City of Vista Business License

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Anyone conducting business in the City of Vista must have a business license. A new business owner will need to fill out a business license application. Please note that you need to provide the street address of the business.

Business license staff forwards the application to the City Development Services Center for zoning clearance and collects the fees. They will route the application for all approvals and issue a business license.

Apply for a new license, renew or close a license, or pay a balance due online at www.vistabl.com. The revenue from the Business license fees helps support public safety, street maintenance, and recreation services.

Business License Application

New business owners must complete a business license application.

Business License Application ONLINE
If your business address is your home address, a Home Occupation Permit is required.
Home Occupation Permit (Español)
Suppose your business is in a regulated industry under the NPDES Industrial General Permit. In that case, a Stormwater Supplemental Questionnaire is required.

Business License Renewal

City of Vista business licenses are renewed annually. Many City business licenses can be renewed online.

Business License Renewal ONLINE

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Determining Business License Tax

The business license tax is calculated as part of the business license application. New businesses will be asked to provide an estimate of annual gross receipts, which is the basis for the calculation. Depending on the type and location of the business, we may assess additional fees.

SB-1186 Requires the City to Collect an Additional $4 State Fee. Effective January 1, 2018, SB-1186 requires the City of Vista to collect an additional $4 state fee from any applicant for a local business license, similar instrument or permit, or renewal thereof. The purpose is to increase disability access and compliance with construction-related accessibility requirements and to develop educational resources for businesses to facilitate compliance with federal and state disability laws.

AB-3002 Disability Access Requirements & Resources: Notice to Applicants for Business Licenses and Commercial Building Permits: Notice issued 12-28-18

Stormwater Compliance

The State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) passed SB205 on October 2, 2019. It required all businesses regulated by the General Industrial NPDES Permit to provide the City with the primary SIC Code of the company and the WDID, NEC, or NONA number as proof of coverage when applying for a City business tax certificate or a business tax certificate renewal. To read the entire bill, click here.

To determine if your business is subject to the General Industrial NPDES Permit, please review the Frequently Asked Questions, which provides a list of the Standard Industrial Codes that the SWRCB uses to identify facilities subject to the General Industrial NPDES Permit.

If your business is in a regulated industry with Stormwater Discharge requirements under the NPDES Industrial General Permit, please complete the Stormwater Supplemental Questionnaire and submit it with your business license application or renewal.

Short-Term Rentals

On May 28, 2024 the Vista City Council approved a Code Amendment to permit and regulate short-term rentals. Effective July 1, 2024, the amendment creates a permitting process for short-term rental operations to ensure compatibility with, and to safeguard the peace, safety and general welfare of, existing residential neighborhoods.

Short-term rentals are dwelling units that are approved for development under separate provisions of the Vista Development Code, and transient occupancy is currently subject to the payment of Transient Occupancy Taxes (TOT) under Chapter 3.24 of the Vista Municipal Code.

Please visit our Short-Term Rental Page for more information.