Microsoft Word - Los Altos Business Resource Guide-April 2013.doc

City of Los Altos

Business

Resource Guide

PREPARED BY:

CITY OF LOS ALTOS

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

April 2013

Introduction

Welcome to the City of Los Altos! We thank you for choosing Los Altos as the location for your

business. The City’s Economic Development Manager has prepared this Business Resource Guide

in cooperation with other City Departments to provide key information for starting a business

within Los Altos. The Guide includes both City-specific information and also some contact

information to assist you with County and State requirements.

The City’s Economic Development Manager functions as a staff liaison to assist existing and

potential businesses in their efforts with the City. The Economic Development Manager is available

to guide new businesses through the City regulatory process to assist the business with getting all

their required approvals and permits. The Economic Development Manager can be reached at (650)

947-2620. Please feel free to call anytime with questions about the process of establishing a business.

Permit and License Requirements

Zoning Approval

Before signing a lease or contract, it is highly recommended that you contact the City to verify that

your business complies with the zoning requirements for the proposed location. All new businesses

and any businesses that are relocating are required to obtain zoning approval. Different types of

businesses and uses are listed in the zoning regulations as either a permitted use or a conditional use.

The types of business which are permitted uses and conditional uses vary between the different

commercial areas of the City. The Planning Director determines which uses are allowed in each zone

subject to the City’s zoning regulations. Zoning review is required before you can obtain a City

business license and prior to applying for a building permit to make interior or exterior changes to

the building for your business.

In order to obtain zoning approval, you must complete the

Application for Zoning Approval

form and submit the completed form and $100 processing fee with your business license

application. If you have questions regarding the eligibility of your business, please contact the

Economic Development Manager at (650) 947-2620.

Business License

If you are planning on opening a business within the City of Los Altos or conducting business

within the City limits, you must first obtain a business license. The

Business License Tax

Application

is available on the City’s website or at the Front Counter at City Hall.

You will need to obtain a new Business License if you are:

• Starting a new business

• Purchasing an existing business

• Opening an additional location for your current business

• Moving your business to a new location within the City of Los Altos

The Business License fee is based on the type of business and the number of employees located at

the place of business. Business Licenses must be renewed annually.

For questions about the Business License application process, please call the Finance Department at

(650) 947-2760.

Building Renovations

If you are planning any renovations to the interior or the exterior of the building, you will require

Planning review of your proposed improvements and a building permit prior to constructing the

improvements. Depending on the extent of your proposed improvements, you may want to discuss

your plans with Planning Staff before starting architectural drawings. Planning Staff can walk you

through the process of obtaining the proper permits for your proposed work and can identify any

issues you may not be aware of, such as historic designations. You can visit Planning Staff at the

Planning Counter at City Hall or by calling (650) 947-2750.

Some of the commercial construction activities which require permits are:

• Exterior renovations

• Installation or replacement of awnings

• Exterior signage

• Mechanical equipment and equipment enclosures

• Interior renovations

• Change in paint color

• Change in windows

Some tenant improvements may involve work in the public right-of-way (public property). Typical

activities are:

• Landscaping and irrigation

• Sidewalk repairs

• Tree removals

• Storm drainage

• Sewer connections

Activities in the public right-of-way require permits from Engineering Division. The Engineering

Staff may be reached at the Engineering Counter or at (650) 947-2780.

Sign Permits

Most signs require design review and building permits prior to installation. Design review is

performed by Planning Staff and this process takes about two to three weeks. It is essential to begin

the design review process as early as possible, and especially before the sign is made. Sometimes sign

designs need to be modified to gain design approval and comply with City standards. Planning Staff

can provide you with information about the sign regulations and application process at the Planning

Counter or by calling (650) 947-2750.

If your business location is in a multi-tenant building, there may be what is called a “master sign

program” which sets forth the guidelines which must be followed. You can check with the property

owner or Planning Staff to find out if a master sign program applies to your location.

New businesses often want to establish their identity and location with the help of temporary signs

such as banners. Such signage is permitted on a limited basis subject to the sign regulations.

Requirements for Restaurants

Because restaurants serve food and are gathering places for a larger number of people than small

retail shops, they come under closer scrutiny by approving agencies. The following is a list of various

issues the Planning and Building Staff needs to address in connection with the conversion of an

existing commercial building to a restaurant, or the remodeling of an existing restaurant in the City

of Los Altos:

1. Restaurants are permitted uses in most commercial districts; however they require a parking

analysis as they require more parking spaces than retail businesses.

2. Seating capacity must be in accordance with Uniform Building Code (UBC) and Uniform

Fire Code (UFC) requirements. Outside seating will require an

Outdoor Display Permit

3. Engineering and Planning Staff will have to review the trash enclosure area for capacity,

roofing and fire safety.

4. The facility must comply with the standards of the State of California Title 24 accessibility

requirements.

5. Grease traps are required. Please see the Building Division for details.

Evidence of approval from the Santa Clara County Health Department is required with Building

Plan submittal at City Hall. Final Health Department approval must be received before the City of

Los Altos can issue building permits or a business license.

Building and Fire Department Inspections

Before opening for business, safety inspections of your bussiness site should be completed by

Building and Fire Staff. Please be aware that fees may be charged for such inspections.

