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Starting a Business

Business Licenses Business Licenses are handled by the Finance Division of the Administrative Services Department.
For Business License information, please access the Business License page , call (831) 636-4301, or email businesslicense@hollister.ca.gov.  

It is recommended that prior to starting your business, you contact the Planning Division at (831) 636-4360 or planning@hollister.ca.gov to verify if your business can be permitted at the chosen location or if any additional permits may be required. 

Mobile Food 

The City of Hollister adopted Ordinance No. 1235 to allow for Mobile Food Trucks and Mobile Food Vendors to operate within the city.  

Mobile Food Truck means any motorized vehicle designed primarily for dispensing food provisions. A Mobile Food Truck includes any trailer attached to a motor vehicle at all times during which the food provisions are dispensed. A Mobile Food Truck means a licensed and operable motor vehicle used to serve and provide food or nonalcoholic beverages. This does not include ice cream trucks, catering trucks, selling prepackaged food or foodstuffs of any kind.  

See the information and handouts below for specific information about the different types of mobile food operations and regulations. 

The City of Hollister has three application types available for Mobile Food Vendors.  

Short-Term Operations within the Public Right-Of-Way. This application type allows you to operate in all Zoning Districts in legally established parallel street parking, including Residential & Commercial areas for up to 1 hour and 59 minutes. Four hours must pass to be allowed to return to a previous location and when moving from one location to another, vending must occur at another location at least one block away.

Long-Term Operations within the Public Right-Of-Way. This application type allows you to operate in the North Gateway (NG) and Industrial/Manufacturing (M1, IBP, AS) Zoning Districts, except for 4th St. & Westside Blvd, Monterey St. on a legally established parallel parking. Long-term operations can stay in one location for a maximum of 4 hours before moving to a new location.

  • Long-Term Mobile Food Application 
  • Long-Term Mobile Food Handout

Developed Private-Property Operations. This application type allows you to operate in the Commercial, Industrial/Manufacturing and Mixed-Use Zoning Districts on a legally developed site with an established use and parking. The vendor may operate during the established business’ hours of operation, or another set of hours of operation that are agree upon by the vendor and property owner, provided that the operations are within 6:00 am – 12:00 am. 

  • Private Property Mobile Food Application 
  • Private Property Mobile Food Handout

Can I apply for more than one permit? 
Yes. You may hold multiple mobile vending permits at once, including one of each type or multiple private property permits. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that they will comply with all operating standards for each permit that they hold. 

How long does the permit last? 
Mobile Vending Permits are approved for one year from the date of approval. A new application should be submitted to renew your permit each year.  

Prohibited Areas 
For safety reasons, it is prohibited for Mobile Food vendors to be located on 4th Street between Westside Boulevard and Monterey Street and on South Street.  
Mobile food vendors should not be located within 50 feet of a residence. 

Sidewalk VendingSenate Bill No. 946 provides guidance to local authority on what can and cannot be regulated for sidewalk vendors. A local authority can adopt an ordinance to regulate sidewalk vending, however the City of Hollister has not yet adopted an ordinance. There is no sidewalk vending permit required at this time. It is the responsibility of the seller to obtain any required licenses or permits from other departments.  

A Sidewalk Vendor is defined as a person who sells food or merchandise from a pushcart, stand, display, pedal-driven cart, wagon, showcase, rack, or other nonmotorized conveyance, or from one’s person, upon a public sidewalk or other pedestrian path. This does not include food trucks or anything with a motor.  

A sidewalk vender may be located on any sidewalk within City limits. If any tents are being proposed that are greater than 120 square feet, then a permit will be required from the Building Division. Any tents that are 400 square feet or greater will require review from the Fire Department. A business license from the Finance Division and an environmental health permit (if you are selling food) from the Environmental Health Division will be required.  

What Local Authorities Can Do: 

What Local Authorities Cannot Do:  
  • Limit hours of operation 
  • Prohibit stationary sidewalk vending in residential areas 
  • Prohibit sidewalk vending near farmers’ markets, swap meets, and temporary special permit areas 
  • Require sanitary conditions 
  • Require vendors to comply with the Americans with Disability Act (for example, vendors cannot block curb ramps) 
  • Require a permit or license 
  • Request certain information about the business’ operations (name, mailing address, type of sale) 
  • Require sidewalk vendors to operate in a specific area, unless the local authority is restricting vending to protect the community’s health, safety, or welfare.   
  • Require vendors to ask permission from businesses or anyone besides the government.   
  • Prohibit sidewalk vendors from operating in public parks, unless the park has a concession agreement, or the park is restricting vending to protect the community’s health, safety, or welfare.   
  • Restrict the number of sidewalk vendors, unless the city or county must restrict the number of vendors to protect the community’s health, safety, or welfare. 

