Whom
do you Contact?
As soon as you
find a location for your business, the first call you will want to make
is to the City of Mountain View's Community Development Department at
(650) 903-6313 or check out
http://www.mountainview.gov/city_hall/community_development/buildings/default.asp.
They will be able to tell you if your business complies with the Zoning
Ordinance and whether your location is within the city limits (almost
all of Mountain View is incorporated, as shown on the Chamber of
Commerce map).
In general, the City regulates
zoning and building permits while the County is responsible for health
and food-related regulations. The Mountain View City Hall is located at
500 Castro Street, Mountain View, 94039. The City's mailing address is
P.O. Box 7540, Mountain View, California, 94039-7540.
The Development Services Center, located on the ground floor of City
Hall, streamlines the development review process with a primary point
of contact for businesses. Available at the Center are staff from
Planning, Building Inspection, Fire Inspection and Economic Development
so that any questions regarding zoning, building and fire codes, or
permits can be answered in one location. Staff can also provide you
with demographics and other information that may help you locate an
optimal location for your business. The Development Services Center is
part of the Community Development Department,
http://www.mountainview.gov/comm_dev/default.asp,
and is open from 8:00
a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
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Zoning
Regulations
Before signing the lease or beginning business, every business owner
should verify that their planned use and location comply with zoning
regulations. The Community Development Department, (650) 903-6306 or
community.dev@ci.mtnview.ca.us,
can tell you if your type of business is allowable in the proposed
location. The Community Development Department can also inform you of
any reviews or permits that may be necessary. If you are looking for a
site, City staff will be glad to advise you on properly zoned areas to
simplify your site selection.
What to
do if you are starting a home business
You will need to get a home occupation permit from the Community
Development Department and agree to comply with the home occupation
restrictions. In general, the intent of these regulations is to ensure
that your home business does not disrupt or conflict with the
residential neighborhood. Visit the Development Services Center to
obtain this permit. The fee is about $30 per year.
What to do if you are looking for a physical
location for your
business
Call, or, better yet, stop by
the Development Services Center at City Hall, (650) 903-6313, to verify
that your proposed use and location comply with zoning requirements.
Request a copy of the restrictions and allowances for that location. If
your proposed use and location comply with the Zoning Ordinance, skip
the next two paragraphs and go to No. 3.
Often,
site plan and architectural review is required for building changes or
signage. Certain kinds of businesses (e.g., nightclubs, auto repair
facilities, etc.) may require a conditional use permit in order to
comply with the Zoning Ordinance. In some instances, it may be
necessary to apply for a variance from a specific zoning standard such
as the number of parking spaces required. If any kind of permit is
needed in order to comply with the Zoning Ordinance, be sure to make
any leases or purchases of property for your business contingent upon
City approval. Ask the Development Services Center staff what
information they need from you, the approximate cost, the estimated
time and the likelihood that your special use will be approved. In
Mountain View, about 95 percent of planning applications are processed
entirely at the staff level, and this does not involve any City Council
or Environmental Planning Commission meetings.
If
you find out that the zoning for your location does not allow the kind
of business you wish to start under any circumstances, the Community
Development Department may be able to suggest other locations where
your business would be allowed or encouraged.
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Business
Licenses
You must get a business license for each city where you conduct
business, even if you do not have a fixed location in those other
cities. The Business license fee in Mountain View is about $30
annually. All business licenses are renewed in January; licenses for
new businesses are prorated on a quarterly basis. Downtown businesses
also pay a fee for downtown marketing and promotion with their business
license; call the Finance and Administrative Services Department at
(650) 903-6317 to verify if this fee applies to your location.
What to do...
Print out the
Business license application. Please
note that all applications for new business licenses must be submitted
for approval in person, not by mail (license renewals can be mailed).
Make your check payable to the City of Mountain View and bring it to
the Finance and Administrative Services Department anytime between 8:00
a.m. and 5:00 p.m., weekdays.
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Signs
The fastest and least expensive way to get your sign approved is to
call the Development Services Center at (650) 903-6313, before buying
or installing any signage. Staff can explain to you which signs can be
approved over the counter and which need further design review. Some
businesses find it even easier to have their sign company or their
architect obtain the permits since these professionals are already
familiar with the sign approval process.
The City
generally has two concerns with signs: appearance and public safety.
Sign permits and building permits are required whenever you install,
move or alter a sign. The allowable number and size of each sign
depends on the size, location and design of your building. Also, many
landlords have their own sign guidelines with which their tenants must
comply. Please note that signs are not permitted for home occupations.
Window signs do not require a permit. However, window signs may not
cover more than 25% of the window area.
What
to do
First, ask your landlord if they
have a set of guidelines pertaining to what signage they will allow. It
also makes sense to talk with neighboring businesses about what kind of
signs have worked well for them. Then, before you have any signs made,
stop by or call the Development Services Center at (650) 903-6313, and
ask for the following basic requirements:
- Number
of signs allowed per business and per building;
- Size of each sign allowed;
- Guidelines for
placement of signs; and
- Design and color
restrictions.
Ask the Development Services
Center staff to mail you a sign permit application. Ask them the amount
of the fee and what kinds of documentation should accompany the
application. Most sign applications need the building owner's approval,
plans and specifications, color and material descriptions, etc. Before
the sign is made, be sure to submit the completed application (with
your fee) to the Community Development Department. Ask them how long
the approval process will take and if you have to attend any meetings
or take other actions to secure approval of your sign.
