Home | Business News | Browse by Publication | S | San Diego Business Journal

Licenses and permits for businesses and industry in the City of San Diego.

Article Excerpt
The City of San Diego's Business Improvement Districts are assessment districts where business owners choose to be assessed a fee by the City to fund predetermined business-related activities and improvements that will benefit the businesses. In California, Business Improvement Districts date back to 1965, and today, there are an estimated 150 districts in the state. There are 18 Business Improvement Districts in the City of San Diego with two more proposed. Three are located in the downtown area: Gaslamp Quarter, Little Italy, and Downtown districts.

Business Improvement Districts revenues may be used for a vast array of activities, programs and improvements ranging from farmers' markets to business promotions to installing street lighting and removing graffiti. By pooling private resources, business owners in the districts collectively pay for activities that they could not afford on an individual basis. Further, since a Business Improvement District fee is a benefit assessment and not a tax, districts can consistently enact programs and activities without relying on scarce public funding. The districts are one of the most valuable and effective tools available to the small business community. For more information, call the City of San Diego's Office of Small Business at (619) 685-1390, or visit the City's Web site at www.sandiego.gov.

The City of San Diego's Business Expansion and Retention Program works directly with key businesses in target industries to provide assistance that results in the retention and expansion of jobs and investment in San Diego. Target industries are those which account for the greatest value-added employment growth in the region, and include the following business clusters: Telecommunications, Health Sciences and Services, Software, Electronics Manufacturing, Financial and Business Services, Defense and Aerospace, and Tourism and Entertainment.

The Business Expansion and Retention Program offers development permit assistance, regulatory assistance, problem solving, advocacy at the local, state and federal levels, regulatory reform, and general liaison and coordination. For information, call the City's Economic Development and Redevelopment Division at (619) 533-4233, or visit the City's Web site at www.sandiego.gov.

There are several key steps to starting a business in the City of San Diego. The steps may vary according to the type of business, but the following 10 steps will give you a general idea:

1. Contact the City of San Diego's Office of Small Business to obtain an information packet detailing resources available to new and existing businesses. Call (619) 685-1390 or visit the City's web site at www.sandiego.gov.

2. Create a business plan. The Service Corps of Retired Executives branch of the Small Business Administration can help you. Call (619) 557-7272.

3. Determine the legal structure of the business. You can contact your own accountant or attorney for assistance in this matter. For additional information, contact the office of the California secretary of state at (916) 657-5448.

4. Obtain a Fictitious Business Name from the Recorder in the County Clerk's Office. Call (619) 237-0502.

5. Select a site, determine zoning requirements and secure any special permits. Determine zoning requirements prior to signing a lease or contract by contacting the City of San Diego's Development Services Department at (619) 446-5000. You can usually receive same-day information on the status of your location if you...

View this article FREE - Now for a Limited Time, try Goliath Business News
Free for 3 Days!