Finance Department

Business License applications are available through the Finance Department. These licenses are issued on an annual basis. Every person or business engaging in business within the city limits of Lemoore is required to procure the proper Business License Certificate for their business.

Each License Certificate expires on December 31 of each year, and is renewed January 1 of the following year. Applicable taxes for the Business License Certificates are as follows, and are due upon application:

1) General Businesses located within the City of Lemoore pay annual taxes based on gross receipts.

2) General Businesses outside the City of Lemoore pay an annual fee of $30 per vehicle used within the City. No person shall be required to pay more than the total of $100 per year, reguadless of the number of vehicles used (includes tracking and gasoline/oil distributors).

3) Contractors pay an annual tax of $60 for the first $100,000 gross receipts, and an additional $1 for each additional $5000 made within the City.

4) Apartments within the City of Lemoore pay an annual tax of $5 per unit, in lieu of gross receipts tax.

5) Professions and Vocations pay an annual tax of $50 and $5 for each additional person assisting in said office as a secretary, stenographer, clerk, nurse, or other assistant.

6) Real Estate (no fixed place of business) pay an annual tax of $25.

7) Peddlers pay $25 per month per stand or $30 per month per wheeled vehicle. These business owners first have their applications referred to the Chief of Police for investigation and figerprinting.

8) Solicitors pay $30 per month. These business owners first have their applications referred to the Chief of Police for investigation and figerprinting.

9) Dry Cleaners, Laundries and Linen Supply pay $50 per year per vehicle

10) Traveling or Transient Photographers pay $100 per year.

11) Fireworks Stand and Christmas Tree Sale Lots: For taxes and questions, call 924-6710.

12) Dances pay $50 for the first quarter, and shall be renewed on a quarterly basis for a tax of $10. (Dance Permit’s are issued through the Police Department, in addition to the appropriate Business License)

13) Carnival and Amusement Rides pay $5 per device per day.

14) Fortunetellers pay $100 per quarter.

15) Card rooms pay $200 per year up to six tables, and $20 for each additional table thereafter.

16) Bingo games pay $10 per year.

17) Billposters pay $50 per quarter.

18) Apartment Houses: Operating or maintaining an appartment house shall pay an annual license tax of $5 per unit, excluding the owner-occupied unit.

If any of the above businesses are located within the downtown district, all said taxes are doubled.

If you are operating the business from your home in the city limits of Lemoore, you must first obtain a Home Occupation Permit. You may contact the Planning Department at (559) 924-6740.

Solicitors, Peddlers, Fortuneteller, Card Room, Carnival Rides, Firework Stand, and any other varied type of business that has never had a business within the City of Lemoore is required to pay a one time Background Check Fee of $80.00. The Police Department then performs a background check before the License is issued.

Requests for Business License Certificates applications are available at City Hall, located in the Finance Department, Licensing, 119 Fox Street, Lemoore, CA 93245, (559) 924-6710, fax (559) 924-9003. Approval for the completed application, along with payment, takes up to 5 working days to process. ORIGINAL, SIGNED BUSINESS LICENSE APPLICATIONS CANNOT BE FAXED BACK TO CITY HALL OR THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT. THEY MUST BE MAILED IN OR CARRIED IN AND MUST INCLUDE PAYMENT FOR THE TAX DUE.