PermitDueSalon Permits in California: Licenses, Costs, and What Most Owners Miss
March 22, 2026 · Daniel Amar·Last updated: March 22, 2026
Two licenses before you touch a single client
Most people who want to open a salon in California know they need a cosmetology license. What they do not realize is that the cosmetology license is personal. It lets you practice. It does not let you open a business.
To open the actual salon, you need a separate Establishment License from the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology. And on top of that, you need a city business license, a seller's permit if you sell retail products, and possibly a home occupation permit if you are working out of your house. The state board, your city, and the county each want their own paperwork.
I went through the full list for California salons. Here is what it actually takes.
Every permit a California salon needs
| Permit/License | Issuing Agency | Cost | Renewal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cosmetology License (personal) | CA Board of Barbering and Cosmetology | $50-$125 | Every 2 years ($50) |
| Hairstylist License (hair only) | CA Board of Barbering and Cosmetology | $50 | Every 2 years ($50) |
| Barber License | CA Board of Barbering and Cosmetology | $50-$125 | Every 2 years ($50) |
| Establishment License (the salon itself) | CA Board of Barbering and Cosmetology | $50 | Every 2 years ($50) |
| City Business License | City Finance/Clerk | $50-$500 | Annual |
| Seller's Permit | CA CDTFA | Free | Permanent |
| Sign Permit | City Planning | $50-$300 | One-time |
| Building Permit (if remodeling) | City Building Dept | $200-$3,000+ | One-time |
| Home Occupation Permit (if home salon) | City Planning | $50-$200 | Annual |
| Federal EIN | IRS | Free | Permanent |
If you employ other stylists, add workers' compensation insurance (required in California for any business with employees) and make sure each employee has their own personal license from the Board. You cannot let an unlicensed person perform services, period.
The personal license: cosmetologist vs. hairstylist vs. barber
California offers three different personal licenses depending on what services you perform:
Cosmetologist (1,000 hours of training): Can do hair, nails, skin care, and makeup. This is the full license. Until 2022 it required 1,600 hours. SB 803 reduced it to 1,000 hours, which cut about 6 months off the training time.
Hairstylist (600 hours): This is the newer license created by SB 803. It covers cutting, styling, coloring, and chemical treatments for hair only. No nails, no skin care. If you only want to do hair, this saves you 400 hours of school.
Barber (1,000 hours): Covers haircutting, shaving, and facial hair services. Historically a separate track from cosmetology, though there is significant overlap.
The exam and initial license fee is $50 to $125 depending on the license type. Renewal is $50 every two years. If you let your license lapse, you can renew within 5 years by paying a delinquency fee. After 5 years, you have to retake the exam.
The establishment license
This is the one people miss. You cannot operate a salon, even from your home, without an Establishment License from the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology. The application costs $50 and you mail it to the Board with several attachments:
- Floor plan of the salon (drawn to scale, showing workstations, sinks, restrooms)
- Proof of ownership or lease agreement
- City business license (some cities issue a "letter of intent" if you have not received the actual license yet)
- Zoning clearance from your city confirming the location is approved for commercial use
The Board reviews the application and may inspect the premises before issuing the license. Processing takes 4 to 8 weeks. You cannot open until the license is in hand.
For home salons specifically: California allows home-based establishments, but your salon space must have a direct entrance separate from your private living quarters. You also need to check with your city's planning department, your county, and your HOA (if applicable). Some cities do not allow home salons at all. Others require a home occupation permit with conditions like no exterior signage and limited client visits per day.
City and county permits
California does not have a single statewide business license. Your city handles that. The cost varies wildly:
| City | Business License Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $150-$500 (gross receipts based) | Office of Finance. LA also has a Small Business Tax exemption for revenue under $100K |
| San Francisco | $92-$45,000+ (gross receipts based) | Treasurer and Tax Collector. Most small salons pay under $500 |
| San Diego | $34-$250 | City Treasurer. Flat fee for most small businesses |
| Sacramento | $50-$200 | City Clerk |
| San Jose | $150 base + gross receipts | Finance Department |
Some counties also require a separate county business license if you are in an unincorporated area. Check with your county clerk.
Seller's permit: free but required
If you sell any retail products (shampoo, styling products, skin care), you need a Seller's Permit from the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA). It is free and you can apply online at cdtfa.ca.gov. This permit requires you to collect and remit sales tax on product sales.
Services (haircuts, color, treatments) are not subject to sales tax in California. Only tangible products are taxed. But if you sell even one bottle of shampoo, you need the permit.
What most salon owners forget
Employee licenses: Every stylist, barber, esthetician, or manicurist working in your salon must have their own valid personal license from the Board. You are responsible for verifying this. If an inspector finds an unlicensed person performing services, the establishment license is at risk.
Continuing education: California does not currently require continuing education for license renewal, but the Board has proposed it multiple times. Check the Board's website before each renewal cycle.
Chemical storage: If you use chemical treatments (color, perms, keratin), your city's fire department may require a chemical storage permit or hazardous materials disclosure. This is more common in commercial spaces than home salons.
ADA compliance: If you are opening a commercial salon, your space must meet Americans with Disabilities Act requirements. This includes wheelchair accessibility, accessible restrooms, and appropriate doorway widths. Building inspectors check this before issuing a Certificate of Occupancy.
Music licensing: Playing background music in your salon requires licenses from ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC. Most salon owners ignore this, but the PROs do send investigators. Budget $300 to $600 per year.
Total first-year cost
For a solo cosmetologist opening a small salon in a California metro area:
- Cosmetology license: $50-$125
- Establishment license: $50
- City business license: $50-$500
- Seller's permit: Free
- Sign permit: $50-$300
- Building permit (if remodeling): $200-$3,000
- EIN: Free
Total: $400 to $3,975 depending on your city and whether you need construction. Home salons are on the lower end. Commercial spaces with buildout are on the higher end.
Add $50 per employee for their personal license verification, plus workers' comp insurance once you have employees.
Check your full permit list
Use the free permit checker to see every permit your California salon needs. Pick your city, select "Salon / Barbershop," and get the full list with fees, deadlines, and direct links to the Board and your city's licensing office.
Already open? Our salon permit overview covers the basics across all states, and the cosmetology license requirements guide breaks down training hours and fees state by state. If you want to make sure nothing lapses, the tracking dashboard sends reminders before each renewal date.