- Apply for or Renew a Business License
- Catalog of Enterprise Systems
- False Alarm Penalty
- Fee Schedule
- Fraud, Waste and Abuse Reporting
- Hotels & Short-Term Rentals
- Parking Violations & Parking Holidays
- Subordination of Your City Loan
- Utility Users' Tax (UUT) Refund Program
Apply for or Renew a Business License
All businesses engaging in transactions within Chico's city limits are required to have a current business license. This includes businesses from a home-based office. Business licenses are renewed annually. According to Section 3.32.040 of the Chico Municipal Code, a business is defined as including "...professions, trades, and occupations and all and every kind of calling whether of not carried on for profit." Please be advised that in addition to payment of the tax, you must also comply with all other provisions of the Chico Municipal Code, including but not limited to, building, parking, zoning and fire safety requirements. It is suggested that you check with the City of Chico's Building Department to verify compliance with the Building and Land Use Codes, located on the second floor of City Hall, 411 Main St.
If you operated a business that is food related, you must contact the Butte County Health Department at (530) 891-2727 for additional information.
What type of Business License Application Do I Need?
All Business License Applications are Adobe Acrobat PDF files, which can be printed and mailed to the finance office with the appropriate payment.
- If your type of business is listed below, it qualifies for a Flat Rate Tax.
| Amusement Concession or Ride |
Bowling Alley |
| Lock Boxes |
Card Room, Pool Hall |
| Animal Show, Carnival, Circus |
Room and Board House |
| Pickup/Delivery from Outside City |
Christmas Tree Vendor |
| Auto Parking Lots |
Mobile Home Park |
| Water Utility |
Fortune Teller, Palmist |
| Auto Race Track |
Hotel, Motel, Apartment |
| Retail/Wholesale Concrete, Aggregate, Etc. |
Hospital, Sanitarium, Rest or Nursing Home |
- If your business is listed below, you must contact the Finance Office to calculate your business license tax.
- Coin or Currency Operated Machines
- Solid Waste Collector
- If your business is not listed above, it qualifies for the Business License Tax.
- If your business is located in Dowtown Chico, you must also complete the Downtown Parking and Business Improvement Area application online.
Business License Reports
To run a report of Chico businesses with current business licenses,
click this link.
Catalog of Enterprise Systems
Senate Bill 272 was chaptered into law on October 11, 2015 amending the California Public Records Act. Section 6270.5 was added to the Government Code and mandates that all Local Agencies publish a Catalog of Enterprise Systems by July 1, 2016 and update it annually. The California Government Code 6270.5 defines Enterprise Systems to be:
Software application or a computer system that collects and analyzes information that the agency uses that is both of the following:
- A multi-departmental system that contains information collected about the public
- A "system of record" defined as a system that serves as an original source of data within an agency
An Enterprise System shall not include any of the following:
- Information technology security systems including firewalls and cyber security systems
- Physical access control systems, employee identification management systems, video monitoring and other physical control systems
- Infrastructure and mechanical control systems, include those that control or manage street lights, electrical, natural gas or water or sewer functions
- Systems related to 911 dispatch of emergency services
The law requires that the catalog disclose a list of the enterprise systems utilized by the agency, and, among other things, the current system vendor and product, unless, on the facts of the particular case, the public interest served by not disclosing that information clearly outweighs the public interest served by disclosure, in which case the local agency may instead provide a system name, brief title, or identifier of the system. It should be noted that nothing in this section of the law shall be construed to permit public access to records held by the agency to which access is otherwise restricted by statute or to alter the process for requesting public records, as set forth in this chapter of the law.
False Alarm Penalty
Firefighters and Paramedics respond to thousands of false alarm calls every year. These unnecessary responses result in an enormous burden in resources and expense; which in turn reduces emergency unit availability to respond to real emergencies.
Please view a list of available documents:
Fee Schedule
The City
Fee Schedule is a list of master fees for the fiscal year.
Fraud, Waste and Abuse Reporting
The purpose of the system is to offer City employees, residents, contractors, and any other party an avenue to report
(1) any City-related activity or conduct in which he/she suspects instances of fraud, waste, or abuse, and
(2) City-related violations of certain federal or state laws and regulations relating to fraud, waste and abuse as defined in California Government Code §53087.6(f)(2).
We investigate only cases that related to the City of Chico, CA activity. This may include vendors doing business with the City and organizations receiving City funds.
Any employee, contractor, or resident who discovers or suspects inappropriate activity can report in several ways. You can remains anonymous and do not need to provide your personal information.
We need sufficient information to properly investigate your complaint. The following information is needed to begin and continue processing a complaint/concern:
• The misconduct involves a City of Chico employee, a City contractor, or organization doing business with the City,
• The name of the individuals or organization,
• Specific information regarding the misconduct,
• Circumstances surrounding how the alleged misconduct occurred,
• Where or in what department the alleged misconduct occurred,
• When the misconduct occurred, and
• If applicable, what would you like done about your complaint/concern.
When reporting through Hotline Reporting or Online Reporting, you will be provided an incident number that will allow you to check on the status of the case. Additionally, if we need further information or documents, we will update the case records on the items or detail we need you to provide. Thus, we ask that you check in periodically.
Hotels & Short-Term Rentals
Hotel and short-term home sharing and/or vacation rental units arrangements require reporting of Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) to the City of Chico.
For the privilege of occupancy in any short term rental, each transient shall be subject to and shall pay a tax in the amount of ten percent (10%) of the rent charged by the operator. Operators are required to collect the tax and transmit it with a TOT return to the City monthly.