 

 

Home Occupation A home occupation is when a business is run partially or entirely from a residential home within the City of Hollister and is carried by up to two of the residences. Home occupations may be conducted in any residential district or any residential structure, provided such occupations are in compliance with the regulations set forth in the Hollister Municipal Code Section 17.22.130.  

If you will be using your home as the base for your business, the home/business is located within the Hollister City limits, a Home Occupation Permit from the Planning Division will be required. Note that some business types may not be able to be permitted as a Home Occupation, or may require a Conditional Use Permit approved by the Planning Commission. 

Prior to submitting a Home Occupation Permit Application to the Planning Division, review the Hollister Municipal Code Section 17.22.130 in its entirety and the Home Occupation FAQ Handout. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that the proposed home occupation will comply with the regulations and operation standards.  

If you will be operating a cottage food operation from your home, then click here. [Link to Cottage Food Page]  

If you will be operating a Micro-Kitchen (MEHKO), then click here. [Link to Micro-kitchen Page]  

[Home Occupation Application]  

[Home Occupation FAQ Handout] 

Cottage Food A cottage food operation is defined an enterprise that has no more than the amount in gross annual sales that is specified in this subdivision, is operated by a cottage food operator, and has no more than one full-time equivalent cottage food employee, not including a family member or household member of the cottage food operator, within the registered or permitted area of a private home where the cottage food operator resides and where cottage food products are prepared or packaged for direct, indirect, or direct and indirect sale to consumers pursuant to this part.  

Cottage food products are defined as non-potentially hazardous foods. Cottage food items containing cream, custard, or meat fillings are potentially hazardous and therefore are not permitted. A cottage food operation may be conducted from your residence but will require a cottage food license from the San Benito County Environmental Health Division and a Home Occupation Permit from the Planning Division. Once a cottage food license is obtained, you will need to submit a copy of the license with the Home Occupation Permit Application. For information on Home Occupation Permits click here. [Link to Home Occupation Page].  

Micro-Kitchen Enterprise 

The San Benito County has adopted an ordinance that temporarily permits Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations (MEHKO). The ordinance applies to all Micro-Kitchens that are operating within the unincorporated and incorporated areas of San Benito County. The ordinance can be reviewed here.  

A Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operation (MEHKO) is defined as a food facility with gross annual sales limits outlined in subdivision (a) subsection (7) of section 113825(a)(7), operated by a MEHKO operator and having not more than one full-time equivalent food employee, not including a family member or household member of the MEHKO operator, and conducted within the permitted area of a private home where the MEHKO operator resides and where microenterprise home kitchen foods are prepared or packaged for direct sales or delivery to consumers pursuant to Cal. Health and Safety Code § 113825(a)(3).  

In order to operate a Micro-Kitchen within the City of Hollister, the individual must first obtain a health permit from the San Benito County Environmental Health Division. In addition to the health permit, a home occupation permit with the Planning Division will be required. A copy of the health permit will need to be submitted with the Home Occupation Permit Application. For information on Home Occupations click here. [Link to the Home Occupation Page]

Home Daycare/Childcare On September 5, 2019, Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law Senate Bill 234 (SB 234, Skinner), also known as the “Keeping Kids Close to Home Act”.  The new law took effect on January 1, 2020. Pursuant to SB 234, SEC 2. Section 1596.73, the purposes of this act are to:  

  • Streamline the administration of childcare licensing and thereby increase the efficiency and effectiveness of this system.
  • Encourage the development of licensing staff with knowledge and understanding of children and childcare needs.
  • Provide providers of childcare with technical assistance about licensing requirements.
  • Enhance consumer awareness of licensing requirements and the benefits of licensed childcare.
  • Recognize that affordable, quality licensed childcare is critical to the well-being of parents and children in this state.
  • Promote the development and expansion of regulated childcare. 

 What does this mean for me? 

 The Keeping Kids Close to Home Act removed the ability for local jurisdictions to regulate large family childcare homes related to spacing & concentration, traffic control, parking, and noise control. 

Starting on January 1, 2020, large family child homes must be treated the same as small family childcare homes under all local laws. Cities and counties must treat all small and large family childcare homes as a by right, residential use of property. This means you do not need any permits, including a business license, from the City in order to operate a small or large daycare from your home. You are still required to obtain any necessary licenses from the California Department of Social Services. 

Supportive Housing/Transitional Housing  

Transitional housing serves as a bridge between a crisis shelter/homelessness and permanent housing. Transitional housing is temporary in terms of an individual’s housing journey. The goal of transitional housing is to provide a place to stay while moving toward a more permanent housing situation. Once individuals have developed more independent living skills and stability, they will move toward a more permanent living situation where supportive services are provided. Supportive housing is a more permanent, stable living situation. Within supportive housing a city may provide services such as living arrangement involving a lease, where the tenant pays a fraction of their income to rent.