California DBA (Doing Business As) Guide (2026)
In California a DBA is called a Fictitious Business Name statement, filed with the clerk of the county where your principal place of business is - or with the Clerk of Sacramento County if the business has no California place of business (B&P Code Sec. 17915). B&P Sec. 17929 sets $10, and no county charges that: Gov. Code Sec. 54985(a) lets the board set the fee at cost, and across those counties, as of 20 September 2026, the filing runs $26 (Inyo) to $90 (San Bernardino). File within 40 days of starting, publish for four successive weeks, then file the affidavit of publication.
The one thing to knowAfter filing you MUST publish the statement in an adjudicated newspaper once a week for four consecutive weeks, starting within 45 days of filing, then file the affidavit of publication with the County Clerk.
The process
- File in the right county
File your FBN statement with the County Clerk in the county of your principal place of business, within 40 days of starting business.
- Pay the filing fee
The fee is the county's under Gov. Code Sec. 54985(a); we read $26 to $90. B&P Sec. 17929's $10 is a base nobody charges.
- Publish the statement
Publish within 45 days of filing, in a newspaper of general circulation in the filing county, once a week for four successive weeks (B&P Sec. 17917(a), Gov. Code Sec. 6064) - then file the affidavit of publication with the county clerk within 45 days after the last insertion. If you are refiling an expired statement and nothing has changed, no new publication is needed (Sec. 17917(c)).
- File the affidavit of publication
After publication, file the affidavit of publication with the County Clerk.
- Renew every 5 years
The statement is valid 5 years.
DBA filing by county — all 58 California counties
| County | Fee |
|---|---|
| Alameda County | $26–$90 (call to confirm) |
| Alpine County | $30.00 |
| Amador County | $26–$90 (call to confirm) |
| Butte County | $58.00 |
| Calaveras County | $30.00 |
| Colusa County | $26–$90 (call to confirm) |
| Contra Costa County | $26–$90 (call to confirm) |
| Del Norte County | $26–$90 (call to confirm) |
| El Dorado County | $26–$90 (call to confirm) |
| Fresno County | $26–$90 (call to confirm) |
| Glenn County | $25.00 |
| Humboldt County | $50.00 |
| Imperial County | $26–$90 (call to confirm) |
| Inyo County | $26.00 |
| Kern County | $26–$90 (call to confirm) |
| Kings County | $50.00 |
| Lake County | $26–$90 (call to confirm) |
| Lassen County | $26–$90 (call to confirm) |
| Los Angeles County | $26.00 |
| Madera County | $25.00 |
| Marin County | $26–$90 (call to confirm) |
| Mariposa County | $26–$90 (call to confirm) |
| Mendocino County | $46.00 |
| Merced County | $35.00 |
| Modoc County | $26–$90 (call to confirm) |
| Mono County | $26–$90 (call to confirm) |
| Monterey County | $26–$90 (call to confirm) |
| Napa County | $26–$90 (call to confirm) |
| Nevada County | $26–$90 (call to confirm) |
| Orange County | $23.00 |
| Placer County | $26–$90 (call to confirm) |
| Plumas County | $26–$90 (call to confirm) |
| Riverside County | $26–$90 (call to confirm) |
| Sacramento County | $26–$90 (call to confirm) |
| San Benito County | $40.00 |
| San Bernardino County | $90.00 |
| San Diego County | $54.00 |
| San Francisco County | $26–$90 (call to confirm) |
| San Joaquin County | $41.00 |
| San Luis Obispo County | $26–$90 (call to confirm) |
| San Mateo County | $26–$90 (call to confirm) |
| Santa Barbara County | $26–$90 (call to confirm) |
| Santa Clara County | $26–$90 (call to confirm) |
| Santa Cruz County | $50.00 |
| Shasta County | $26–$90 (call to confirm) |
| Sierra County | $26–$90 (call to confirm) |
| Siskiyou County | $26–$90 (call to confirm) |
| Solano County | $26–$90 (call to confirm) |
| Sonoma County | $55.00 |
| Stanislaus County | $34.00 |
| Sutter County | $26–$90 (call to confirm) |
| Tehama County | $31.00 |
| Trinity County | $26–$90 (call to confirm) |
| Tulare County | $30.00 |
| Tuolumne County | $26–$90 (call to confirm) |
| Ventura County | $76.00 |
| Yolo County | $26–$90 (call to confirm) |
| Yuba County | $30.00 |
California-specific details
Publication is required after filing -- once a week for four consecutive weeks in an adjudicated newspaper in the county, starting within 45 days of filing. Then file the affidavit of publication with the County Clerk.
Forming an LLC or corporation, or filing entity paperwork, is handled by the California Secretary of State's bizfile portal, not the county.
What to bring
- Your fictitious business name(s)
- Your principal place of business address
- Owner name(s) and information
- The filing fee (read $26-$90 across the counties we checked)
- A plan for newspaper publication within 45 days of filing
Frequently asked questions
What is a DBA called in California?
A Fictitious Business Name (FBN) statement, filed with the County Clerk under B&P Code Sec. 17900-17930.
Where and when do I file?
With the County Clerk in the county of your principal place of business, within 40 days of starting business.
Do I have to publish?
Yes. Publish the statement in an adjudicated newspaper in the county once a week for four consecutive weeks, starting within 45 days of filing, then file the affidavit of publication with the County Clerk.
How much does it cost?
The fee is set by the county under Gov. Code Sec. 54985(a). We read $26 to $90 across California counties; B&P Sec. 17929's $10 is a base nobody charges.
How long is the statement valid?
Five years.
I am forming an LLC -- do I file this?
No. Entity paperwork is handled by the California Secretary of State's bizfile portal, not the county.