Please note, the City of Chico has contracted HdL Companies of Fresno, CA to administer TOT for all short-term rentals.
Transient Occupancy Tax Online Submittal
Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) returns for hotels and short-term rentals can now be submitted online, by phone, and by mail to simplify monthly reporting.
To download forms or submit TOT online, please click here.
If you need further assistance or help with filing your TOT return, you are welcome to contact us at
chico@hdlgov.com or by phone at (530)767-1017. All questions and applications are now processed online or over the phone.
Parking Violations & Parking Holidays
WARNING: Failure to pay a parking violation within 21 calendar days of issuance will result in a penalty increase of $46.00 and notification to the Department of Motor Vehicles to refuse registration of the vehicle until all penalties are paid.
Methods of Payment
1. Payments by Visa, MasterCard or Discover
By telephone: (800) 828-3551
Please have the following information ready:
- Citation number and/or license plate number
- Credit Card number, expiration date and billing address
- Upon approved credit card payment, our IVRS will provide you with a confirmation number. Please be prepared to document this confirmation number.
2. Payments by Mail:
Office of Parking Violations
City of Chico
P.O. Box 11113
San Jose, CA 95103-1113
Please include your citation and license plate number on your check or money order.
DO NOT SEND CASH THROUGH THE MAIL.
3. Payments in Person:
Payments may be made by cash, check or credit card at the City of Chico Finance Office, 411 Main Street, Chico CA, during business hours 8:30AM to 4:30PM, Monday through Thursday. Please bring with you the citation or parking violation reminder notice when making the payment.
Contesting a Parking Violation
You may contest a parking violation within 21 days of issuance by requesting an
Administrative Review in writing to the Office of Parking Violations -City of Chico at P.O. Box 11113, San Jose, CA, 95103-1113, by telephone 1-800-828-3551, or in person at 411 Main Street, Chico, CA. The request must include your reasons for requesting an Administrative Review and all applicable documentation relating to the violation including copies of permits, registration, Disabled Person’s Placard, and Disabled Person’s Placard identification. The issuing officer will review the letter, and you will be notified by mail of the result of your Administrative Review.
If you are not satisfied with the result of the Administrative Review, you may further contest the violation by requesting an Administrative Hearing. You will be required to pay the violation amount, and if the Hearing Officer reverses the violation, then you will be issued a refund. You may request an Administrative Hearing in writing to the Office of Parking Violations -City of Chico at P.O. Box 11113, San Jose, CA, 95103-1113, by telephone 1-800-828-3551, or in person at 411 Main Street, Chico, CA.
If you are not satisfied with the result of your Administrative Hearing, California Vehicle Code Section 40230(a) allows for the ability to file a Civil Appeal with Butte County Superior Court. The violation must be paid and the Civil Appeal filed within 30 calendar days of the mailing of the results of your Administrative Hearing. Upon filing a Civil Appeal, you will be required to pay a filing fee to the court. If you are found not liable during the Civil Appeal process, any amount paid will be refunded, including the filing fee.
Parking Meter Holidays
| January 1 (New Year's Day) |
Third Monday in January (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day)
|
| Third Monday in February (Presidents' Day) |
Last Monday in May (Memorial Day) |
| July 4 (Independence Day) |
First Monday in September (Labor Day) |
| November 11 (Veteran's Day) |
Thanksgiving Day |
| Day after Thanksgiving Day |
December 24 (Christmas Eve) |
| December 25 (Christmas Day) |
December 31 (New Year's Eve) |
Subordination of Your City Loan
The Housing Division services City and former Redevelopment Agency housing loans.
Please review the documents below.
Annual Homeowner Certifications
Refinancing and Need to Request Subordination of your City loan?
Paying Off Your Loan?
If you are paying off your City loan, you may request a payoff letter by sending your name and property address to
cityhousing@chicoca.gov.
For additional information, you may contact us at (530) 879-6300.
Utility Users' Tax (UUT) Refund Program
The City of Chico Finance Office accepted applications between May 1, 2025 and June 30, 2025 for the annual Utility Users Tax (UUT) Refund Program. The Refund Program offers low-income rate payers a refund on taxes paid for gas, electric, water and telecommunications services paid between May 1, 2024 and April 30, 2025. Income eligibility requirements for the program are determined by the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s low-income guidelines. Applicants are eligible if their combined annual income of the household in which the applicant lives for the 2024 Federal and State Personal Income Tax Year was less than the maximum annual income limits listed in the schedule below.
| Household Size |
Maximum Annual Income |
Maximum Refund |
| 1 |
$66,150
|
$212 |
| 2 |
$75,600 |
$242 |
| 3 |
$85,050 |
$272 |
| 4 |
$94,500 |
$302 |
| 5 |
$102,100 |
$327 |
| 6 |
$109,650 |
$351 |
| 7 |
$117,200 |
$375 |
| 8 |
$124,750 |
$399 |
If unable to print the
application from the link, front counter staff of the Finance Department can email it to applicants, or applicants may call (530) 879-7320 when at the front door to City Hall and an application will be taken out to them. Applications may also be returned to the City of Chico Finance Office at the address provided on the application via US mail. If applicants are not able to mail in the completed application (with all the backup documents) and need to return it in person, an appointment will be required or the application packet can be put in the Payment Drop Box located in the Municipal Building Parking Lot. The City will issue checks for all refunds. Please allow up to six weeks for processing.
For additional information, please contact Heather Childs-Alexis, Accounting Manager, (530) 879-7343.
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