- 10 Steps to Starting a Business in San Jacinto or Hemet: A Complete 2025 Guide to Local Success
- Step 1: Choose a Business Structure
- Step 2: Register a Fictitious Business Name (DBA)
- Step 3: Apply for an Employer Identification Number(EIN)
- Step 5: Register for California State Taxes
- Step 4: Obtain a Business License in Hemet & San Jacinto
- Step 6: Obtain Business Permits
- Step 7: Open a Business Bank Account
- Step 8: Obtain Business Insurance
- Step 9: Join Local Business Networks
- Step 10: Educate Yourself
Depending on your business type and location, you might need additional permits to legally operate—even if it’s a home-based business. Now, with your state tax registration out of the way, let’s dig into this a bit for San Jacinto and Hemet aspiring business owners!
These permits ensure that your business complies with safety, health, and zoning requirements at the local, state, and federal levels, helping you run smoothly and safely from day one.
Common Business Permits by Category
When it comes to permits, it can help to break things down by type to understand what your business may need.
Food and Beverage Permits
- Cottage Food Permit: For home-based food businesses that sell low-risk cottage kitchen foods (baked goods, jams).
- Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations (MEHKO): For small-scale home-based kitchens preparing and selling complete meals.
- Health Permit: Required for any business that handles food or drinks to ensure safety standards.
- Alcohol Permit: Necessary for businesses that serve or sell alcohol, such as bars, restaurants, and breweries.
Location and Building Permits
- Zoning Permit: For home-based or location-specific businesses, such as salons or daycare centers, to confirm neighborhood compliance.
- Signage Permit: For businesses with signs on the property, ensuring compliance with city regulations.
- Building Permit: Required for any renovations or physical changes to business premises, especially for storefronts or office spaces.
Safety and Environmental Permits
- Fire Department Permit: Necessary for public-facing businesses with high traffic or hazardous materials, like restaurants or gyms, to meet fire codes.
- Environmental Permit: Required for businesses that produce waste or emissions, common in manufacturing or automotive industries.
Operational and Licensing Permits
- Music License: Needed for businesses that play music, like restaurants, cafes, gyms, and retail stores, to avoid copyright issues.
Each of these permits helps keep your business within the necessary safety, environmental, and regulatory standards based on your industry and location. Getting these in place from the start helps ensure a strong, compliant foundation for your business’s success.
Where to Find Information About Business Permits for San Jacinto & Hemet
Businesses in Hemet and San Jacinto can get the permits they need through local city offices and Riverside County, depending on what’s required. Here’s a quick guide:
City of Hemet Business License Department
For a general business license to legally operate in Hemet, visit or contact:
- Hemet City Hall
445 E. Florida Avenue
Hemet, CA 92543
Phone: (951) 765-2300
Hemet also offers an online business license portal on their website, where you can apply for or renew your business license.
For most businesses, starting with Hemet’s business license department and checking with Riverside County for additional requirements will cover everything needed to get started.
City of San Jacinto Business License Department
For a general business license to operate in San Jacinto, visit or contact:
- San Jacinto City Hall
595 S. San Jacinto Avenue
San Jacinto, CA 92583
Phone: (951) 487-7330
San Jacinto also has an online business license portal on their website, making it easy to apply for or renew your business license.
Start with San Jacinto City Hall for your general license and then check with Riverside County for any additional permits you may need. This will ensure you’re fully compliant to operate in San Jacinto.
Riverside County Business Permits
For certain specialized permits, like health permits for food-related businesses, you’ll need to go through Riverside County. Here are some commonly needed permits:
- Health Permits: Issued by the Riverside County Department of Environmental Health
- Location: 3880 Lemon Street, Suite 200, Riverside, CA 92501
- Phone: (951) 955-8980
- Zoning and Building Permits: Required for specific business activities or if you’re making modifications to your business location. These permits are available through Riverside County’s permitting offices.
Riverside County Permit Assistance Center
The Permit Assistance Center is a helpful resource if you’re not sure which permits you need or need help navigating the requirements.
This should cover everything you need to know to get your business up and running smoothly in Hemet or San Jacinto!
In the next post in this series, we cover how to open a local bank account for your local business.
