Register a Business Name in Napa County, CA
Here's what to expect at the Recorder / County Clerk — fees, what to bring, and where to go.
The code says $10 — B&P § 17929(a), plus $2 for each extra name or owner — and no county charges that. Under Gov. Code § 54985(a) a board of supervisors may set the fee “in the amount reasonably necessary to recover the cost” notwithstanding any statutory limit, so the county's figure is the operative one and the statute only explains why it varies.
File within 40 days of starting the business (§ 17910), with the clerk of the county where your principal place of business is. If your business has no California place of business at all, the statement goes to the Clerk of Sacramento County (§ 17915). A statement lasts five years, and expires early — after 40 days — if any fact in it changes (§ 17920).
Publish the statement within 45 days of filing, in a newspaper of general circulation in the filing county — once a week for four successive weeks, at least five days apart (B&P § 17917(a), Gov. Code § 6064). Then file the affidavit of publication with the county clerk within 45 days after the last insertion(§ 17917(d)). If the county has no newspaper of general circulation, an adjoining county's will do.
What actually happens if you don't publish: B&P § 17918 bars you from bringing any action in a California court on a contract made in the business name until the statement has been filed and published. The bar lifts when you comply — the filing is not void, and you are not made to start again.
Refiling after five years? No new publication is needed if nothing in the statement has changed and you refile within 40 days of expiry (§ 17917(c)).
Note:the FBN statement is a county filing. Forming an LLC or a corporation is a separate state filing with the California Secretary of State's bizfile portal. A registered entity needs an FBN only where it trades under a name other than the one on its registration.
Business and Professions Code § 17913 mentions notarization in two cases, both at the county clerk's option: a clerk may require a notarized affidavit of identity from a registrant who mails the statement in, and a notarized statement from the registrant when an agent files for them. Each county clerk decides — ask this office.
Sources: Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 17913(f)(1) ↗ — “The county clerk may require a registrant that mails a fictitious business name statement to a county clerk’s office for filing to submit a completed and notarized affidavit of identity.” (as of 26 September 2026) · Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 17913(d) ↗ — “The county clerk may also require the agent to submit a notarized statement signed by the registrant declaring the registrant has authorized the agent to submit the filing on behalf of the registrant.” (as of 26 September 2026)
Napa County has its own Fictitious Business Name Statement. California has one FBN statute (B&P Code §§ 17900–17930), so this shows you exactly what you will be asked for. But each county issues its own statement — in this county, the Recorder / County Clerk — and many require e-filing, so yours may not accept a copy from another county.
Call or check the county website for the Recorder / County Clerk's office address and hours.
This page shows the best information we have for Napa County. Fees and hours may vary — call ahead to confirm before visiting.
Filing a DBA somewhere else in California? See the California DBA guide for statewide requirements and fees.