Customer Services

Business License Information

The Fontana Municipal Code requires all businesses operating (not necessarily located) within the City to be properly licensed as well as in accordance with the standards for Planning (zoning), Building and Safety, and Public Health.

Important Information: Business licenses tied to a home address are not accepted online.

Fees

The following fees/taxes must be paid at the time the application is submitted:

• Initial Application Fee $35 ($15 renewal fee annually thereafter)
• Annual Business Tax (based on estimated annual gross receipts, with some exceptions)

The above fees apply to the majority of business types located in Fontana. However, there are certain types of businesses (i.e., used car dealers, restaurants, liquor stores) that require supplementary permits and the submission of additional documents, information and/or applications.

Application and Approval Process

1. All completed Business License / Tax Certificate applications are submitted to the Business Services Division along with the appropriate fees and/or taxes. Click here to apply for a Business License.
2. Upon review, the application is forwarded to the following departments for review:
   • Planning Division for zoning compliance
   • Building and Safety Division or an on-site inspection of the building and determination of conformance with the building regulations of the City
   • Public Health
   • Police Department (only applicable for certain types of business)
3. If further action is required by any of the above departments, you will need to immediately respond to any and all such matters identified by the above-named departments.
4. Upon receipt of the Building Division approval, the application is then forwarded to the Business License Division for final processing.

The process outlined above applies to most businesses physically located in the City. There are, however, certain types of businesses that may require additional inspections and/or investigation.

Depending upon the type of business that is to be conducted and assuming complete compliance with all codes, the entire business license approval process should be completed within two to three weeks.

Renew a Business License Online

NEW!!!! To renew a Business License, Pay or Search a Business, please click here. (Must have renewal notice to renew for access or create an account profile).

Important Information:   Business licenses tied to a home address are not accepted online.

Forms and Publications

Contact Us

If there are any questions regarding this process, please email or call (909) 350-7675.

Business Listing

The City of Fontana is a business-friendly community. Information acquired through this business license search feature is intended as a public service and contains public information only. The City does not endorse or vouch for the accuracy of the information contained in this database as the information is "self-reported" by individual businesses.

Locate a business by:

• Address - Find a business by looking up all or part of its address.
• Name - Find a business by looking up all or part of its name.
• Type - Find a business by the type of work it does.

Contact Us

If you have any questions on Business Licenses, please email or call (909) 350-7675.

Passport Services

The City of Fontana’s passport services are no longer provided. 

For passport information, please contact the National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778 / 1-888-874-7793 (TDD/TTY) or visit: 

• U.S Department of State Travel website
• National Passport Information Center

As of June 9, 2020, the following passport acceptance facilities are open. For information on availability, please contact each office.

Yard Sales

City of Fontana Ordinance 1653 provides residents with the ability to hold yard and garage sales up to four times per year on the first full weekends (Friday through Sunday) in February, May, August and November.

Yard Sale Permits

Yard Sale Permits are no longer required as long as the yard sales and garage sales are on the specified dates:

• February 5, 6, and 7, 2021
• May 7, 8, and 9, 2021
• August 6, 7, and 8, 2021
• November 5, 6, and 7, 2021
• Due to Covid-19 we ask that you wear a mask or face covering and maintain social distance.

Holding a yard sale on any day other than the above dates is an infraction and subject to graduated penalties with each successive violation as stipulated in the Fontana Municipal Code, Ordinance 1653.

Click to view the yard sale permits in Spanish.

Click to apply for Emergency Yard Sale Permit.

Contact Us

For additional information, contact the City of Fontana at (909) 350-7679

Important contact numbers and links

Contact Us

If you have any questions, please call (909) 350-7679.

To renew a business license and/or to pay please click here.