Once the Development Services Center staff has issued a sign permit,
you will be able to obtain the building permit, which is also available
from the Development Services Center. Although painted signs require
sign permits but not building permits, most kinds of signs need
building permits because they involve electrical or structural work.
Once you have both a sign permit and a building permit, you may install
the sign. But again, many businesses find it easier to have their sign
company or architect obtain approval for signs.
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Other City
Permits
Building permits are typically required for all structural, electrical,
plumbing or mechanical work whether inside or outside of your building.
A rule of thumb: Before you begin any remodeling or even simple
rearranging (of signs, planters, etc.), be sure to call the Building
Inspection Division of the Development Services Center at (650)
903-6313. The Building Inspector can explain to you what kinds of
permits are needed for remodeling, their cost and the proper procedure.
Check with the Development Services Center staff to learn about other
permits that may be needed for your business. Also contact the
Environmental Safety Division of the Fire Department at (650) 903-6378
if your business has any involvement with hazardous materials or
industrial waste.
What to do
Before you lease space or begin your business, talk to the Development
Services Center staff about your plans. Staff there includes the
Building Inspectors and the Fire Protection Engineer as well as
Planners so that any interrelated questions may be answered
conveniently in one location. This is especially important if you plan
to do any renovation to a building or change its use.
Sometimes, the entire facility needs to be brought up to code before
issuing a permit. For example, you may want to upgrade your sink, but
the Health or Building Codes may require new flooring, electrical
changes or other improvements. You should also be aware of the
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the new Federal law mandating
handicap access. Typically, buildings, which do not meet the ADA
requirements for entrances and exits, bathrooms, etc. must be upgraded
prior to opening your business.
Also, it is wise
to not assume that just because your predecessor used the same building
for a similar use that you can do the same without a new permit or
improvements to the property. Again, the City's Development Services
Center and the County Health Department (in the case of food-related
businesses) can address this question prior to your investing any money
in the building.
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Miscellaneous
City regulations affecting
Businesses
There may be other
regulations of interest to your business. The City Clerk's Office,
(650) 903-6304, can provide you with copies of regulations related to
smoking and other matters.
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County
Health/Food permits
If you
sell or handle food, you must obtain a permit from the County
Environmental Health Services Department. The Santa Clara County Health
Department is located at 2220 Moorpark Avenue, San Jose, California,
95128, (408) 299-6060. CAUTION: The regulations for selling and
handling food are extensive and precise. Do not commit to a lease or
buy any equipment until you have completed all of the steps discussed
below.
No food from your home, please
California law prohibits the sale of food prepared at home. This rule
includes caterers, who the State says should be preparing food only in
professional, approved facilities. The County Health Department
enforces these laws to protect the public from improperly prepared
food.
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Be Sure
to Avoid this Mistake
Just
because a facility is being used to prepare or sell food, it does not
mean that the Health Department will let you use the same facilities
without making any changes or upgrades. Each new operator must apply
for his or her own license from the County Health Department. Before
you sign a lease, call the Health Department and ask them to do a
walk-through with you. They can also advise you as to whether the
equipment and the facility are generally acceptable. Be sure to ask the
Health Department to see their files on the facility to be aware of any
past problems or violations.
What to do
To obtain a permit from the County Health Department, you must submit a
plan for approval. Before you prepare a plan:
- Check your location-do a traffic count.
Is there enough traffic to
support your business?
- Check with the
Development Services Center to make sure that the Zoning Ordinance
allows your business in this location.
- Determine
exactly what food you want to sell as the regulations can vary
depending on whether you are selling simpler food, such as sandwiches,
or more complicated food, such as fully cooked meals. Remember, these
regulations are very extensive and precise.
- You
may want to contact your insurance broker. Some insurance companies
have specific guidelines to lower rates.
Now,
you are ready to prepare a plan for your food business:
- Call the Health Department at (408)
299-6060 and get a copy of their
regulations for your type of food establishment and the type of food
you intend to offer.
- Prepare complete, detailed
plans showing what equipment you will use (including model number and
specifications), what material will be used to finish the walls, floors
and ceilings, as well as information on plumbing, electricity and
ventilation. Talk to the Health Department to make sure that your plans
include all the details that they will need. Submit three copies of
your plans (plus an extra "cut sheet" specifying the equipment) to the
County Health Department for approval. The fee for plan check approval
by the Health Department ranges from $217 to $868. Note that the plan
check fee does not include the annual health permit fee.
- After approval by the County Health
Department, your next step is the
Development Services Center at the City of Mountain View. The Center
can then process your conditional use permit (if required) and any
permits for signs and exterior remodeling of your building. Then, the
Building Inspection Division of the Development Services Center can
process your building permits.
- It is especially
important that you provide an adequate enclosure for your garbage
dumpster. Special requirements apply in the downtown area, including
minimum garbage pick-up of twice weekly, bagging of all wet garbage,
etc. Call the solid waste division of Public Works for more information
at (650) 903-6311.
Fees
Once your food business opens, you must pay an annual County health
permit fee for the inspections provided by the Department. The fee is
based on the size and type of business and ranges from $97 to $766. The
County will inspect your food business at least four times a year and
more often if they receive complaints.
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Chamber of Commerce
Mountain View