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CITY BUSINESS ASSISTANCE
The City of Lake Forest welcomes your interest in operating a business in our community. From the sole proprietor to the major corporation, the success of our local business community is a top priority. Our Business Assistance program includes free seminars and workshops, one-on-one business counseling, information packets, and referrals to other resources and agencies.
We are committed to ensuring that the business community is well informed on Redevelopment and Economic Development activities within the City. The City's Redevelopment and Economic Development staff is available to assist you with any business related question or issue. We also encourage you to sign up to receive the City's free email newsletter. You will be able to customize your e-newsletter based upon the types of information you wish to receive from the City. You can also use the City's popular 24-hour Online Request System designed for members of the community to submit requests for service, report problems, and receive answers to questions regarding the City. This confidential and efficient system includes an "Instant Answers" feature that provides answers to our most frequently asked questions
Business Information:
Contact City staff at (949) 461-3477 or (949) 461-3567 or email economicdevelopment@ci.lake-forest.ca.us for more information about programs and resources available to Lake Forest businesses that include:
The City maintains a database of businesses (excluding home occupations) in the community. This database is available to Lake Forest businesses at no charge, to locate suppliers and customers in the community.
If you're interested in networking to increase business, we can refer you to the Lake Forest Chamber of Commerce www.socchambers.com and other groups that can help you make connections in the community.
If you need to expand or move your business, City staff can provide information on available buildings, current lease or purchase rates, and building and planning requirements.
The City can provide information and referals for technical assistance, tax credits for hiring, employee training grants, community development loans, Industrial Development Bonds and SBA 504 real estate loans.
Information packets describing the community of Lake Forest and materials such as our restaurant guide, City map, "How to Start a Business in Lake Forest" brochure, IRS and State Board of Equalization brochures are available. Please specify if you are moving an existing business to Lake Forest or starting a new business.
City demographic data is updated every two years and is available at no cost to Lake Forest businesses. Also, businesses needing consumer demographic information can request data on the areas surrounding our major retail zones.
Click here to view the City's 2005 Economic Profile
Click here to view the 2000 Census Information
Ownership information on sole proprietorships and partnerships may be obtained by contacting the County of Orange Clerk-Recorder's Office at (714) 834-3005 or www.oc.ca.gov/recorder. For information on corporations and limited liability partnerships, visit the California Secretary of State's website at www.ss.ca.gov. The City does not have official business ownership information as we do not require a business license or require a business operating within Lake Forest to register with the City.
Seminars, Workshops & Roundtables:
Over 1,500 business people have attended business events offered by the City on topics such as marketing, tax issues, business planning, and starting a new business. These events are held quarterly and most are offered free to Lake Forest businesses and residents. To get information on upcoming events, check the "Upcoming Events" section of this website or subscribe to the City's e-newsletter to receive email notifications.
Professional Business Consultations:
Lake Forest business owners and residents interested in starting businesses can obtain individual consultations from experts at no charge. Consultants from the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) have helped numerous clients start or grow their businesses in Lake Forest. To schedule an appointment with a SCORE counselor in Lake Forest call (714) 550-7369.
Crime Prevention Program:
The Orange County Sheriff's Department provides police services for the City of Lake Forest. Their Community Policing and Crime Prevention programs can help you develop a comprehensive approach to safety for your business as well as the entire business community. Services provided by the Crime Prevention Unit include security surveys, employee safety meetings, personal safety programs for employees, and training in robbery procedures. For more information on the Business Watch Crime Prevention Program, please call (949) 461-3546.
PROFESSIONAL BUSINESS CONSULTATIONS
The City Of Lake Forest has partnered with the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) so that Lake Forest business owners and residents interested in starting businesses can obtain individual consultations from experts at no charge. Consultants from SCORE have helped numerous clients start or grow their businesses in Lake Forest. Counseling sessions are held at Lake Forest City Hall. To schedule an appointment with a SCORE counselor in Lake Forest call (714) 550-7369. For more detailed information and workshop/class schedules, access their website at www.score114.org.
CITY BUSINESS REGULATIONS AND LICENSES
Business License/Registration:
The City of Lake Forest does not require or issue business licenses. Instead, we ask businesses to complete a voluntary, no cost Business Registration Form that assists the City in maintaining vital records, emergency contact information and a business mailing list for future announcements of free business seminars and workshops. In lieu of a business license, most lenders, clients or other third parties will accept a copy of the City's letter explaining that business licenses are not issued in our community.
Click here to obtain the City's Business Registration Form
Click here to obtain the City's Letter verifying no business license is required
Contractors:
Contractors performing work in the City are not required to register their business with us and as stated above, no business license is required. Contractors will need to obtain the appropriate permits from the City's Planning, Building and Public Works Divisions for their project.
Zoning and Special Permits:
Before you purchase property or sign a lease, we encourage you to contact the City's Planning Division to ensure that your intended use is allowed at that location. It is preferable to find a property with suitable zoning for your intended use as a zoning change can be a lengthy and costly process.
