2026 · Snapshot
3834dc233248c113 - Deadlines · After publication — file the affidavit
- File the publication affidavit with the County Clerk within 45 days after publication is completed. Check whether your newspaper files it for you.
Source & saved evidence
BPC §17917(d)
An affidavit showing the publication of the statement shall be filed with the county clerk where the fictitious business name statement was filed within 45 days after the completion of the publication.
Agent source review: October 15, 2026 · Snapshot
36dc0646686452ab - Deadlines · Expiration — earlier changes or abandonment can end the statement
- A statement generally lasts five years, but changes or abandonment can end it earlier.
Source & saved evidence
BPC §17920(a)
Unless the statement expires earlier under subdivision (b) or (c), a fictitious business name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the county clerk.
Agent source review: October 15, 2026 · Snapshot
c96f9d2f6a89b488 - Eligibility & access · No-change renewal — publication exception
- An unchanged renewal filed within 40 days after expiration does not need republication. Changes can require a new publication.
Source & saved evidence
BPC §17917(c)
If a refiling is required because the prior statement has expired, the refiling need not be published unless there has been a change in the information required in the expired statement, provided the refiling is filed within 40 days of the date the statement expired.
Agent source review: October 15, 2026 · Snapshot
36dc0646686452ab - Information & documents · California principal business location
- Provide the street address and county of the principal business location. A registrant’s separate mailing-address rule does not remove this requirement.
Source & saved evidence
BPC §17913(b)(2)
If the registrant has a place of business in this state, insert the street address, and county, of the registrant’s principal place of business in this state.
Agent source review: October 15, 2026 · Snapshot
b3d613c6d589c6c1 - Information & documents · Individual registrant — owner mailing address
- For an individual owner, provide the full name and business mailing address if different from the business address. Do not apply older blanket residence-address instructions.
Source & saved evidence
BPC §17913(b)(3)
If the registrant is an individual, insert the registrant’s full name and business mailing address if it differs from the business address.
Agent source review: October 15, 2026 · Snapshot
b3d613c6d589c6c1
Source & saved evidence
Fictitious business name — Fictitious Business Name
Fictitious Business Name
Agent source review: October 15, 2026 · Snapshot e8c62998c54af570
The county now supports a complete online FBN filing, including identity, signature and payment. A $10.75 service fee is additional to filing fees; the completed filing is emailed.
- Availability · Online filing only
- Complete identity verification, signature and payment online. The optional online route has an additional $10.75 service fee.
Source & saved evidence
Los Angeles County — business name filing · Los Angeles — FBN filing (opens in a new tab)
FBN requirement — Online filing only
Everything that is required can be completed online, including the proof of identity, signature, and payment.
Agent source review: October 15, 2026 · Snapshot
6b3fb1bb36220b46
Source & saved evidence
Los Angeles County — business name filing · Los Angeles — FBN filing (opens in a new tab)
Fictitious business name — GET STARTED
GET STARTED
Agent source review: October 15, 2026 · Snapshot 6b3fb1bb36220b46
Contacts & sources · 8 fees published by this office · 1 form