County looking at easing business license regs

Mendocino County is looking at possibly easing the Mendocino County regulatory process for business licenses to make regulations easier for small business owners in the county.

The Supervisors at their last board meeting directed county staff to look at Lake County small business regulations as a model to determine which Mendocino County businesses need to be licensed to protect the public and which don’t. Other factors that the county will consider in changing their regulatory process are the cost to the county, what types of small businesses would qualify under a streamlined regulatory process, and potential changes to county ordinances. Mendocino County CEO Carmel Angelo said they would begin looking at the process and the money that comes in from business licenses and what it covers for the county financially. County staff will then come back to the board with a full report. There was no specific timeline given for when the county would decide on business license changes.

Supervisor Ted Williams said that impediments to small businesses, which make of the majority of the businesses in Mendocino County, aren’t hampered by the $40 fee but the Planning and Building Services inspections that can take weeks and months to complete.

“It appears we’ve gone overboard, and it’s actually harming the incubation of new small businesses in our county. So, I use the word most; I think we do need some business licenses. But I think we can model our approach after Lake County. Theirs seems to be successful and, they’ve found a balance between protecting the public and encouraging business development,” Supervisor Williams said.

Mendocino County currently requires that applicants complete an application, a $40 annual business license fee, another fee for $339 and a Planning and Building Services inspection.

Supervisor John Haschak said the main concerns he wants the county look at and address are the timelines it takes to get a business permit process approved from the county, which can often take up to six months and be a major issue for a small business.

“I think there are a number of things to look at, and I just want to make sure that we look at lots of angles on this issue because I don’t want us to unintentionally create a problem that none of us want to create,” Supervisor Dan Gjdege said.