Nevada City, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors today authorized an optional business license program as a three-year pilot for unincorporated county businesses. The program is expected to launch by November 2026 and will be periodically evaluated for its effectiveness.
The anticipated license cost will be $50 annually and will be available to an estimated 1,000 brick-and-mortar and home-based businesses in the unincorporated areas of Nevada County.
At the meeting, Board of Supervisors Chair Lisa Swarthout named 2026 as the Year of Small Business. “As a former small business owner, I know how little time there is to search for resources or ask for help,” Swarthout said. “This optional pilot will make it easier for businesses to connect with resources so they can focus on operating, growing, and staying here, while helping the County better understand and communicate with our business community,” she added.
After hearing from Economic Development Program Manager Kimberly Parker last spring on increasing requests from local businesses for licenses needed to secure financing, grants, and contracting opportunities, the Board of Supervisors asked the Economic Development Office and Treasurer–Tax Collector’s Office to research and bring back a recommendation for consideration. The Economic Development Office receives on average 5-10 inquiries a month for a business license.
Parker explained that the optional program would support businesses that need a license as well as those choosing to participate for its added benefits, including improved emergency communications during wildfires and severe weather, and increased credibility and trust through a County-issued business license.
Further, the program will give the County a greater understanding of the business community in the unincorporated areas, which may help inform policy decisions, strategic initiatives, and grant applications in the future.
In incorporated areas, Grass Valley and Nevada City offer business licenses. Truckee Chamber of Commerce is participating in a business landscape program for the Town of Truckee to determine who is doing business in the town.