Special permits may be required. Additional on or off-site improvements such as parking, paving, landscaping and screening may be required when you open a business, build or alter existing structures, or change the use of the building or land. Proposed signage for your business must also be reviewed and approved. For assistance with all these permits, contact the City's Planning Division at (949) 461-3472.
Building Permits:
Changes or modifications to existing buildings and installation of machinery and equipment may require building permits. Examples of changes that need prior City approval include adding a wall, enclosing a space, changing plumbing, and installing equipment weighing more than 200 pounds. The City will perform inspections throughout construction to ensure compliance with approved plans and adopted building codes. Plans requiring Fire Authority approval are forwarded by the City's Building Division to the Orange County Fire Authority for their review. You may occupy your building once construction is complete, a final inspection has been made, and you have received a Certificate of Occupancy. For information on building permit requirements, please contact the City's Building Division at (949) 461-3470. Applications can be downloaded from the City's website under the Online Forms section.
Signs And Banners:
Subject to advance approval, businesses may conduct special indoor and outdoor events and may display additional signs to promote these events. Applications for the following permits can be downloaded from the City's website under the Online Forms section.
Special Events Permit ($59.00 fee)
Shopping centers and multiple businesses sharing a parking lot may temporarily display banners, flags, lighting and small balloon strings to promote a special event that the entire center is sponsoring. A Special Event Sign Program may be permitted for a maximum 14 day period each quarter, no more than four times per year.
Special Outdoor Gathering Permit ($59.00 fee)
Individual businesses having an outdoor event, such as a parking lot sale, may use temporary signage and small balloons (no rooftop balloons) under an approved Special Outdoor Gathering Permit. Each Special Outdoor Gathering may be for a period not to exceed ten consecutive days, no more than four times each year. Please allow a minimum of ten (10) working days to process a Special Outdoor Gathering Permit.
Temporary Banner Permit ($59.00 fee)
Individual businesses may apply for a Temporary Banner Permit, which allows one banner not exceeding 50 square feet to be placed on their buildings. Temporary banners may be displayed for no more than 30 days, twice a year, for a total of 60 days.
The following are not permitted:
Portable/Freestanding signs (a-frame, t-frame, etc.) are not permitted on any exterior portion of any business.
Offsite signs are prohibited.
Outside display or storage of merchandise (All merchandise must be displayed and stored within the building)
Law Enforcement Review:
If your business will conduct any of the following activities, you must contact the City's Planning Division at (949) 461-3472 and the Orange County Sheriff Department at (714) 647-1868 for a Law Enforcement Review.
- Bingo
- Coin dealer
- Dance instructor/Dance studio
- Escorts/Escort Bureau
- Figure model, nude/Figure model studio
- Gun dealer
- Interlocutrix, nude
- Introductory service
- Junk collector/Junk dealer
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- Massagist
- Peddler
- Pool room
- Public bath/Massage parlor
- Public dance
- Rap session, nude
- Secondhand dealer/Thrift store/Pawnshop
- Taxicab stand
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Home Occupations:
The City of Lake Forest currently includes over 1,400 home-based businesses and we strongly support our residents' entrepreneurial endeavors. The City's Home Occupation Ordinance is designed to protect the residential integrity of your neighborhood. Therefore, the Ordinance does not permit business activities that generate additional traffic in residential neighborhoods and all business operations must be conducted within the living quarters of residences. If you have questions about whether your business operations are permitted, call the City's Planning Division at (949) 461-3472.
Click here to obtain the City Home Occupation Ordinance
Daycare Facilities:
Daycare for 1 to 6 children requires an application to the County Department of Social Services. Contact (714) 703-2800 for more information.
Daycare for 7 to 12 children requires permits and inspections from the Department of Social Services, the Orange County Fire Authority, and the City's Building Division.
Daycare for 13 or more children requires a City Use Permit approval by the Planning Commission, and permits and inspections from the Department of Social Services and the Orange County Fire Authority.
For additional information, contact the City's Planning Division at (949) 461-3472.
LICENSES & REGULATIONS ISSUED BY OTHER AGENCIES
The information and documentation you need will vary with the type of business you start, where it's located, and how you operate your business. Other good sources of additional permit information include:
State of California Permit Assistance at http://www.calgold.ca.gov
US Small Business Administration Santa Ana office at http://www.sba.gov/ca/santa
"Small Business Resource" published annually by the Santa Ana office of the U.S. Small Business Administration can be requested by calling (714) 550-7420
Alcohol Sales:
Alcohol Beverage Control Board, 28 Civic Center Plaza, Room 369, Santa Ana, CA 92701; (714) 558-4101.
Contractor's License:
State Contractor's Licensing Board, 28 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701; (714) 558-4086.
Corporations:
To register a business as a corporation, limited liability company/partnership or limited partnership, contact the Office of Secretary of State, Corporate Filing Division, 111 Capitol Mall, Sacramento, CA 95014; www.ss.ca.gov.
