Santa Barbara County, California · Business and licensing

Check or apply for a business license in Santa Barbara County

Check local business license or business tax certificate requirements, the right authority and application options.

4 providers · 5 official links · 2 reviewed requirements · sources checked October 28, 2026

In Santa Barbara County, 3 city governments and 1 county department publish 5 official links for this service. Reviewed requirements cover documents (2). 1 provider publishes reviewed fee items on their guides.

These are the Santa Barbara County providers with a reviewed service link for this task. Other offices may also help, and a provider may serve only part of the county: check each service area. Fees and forms stay on each office’s guide, where their sources are cited.

City government

City of Carpinteria — Business licensing information

City of Carpinteria

Business license information — City of CarpinteriaOfficial instructions

The official source lists “Business License Info”. Follow the issuing provider's instructions for requirements and availability.

Service area: City of Carpinteria

Source & saved evidence

Carpinteria municipal government · Carpinteria — business licensing discovery (opens in a new tab)

Exact named official link (entrance only; linked contents not reviewed)

Business License Info

Agent source review: October 28, 2026 · Snapshot 22d3de8260d0bb02

Contacts & sources

City government

City of Goleta — Business licensing information

City of Goleta

Business license information — City of GoletaOfficial instructions

The official source lists “Business License Program”. Follow the issuing provider's instructions for requirements and availability.

Service area: City of Goleta

Source & saved evidence

Goleta municipal government · Goleta — business licensing discovery (opens in a new tab)

Exact named official link (entrance only; linked contents not reviewed)

Business License Program

Agent source review: October 28, 2026 · Snapshot ff39049d993be227

Contacts & sources

City government

City of Lompoc — Business licensing information

City of Lompoc

Business license information — City of LompocOfficial instructions

The official source lists “Business Tax Information”. Follow the issuing provider's instructions for requirements and availability.

Service area: City of Lompoc

Source & saved evidence

Lompoc municipal government · Lompoc — business licensing discovery (opens in a new tab)

Exact named official link (entrance only; linked contents not reviewed)

Business Tax Information

Agent source review: October 28, 2026 · Snapshot 1486a076633ed5e8

Contacts & sources

County government

Tax Collector

County business-license activities and unincorporated-area scopeOfficial instructions

The county Tax Collector describes licences for covered businesses in unincorporated areas, including general business, massage, taxis and vending machines. Confirm the activity and other approvals required.

Service area: Covered business activity in unincorporated Santa Barbara County; incorporated-city licensing remains separate.

Source & saved evidence

Santa Barbara County official website · Santa Barbara County — business licensing discovery (opens in a new tab)

Reviewed business licensing instructions

The Tax Collector's Office licenses businesses located in the unincorporated areas of Santa Barbara County.

Agent source review: October 16, 2026 · Snapshot afcf5513c2f79346

Apply in person for a county business licenseOfficial instructions

Submit in person. Staff assist with the application and collect a non-refundable application fee; the amount and category-specific requirements need confirmation.

Service area: County in-person licensing for the stated unincorporated-area programme, not city licensing.

Before you start · 2 requirements & conditions

Information & documents: The county page requires in-person submission; a property-tax payment website is not a business-license application.
Source & saved evidence
Santa Barbara County official website · Santa Barbara County — business licensing discovery (opens in a new tab)
Reviewed business licensing instructions
All Business License applications must be submitted in person.
Agent source review: October 16, 2026 · Snapshot afcf5513c2f79346
Information & documents: Complete any required other-agency approvals before the Tax Collector issues the county licence.
Source & saved evidence
Santa Barbara County official website · Santa Barbara County — business licensing discovery (opens in a new tab)
Reviewed business licensing instructions
After the application is complete, the applicant may be directed to other agencies, whose approval may be required. When all required approvals are completed, Tax Collector staff will issue the County Business License.
Agent source review: October 16, 2026 · Snapshot afcf5513c2f79346

Source & saved evidence

Santa Barbara County official website · Santa Barbara County — business licensing discovery (opens in a new tab)

Reviewed business licensing instructions

All Business License applications must be submitted in person.

Agent source review: October 16, 2026 · Snapshot afcf5513c2f79346

Phone: 805-568-2920

Contacts & sources · 1 fee published by this office

Related services in Santa Barbara County

Renew a business license

Check or apply for a business license in Santa Barbara County

City of Carpinteria — Business licensing information

City of Goleta — Business licensing information

City of Lompoc — Business licensing information

Tax Collector

Related services in Santa Barbara County

Check or apply for a business license in other counties