Improvements may be needed to correct health and safety problems with the building and/or

equipment. Please do not assume that because the previous owner used the existing location (or

equipment) that it met code and that a new business will be able to open or operate in the same

location. Sometimes improvements were made without benefit of building permits. For additional

information on safety inspections, contact the City of Los Altos Building Division at (650) 947-2752

and the Santa Clara County Fire Department at (408) 378-4010.

Garbage Requirements

Every business in Los Altos is required to have garbage service. Please contact Mission Trail Waste

Systems for fees and services. They can be reached at (650) 473-1400.

Any changes to the design or location of the garbage enclosures for a particular building will need to

be reviewed by the Planning and Building Divisions who can be reached at the Planning or Building

Counters or at (650) 947-2750 or 947-2752, respectively.

Additional Information for Downtown Businesses

Outdoor Display Permits

The City of Los Altos has an Outdoor Display program that gives downtown restaurant and store

owners the opportunity to promote their business through the use of outdoor seating, special

displays and menu board signs. This program is intended to assist businesses in attracting customers

and to improve the overall vibrancy of the downtown.

In order to participate in the Outdoor Display program, it is necessary to obtain a permit from the

City. The permit is needed to provide the City with design review to ensure quality displays and in

order to provide liability insurance to protect the City in case of any claims that may arise. Permits

are required for all sidewalk displays, regardless of whether they are located on public or private

property. The fee for the permits is $50. Permit review is typically completed within a week. No

annual renewals are required except to keep the liability insurance up to date for displays on the

public sidewalk. For more information on the Outdoor Display program, contact the Economic

Development Manager at (650) 947-2620.

Downtown Employee Parking Permits

The Downtown Employee Parking Permit Program provides all-day parking for downtown business

owners and employees. All business owners and employees within the Downtown Parking District

are eligible to purchase permits. Permits are transferrable and can be shared by part-time employees.

The Downtown Parking District includes the properties in the core of the downtown triangle that

do not have off-street parking.

Permit parking is only available in the North and South Parking Plazas in spaces designated with a

white dot. Permits are available at the Los Altos Police Station. The cost of an annual permit is $36.

Annual permits are valid from October 1

through September 30

. Quarterly permits are also

available for $12. Permits are available for purchase at the Los Altos Police Station at the Civic

Center complex at One North San Antonio Road.

Booklets of 25 All-day Customer Parking Permits are also available for purchase at City Hall and can

be used for single use all-day parking permits for use in any of the 10 downtown parking plazas.

Key Contacts for Businesses

Alcohol Sales: If your business involves sales of beer, wine or liquor, a permit or special licensing

will be needed through the State. Contact the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control

at (408) 277-1200 or go to www.abc.ca.gov

for more information.

Chamber of Commerce: The Los Altos Chamber of Commerce acts as a business advocate for

local businesses. It is the collective voice of business in the seven commercial districts which make

up the City of Los Altos. As a member of the Chamber of Commerce you have access to local full-

time Chamber professionals who have a broad range of skills and knowledge to assist with your

business needs. Members can also share information and networking opportunities at the Chamber

mixers and by participating on the many Chamber committees. The Los Altos Chamber of

Commerce can be reached at (650) 948-1455.

Fictitious Business Name: If you invent a name for your business other than your own, the name

is considered a fictitious business name. All businesses should register their fictitious business name

with the Santa Clara County Clerk’s Office before obtaining a business license from the City of Los

Altos. Contact the Santa Clara County Clerk’s Office at (408) 299-5688.

Food/Health Permits: If your business involves selling or handling food, a permit from the

Health Department is required. Improvements and/or inspections of the building and facilities may

also be needed. Contact the Santa Clara County Environmental Health Department at (408) 918-

3400.

Garbage Service: Please contact Mission Trail Waste Systems for fees and services. They can be

reached at (650) 473-1400 or at www.missiontrail.com/LosAltos.

Los Altos Mediation Program (L.A.M.P.): All businesses operating in Los Altos can use the Los

Altos Mediation Program (L.A.M.P.) which offers a voluntary settlement process used to resolve

conflicts between two or more people in a non-adversarial setting with the aid of a neutral third

party. The conflict could be business to business or a merchant-customer disagreement. The

L.A.M.P. process increases communications, promotes understanding and builds a stronger business

community. L.A.M.P. can be reached at (650) 949-5267.

Los Altos Village Association (LAVA): The Los Altos Village Association (LAVA) was

established in 1963 to be a cohesive group of business members working together to promote

economic growth and to preserve the uniqueness of the downtown community. LAVA works to

promote downtown business primarily via advertising and special events. LAVA also acts as a link

between the City of Los Altos and downtown businesses. LAVA can be reached at (650) 949-5282.

NOVA (Workforce Development Center): NOVA is a nonprofit, federally-funded employment

and training agency that provides customer-focused workforce development services. They work

with local employers to provide assistance for staffing and recruitment, on-the-job training, layoff

and outplacement assistance, and employee training and professional development. NOVA can be

reached at (408) 730-7830 or at www.novaworks.org

Small Business Development Center (SBDC): The Small Business Administration (SBA) of

the U.S. Federal Government offers many forms of assistance for small businesses through their

Small Business Development Centers (SBDC). Assistance is available to anyone interested in

starting a small business or improving or expanding an existing small business. SBDC services

include help with financial, marketing, production, organization, engineering and technical

problems and feasibility studies. Special SBDC activities include services for inventors with

patentable products, international trade centers, business law information and guidance,

procurement matching assistance, venture capital formation and small business incubators. The

local SBDC can be reached at (408) 351-3602.