Fictitious Business Name Statement (Doing Business As or "DBA"):
Business organizations must file a Fictitious Business Name Statement with the Orange County Clerk/Recorders Office, Fictitious Business Filing Division. Telephone (714) 834-3005 (Recorded Information) or (714) 834-5285; www.oc.ca.gov/recorder.
Types of businesses that must file:
1. Individuals and sole proprietorships if the business name does not include the surname of the individual or is a name that suggests the existence of additional owners.
2. Partnerships if the business name does not include the surname of any general partner or if the name suggests the existence of additional owners.
3. Corporations, LLPs, LLCs if the business name is not stated in the Articles of Incorporation.
The required classified advertisement can be placed at the Lake Forest office of the Orange County "Register" newspaper located at 22481 Aspan Street. (As a convenience to advertisers, the newspaper will also handle the County filing)
Health Permit:
To make or sell food, contact the Orange County Environmental Health Department, 2009 E. Edinger Avenue, Santa Ana, CA 92701; (714) 667-3600.
Resellers Permit:
Resale Permits are required of all businesses that sell tangible property and your suppliers will require you to possess a Sellers Permit. The nearest office of the State Board of Equalization is at 23141 Moulton Parkway, Suite 100, Laguna Hills (949) 461-5711. Additional information and forms can be downloaded from www.boe.ca.gov
State Identification Number:
The California Employment Development Department handles the State ID number and State employment tax withholding information. The nearest office is at 23456 Madero, Suite 150, Mission Viejo; (949) 588-3880.
State Income Tax Information:
Franchise Tax Board, 600 W. Santa Ana Boulevard, Suite 300, Santa Ana, CA; (800) 852-5711.
Tax Identification Number:
If you plan to have employees, detailed information and an electronic form can be found at www.irs.gov/smallbiz or call (800) 829-1040. Located at 24000 Avila Road, 3rd Floor, Laguna Niguel. If you do not plan to have employees, your social security number can serve as your tax ID number.
Workers Compensation:
State Fund for Workers Compensation, 1750 E. 4th Street, Santa Ana, CA 92701; (714) 565-5000. Or call a private insurance carrier.
OTHER BUSINESS RESOURCES AND WEBSITES
Services offered by public agencies are usually available at no cost or for nominal fees.
California State University At Fullerton www.business.fullerton.edu
Research, consulting, continuing education and training programs on Economic Education, Entrepreneurship, Insurance Studies, Study of Economics of Aging, and Study of Emerging Markets. The college also houses the Family Business Council, and the institutes for Economic and Environmental Studies, Real Estate and Land Use, and Small Business. Some classes are offered at the new satellite campus at the former El Toro Marine Air Base.
OCTANe www.octaneoc.org
Working closely with local universities, especially the University of California at Irvine, OCTANe's mission is to accelerate the development of innovative information and biomedical technology businesses in Orange County. Venture capital and access to experienced professional services are the keystones of OCTANe's program. 5000 Birch Street, Suite 2700, Newport Beach, CA 92660; (949) 483-9273
Orange County Business Service Center www.ocbusiness.info.
The Business Service Center, funded by the Orange County Workforce Investment Board, provides information regarding employment regulations and can help small businesses by handling many of the tasks that an in-house HR Department would handle. This includes pre-screening applicants and scheduling interviews. For more information, call (949) 341-8093.
Orange County Small Business Development Center: www.ocsbdc.com
Free individual consultations with experts on financing, business planning, human resources, or government contracts. The SBDC's consultants are knowledgeable on a wide range of business topics to help you move your business to the next level. Frequent training events are offered throughout the year, many are in the evening or on Saturdays. Located at 2323 N. Broadway, Suite 201, Santa Ana, CA 92706; (714) 564-5200.
Saddleback College: www.saddleback.cc.ca.us
Distance learning and community education courses include Accounting, Business Management, Personnel Law, and Supervision training. Located at 28000 Marguerite Parkway, Mission Viejo, CA 92692; (949) 582-4500. Rapid Prototyping Technologies available to private businesses reduce the time to market by creating concept models, prototypes and tooling directly from CAD data in a matter of hours, rather than days or weeks. For more information on the RP Program, contact Ken Patton, Dean of Business Science, Workforce & Economic Development, (949) 582-4773.
SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives): www.score114.org
Mentoring and counseling from highly experienced professionals who give their expertise at no charge are available to new business owners and existing business owners. In 2003, the Orange County chapter of SCORE was named the best SCORE chapter in the United States. Numerous workshops are offered at various locations throughout Orange County. SCORE counselors conduct individual meetings in Lake Forest on alternative Thursdays. To make an appointment, call (714) 550-7369. Located at 200 W. Santa Ana Boulevard, Suite 700, Santa Ana, CA 92703.
Tri-Tech Small Business Development Center: www.tritechsuccess.org
If your business is in a technological field, the Tri-Tech SBDC has specific resources to help your business grow, including technical assistance and access to venture capital. They are located at 2 Park Plaza, Suite 100, Irvine, CA 92714.
For additional information regarding City business services, please call
(949) 461-3477 or e-mail economicdevelopment@ci.lake-forest.ca.us
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