1. Obtain the necessary use permit. All businesses—including home-based, mixed-use, and live-work businesses—require either an administrative or conditional use permit. For more information or to apply for a use permit, contact the Planning Department. A separate fee is required for the use permit.
2. Submit a completed business license application with payment. Please contact Avenu Insights & Analytics toll free at 866-240-3665 or bizlicensesupport@muniservices.com for forms and payment information.

Renewal notices are sent out to those businesses that have an active license from the prior year during the month of December. Renewal notices are only sent as a courtesy and businesses are still responsible for renewing their business license even if they do not receive a renewal notice. Failure to pay the annual business license fee before January 31, may result in late fees.

If you misplace a renewal form or do not receive one and need to renew your business license, you may download/print and complete one of the below forms. You may also contact Avenu Insights & Analytics toll free at (866) 240-3665 or bizlicensesupport@muniservices.com.

Businesses that were previously licensed by the City but closed, sold or moved outside of the City and need to reopen their previous account must complete a REOPENING OF CLOSED ACCOUNT APPLICATION.

Such businesses must also obtain the necessary use permit. All businesses—including home-based, mixed-use, and live-work businesses—require either an administrative or conditional use permit. For more information or to apply for a use permit, contact the Planning Department. A separate fee is required for the use permit. 

To procure a business license with the City of Hercules, please submit the following:

• Peddler/Solicitor License Form 
• Business License Application

Please complete a peddler/solicitor license form for each individual conducting door-to-door sales. A $60 background check fee will be assessed for each person soliciting in City limits. Please note that all peddlers & solicitors must go through the required background check to operate in Hercules, regardless if their business is located in Hercules and/or whether they have previously obtained a standard City business license. 

The Police Department will conduct the background checks and notify the Finance department of clearance. Peddler/Solicitor business licenses cannot be issued until Police Department approval has been received and all applicable fees have been paid.

Events such as the ones listed below are considered temporary or special events. Such events must obtain a business license for the City of Hercules before the event commences.

1. Obtain the necessary use permit. All businesses—including home-based, mixed-use, and live-work businesses .
2. Submit a completed business license application with payment. Please contact Avenu Insights & Analytics toll free at (866) 240-3665 or at bizlicensesupport@muniservices.com for forms and payment information.

If your business has a change of physical address, you must complete a new business permit application and obtain approval from the Planning Department before a license can be issued for the new location. You must also complete a LOCATION CHANGE business license application. Upon approval and receipt of all applicable fees, your business license can be issued. 

If your business name has changed or added/removed owners, we need to hear from you. Please notify Avenu Insights & Analytics by completing a NAME CHANGE OR CHANGE IN OWNERSHIP form. You may also contact Avenu Insights & Analytics toll free at (866) 240-3665 or bizlicensesupport@muniservices.com. 

If there is no change in FEIN, then a business license fee normally does not apply for making updates to your account. However, if the FEIN changes for your business, it is considered a new business. New business fees will apply. 

Business licenses ARE NOT automatically canceled. We need to hear from you. You may email Avenu Insights & Analytics at bizlicensesupport@muniservices.com , send written notification or call us toll free at (866) 240-3665. Please be prepared to provide the date that the business closed/sold and the new owner’s contact information if applicable. 

On September 19, 2012, Governor Brown signed Senate Bill 1186 (SB 1186) into law. SB 1186 is intended to increase disability access, encourage compliance with construction-related accessibility requirements, develop education resources for businesses, and facilitate compliance with Federal and State disability laws. From January 1, 2013, and until December 31, 2017, cities and counties were required to collect a State mandated fee of $1.00 from “any applicant for a local business license or equivalent instrument or permit, and from any applicant for the renewal of a business license or equivalent instrument or permit.” Assembly Bill 1379 was passed on October 11, 2017, which extends the assessment of the fee indefinitely and the State mandated fee from $1.00 to $4.00 from January 1, 2018 until December 31, 2023.

Municipalities are required by law to inform you of the following: Under Federal and State law, compliance with disability access laws is a serious and significant responsibility that applies to all California building owners and tenants with buildings open to the public. You may obtain information about your legal obligations and how to comply with disability access laws at the following agencies: