San Jose Contractor Business License
Everything contractors need to know about the San Jose business license — renewal dates, fees, and how to apply.
License Details
Renewal Due
December 31 (calendar year)
Fee
$153 base tax + $1.01 per $1,000 gross receipts over $150,000
Fee Structure
Business Tax based on gross receipts. Contractors classified as "all other businesses" rate schedule.
Notes
Business tax registration required. New businesses must register within 60 days of starting operations. Penalties for late filing.
Statewide Obligations
Beyond city requirements, all California contractors must meet these state obligations.
| Obligation | Agency | Cycle | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contractor License Bond | Contractors State License Board (CSLB) | continuous | $25,000 |
| Bond of Qualifying Individual | Contractors State License Board (CSLB) | continuous | $25,000 |
| LLC Employee/Worker Bond | Contractors State License Board (CSLB) | continuous | $100,000 |
| Seller's Permit | California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) | Quarterly (default); Monthly if >$100K annual tax; Annual if <$1K annual tax | No fee for permit; sales tax rate varies by location (7.25%-10.75%) |
| Personal Income Tax Return (Form 540) | Franchise Tax Board (FTB) | Annual | Progressive tax rate: 1%-13.3% on taxable income |
| LLC Annual Tax & Fee | Franchise Tax Board (FTB) | Annual | $800 minimum + LLC fee tiers: $0 (<$250K), $900 ($250K-$499K), $2,500 ($500K-$999K), $6,000 ($1M-$4.99M), $11,790 ($5M+) |
| S-Corporation Tax Return (Form 100S) | Franchise Tax Board (FTB) | Annual | $800 minimum franchise tax or 1.5% of net income, whichever is greater |
| C-Corporation Tax Return (Form 100) | Franchise Tax Board (FTB) | Annual | $800 minimum franchise tax or 8.84% of net income, whichever is greater |
| Estimated Tax Payments | Franchise Tax Board (FTB) | Quarterly | Based on estimated annual tax liability |
Never miss a San Jose renewal deadline.
PermitCal tracks your city business license alongside all your state compliance deadlines.
Browse by Classification
See compliance requirements specific to your CSLB license classification.
A — General Engineering Contractor
B — General Building Contractor
B-2 — Residential Remodeling Contractor
C — Specialty Contractor
C-2 — Insulation and Acoustical Contractor
C-4 — Boiler, Hot Water Heating and Steam Fitting Contractor
C-5 — Framing and Rough Carpentry Contractor
C-6 — Cabinet, Millwork and Finish Carpentry Contractor
C-7 — Low Voltage Systems Contractor
C-8 — Concrete Contractor
C-9 — Drywall Contractor
C-10 — Electrical Contractor
C-11 — Elevator Contractor
C-12 — Earthwork and Paving Contractors
C-13 — Fencing Contractor
C-15 — Flooring and Floor Covering Contractors
C-16 — Fire Protection Contractor
C-17 — Glazing Contractor
C-20 — Warm-Air Heating, Ventilating and Air-Conditioning Contractor
C-21 — Building Moving/Demolition Contractor
C-22 — Asbestos Abatement Contractor
C-23 — Ornamental Metal Contractor
C-27 — Landscaping Contractor
C-28 — Lock and Security Equipment Contractor
C-29 — Masonry Contractor
C-31 — Construction Zone Traffic Control Contractor
C-32 — Parking and Highway Improvement Contractor
C-33 — Painting and Decorating Contractor
C-34 — Pipeline Contractor
C-35 — Lathing and Plastering Contractor
C-36 — Plumbing Contractor
C-38 — Refrigeration Contractor
C-39 — Roofing Contractor
C-42 — Sanitation System Contractor
C-43 — Sheet Metal Contractor
C-45 — Sign Contractor
C-46 — Solar Contractor
C-47 — General Manufactured Housing Contractor
C-49 — Tree and Palm Contractor
C-50 — Reinforcing Steel Contractor
C-51 — Structural Steel Contractor
C-53 — Swimming Pool Contractor
C-54 — Ceramic and Mosaic Tile Contractor
C-55 — Water Conditioning Contractor
C-57 — Well Drilling Contractor
C-60 — Welding Contractor
C-61 — Limited Specialty
ASB — Asbestos Certification
HAZ — Hazardous Substance Removal Certification