Department of Finance — Central Collections business licenses
Find the local office for a business license or business tax certificate. Check the business activity and place covered by each service.[1]
Source checked October 16, 2026[1]www.marincounty.gov
Opens this office’s own website. CountyWiki does not process applications, take payments or provide personal records.
Contact details & office locations ↓Online services & information
These links were found on official source pages. Each service is handled by the office.
Check the county business-license category and the business location. Receipt-based taxes and special flat-fee categories differ; short-term-rental approvals are separate.
Service area: Business licensing for businesses engaging in business in unincorporated Marin County. [3]
Before you start
- Eligibility & access · Short-term rentals
- Most short-term-rental operators need the separate STR license before applying for Finance business-license and TOT registration. [19]
Official Finance/Central Collections referral for a new county business-license application.
Service area: County business-license accounts for unincorporated Marin County. [5]
Use the official county portal to renew an existing county business-license account.
Service area: County business-license accounts for unincorporated Marin County. [7]
Notify the county of changes to the existing business-license account.
Service area: County business-license accounts for unincorporated Marin County. [11]
Use the official county portal to request closure of the business-license account.
Service area: County business-license accounts for unincorporated Marin County. [13]
Use the official county business-license search and check the account and location covered.
Service area: Records of county business-license accounts for unincorporated Marin County. [15]
Fees
Fees are quoted only when a source document supports the amount and conditions.
| Service | Amount | Conditions & source |
|---|---|---|
| Business-license tax — rental accommodations | $15.00per dwelling unit per year | Posted annual business-license amount for the described hotel, motel, apartment, rooming-house, house-rental and vacation-rental categories. Separate STR/TOT requirements may apply.[20] |
These are individual fee items, not a quote for your total. Other charges or exemptions may apply; confirm the total with the office.
Forms & documents
Official forms and document pages for this office’s services.
Sources & last checked1 source page · 21 citations
Sources were checked by an AI-assisted research process. A checked website does not mean every service or fee on it has been reviewed.
- [1] Marin County — business licensing discovery (opens in a new tab)
Marin County official website · Reviewed business licensing instructions
Source reviewed October 16, 2026View supporting excerpt
Department of Finance Central Collections Business License Business License Every person engaging in business within the unincorporated area of the County must register for a business license and renew it annually.
- [2] Marin County — business licensing discovery (opens in a new tab)
Marin County official website · Reviewed business licensing instructions
Source reviewed October 16, 2026View supporting excerpt
Every person engaging in business within the unincorporated area of the County must register for a business license and renew it annually.
- [3] Marin County — business licensing discovery (opens in a new tab)
Marin County official website · Reviewed business licensing instructions
Source reviewed October 16, 2026View supporting excerpt
Every person engaging in business within the unincorporated area of the County must register for a business license and renew it annually.
- [4] Marin County — business licensing discovery (opens in a new tab)
Marin County official website · Reviewed business licensing instructions
Source reviewed October 16, 2026View supporting excerpt
Business License Application
- [5] Marin County — business licensing discovery (opens in a new tab)
Marin County official website · Reviewed business licensing instructions
Source reviewed October 16, 2026View supporting excerpt
Every person engaging in business within the unincorporated area of the County must register for a business license and renew it annually.
- [6] Marin County — business licensing discovery (opens in a new tab)
Marin County official website · Reviewed business licensing instructions
Source reviewed October 16, 2026View supporting excerpt
Renew Business License
- [7] Marin County — business licensing discovery (opens in a new tab)
Marin County official website · Reviewed business licensing instructions
Source reviewed October 16, 2026View supporting excerpt
Every person engaging in business within the unincorporated area of the County must register for a business license and renew it annually.
- [8] Marin County — business licensing discovery (opens in a new tab)
Marin County official website · Reviewed business licensing instructions
Source reviewed October 16, 2026View supporting excerpt
Business owners must keep accurate books and records and renew timely their business license by July 31st each year.
- [9] Marin County — business licensing discovery (opens in a new tab)
Marin County official website · Reviewed business licensing instructions
Source reviewed October 16, 2026View supporting excerpt
Annual Business License Tax is due and payable in advance of July 31st and is considered delinquent on August 1st. Late payments are subject to 10% penalty per month, not exceed 50% of the tax.
- [10] Marin County — business licensing discovery (opens in a new tab)
Marin County official website · Reviewed business licensing instructions
Source reviewed October 16, 2026View supporting excerpt
Update Business License Information
- [11] Marin County — business licensing discovery (opens in a new tab)
Marin County official website · Reviewed business licensing instructions
Source reviewed October 16, 2026View supporting excerpt
Every person engaging in business within the unincorporated area of the County must register for a business license and renew it annually.
- [12] Marin County — business licensing discovery (opens in a new tab)
Marin County official website · Reviewed business licensing instructions
Source reviewed October 16, 2026View supporting excerpt
Request to Close Business License
- [13] Marin County — business licensing discovery (opens in a new tab)
Marin County official website · Reviewed business licensing instructions
Source reviewed October 16, 2026View supporting excerpt
Every person engaging in business within the unincorporated area of the County must register for a business license and renew it annually.
- [14] Marin County — business licensing discovery (opens in a new tab)
Marin County official website · Reviewed business licensing instructions
Source reviewed October 16, 2026View supporting excerpt
Search Active Business Licenses
- [15] Marin County — business licensing discovery (opens in a new tab)
Marin County official website · Reviewed business licensing instructions
Source reviewed October 16, 2026View supporting excerpt
Every person engaging in business within the unincorporated area of the County must register for a business license and renew it annually.
- [16] Marin County — business licensing discovery (opens in a new tab)
Marin County official website · Reviewed business licensing instructions
Source reviewed October 16, 2026View supporting excerpt
Business Licenses 415-473-7045 [Phone]
- [17] Marin County — business licensing discovery (opens in a new tab)
Marin County official website · Reviewed business licensing instructions
Source reviewed October 16, 2026View supporting excerpt
3501 Civic Center Drive Room 202 San Rafael CA 94903
- [18] Marin County — business licensing discovery (opens in a new tab)
Marin County official website · Reviewed business licensing instructions
Source reviewed October 16, 2026View supporting excerpt
Mon - Fri: 9:00 am-4:30 pm
- [19] Marin County — business licensing discovery (opens in a new tab)
Marin County official website · Reviewed business licensing instructions
Source reviewed October 16, 2026View supporting excerpt
With few exceptions, STR operators must first obtain a STR License through the Community Development Agency, and then they can apply for a Business License and Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) Certificate through the Department of Finance.
- [20] Marin County — business licensing discovery (opens in a new tab)
Marin County official website · Reviewed business licensing instructions
Source reviewed October 16, 2026View supporting excerpt
For hotel, motel, apartment, rooming house, house rental, vacation rentals, the annual fee is $15.00 per dwelling unit.
- [21] Marin County — business licensing discovery (opens in a new tab)
Marin County official website · Reviewed business licensing instructions
Source reviewed October 16, 2026View supporting excerpt
Business License Tax Schedule