The Town of Fairfax requires all businesses operating within town limits—whether home-based, commercial, mobile, or nonprofit—to obtain a valid business license each year.

Important Update: Fairfax Is Moving to a New Digital Business License System

The Town is retiring a 25+ year-old software system and transitioning to a modern online form that will allow business owners to apply, renew, and pay for business licenses entirely online.

As part of this transition:

• Paper renewal packets will no longer be mailed.
• All renewals will be completed online beginning January 1, 2026.
• Businesses will receive email notifications with instructions on how to renew their license registrations online and also in the mail.
• The Town is conducting a compliance audit to identify businesses operating without a current license or under reported license. If you receive a notice and believe you received it in error, please contact us.

This upgrade will improve accuracy, shorten processing times, and make renewals easier for everyone.

You need a Fairfax business license if you:

• Operate a business location in town
• Conduct business within Fairfax limits even if located elsewhere
• Provide professional or contract services in town, including home rentals and real estate brokers
• Run a home-based business
• Operate as a sole proprietor, partnership, LLC, corporation, or nonprofit organization

Tobacco Retailers

If your business sells tobacco products, you'll need a Tobacco Retailer License in addition to your Business License.

Online Renewals Begin January 1, 2026

All active businesses will receive mailed and/or emailed instructions with:

• A link to the renewal application
• The steps to pay fees and update business information

Please make sure the Town has your current email address.

To update your email and ensure you receive the notifications, contact: businesslicense@townoffairfaxca.gov.

To help ensure our records are up to date and that all local business receive the same support and services they are entitled to, the Town has partnered with a professional firm, Revenue Recovery Group, for a routine review of standard compliance business activity in Fairfax.

This review will help us identify businesses that may not currently have an active license on file.

If we discover that your business may need a license, you will receive a notice with information on how to get into compliance.

Selected businesses may be contacted by RRG directly for documentation. Additional details are provided in the attached notification letter.

We understand that many businesses have struggled in recent years, and some may have missed renewals unintentionally. To support our business community during this transition to a new digital system, the Town is offering a limited amnesty period for years prior to 2026:

• Businesses that complete their license renewal and bring all missing years during the amnesty window will not be charged past-due penalties.
• Our staff is available to help you navigate the process with ease and flexibility.
• If you believe you received a notice in error, please contact us — we are happy to review your record.
• If paid by February 28, 2026, all prior-year late penalties will be waived.

After that date, standard penalties will resume.

Our goal is to make this process fair, accurate, and supportive while easing the Town into a new, more efficient system for everyone.

Town of Fairfax – Business Licensing
businesslicense@townoffairfaxca.gov
(415) 453-1584