How much permits cost to open in Milpitas
In Milpitas, the fixed government fees add up to about $890, 9 fees are set by the space or the business and 9 filings are free. Build-out, insurance and adviser costs are on top.
Fees and timelines at a glance
| Filing | Agency | Government fee | How long | Renews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Application for Employer Identification Number (EIN) | Internal Revenue Service | Free | Fax: about 4 business days. Mail: about 4 to 5 weeks. Phone: issued on the call. | Not listed |
| Articles of Organization (California LLC) | California Secretary of State | $70 | Online filings are currently reviewed about 3 days after receipt (mail about 8 days), per the Oct 8, 2026 queue. | Statement of Information (LLC-12, $20) within 90 days, then every two years. |
| Statement of Information (California LLC) | California Secretary of State | $20 | Not listed | Every two years, in the anniversary month of formation and the five months before it. |
| Seller's permit | California Department of Tax and Fee Administration | Free | Often issued the same day. | Does not expire. |
| Create/Update Importer Identity Form | U.S. Customs and Border Protection | Free | Up to 5 business days. | Not listed |
| Customs Bond | U.S. Customs and Border Protection | Varies | At least 5 business days for review. | Continuous bonds renew yearly. |
| Certified food protection manager | California Retail Food Code, enforced by the county or city environmental health department | Varies | Not listed | Every 5 years. |
| ACE Secure Data Portal account for importers | U.S. Customs and Border Protection | Free | Not listed | Not listed |
| Food handler cards for staff | California Retail Food Code, enforced by the county or city environmental health department | Varies | Not listed | Every 3 years. |
| Cosmetic product facility registration (MoCRA) | U.S. Food and Drug Administration | Free | Not listed | Every two years. |
| Cosmetic product listing (MoCRA) | U.S. Food and Drug Administration | Free | Not listed | Update every year. |
| City of Milpitas business license | City of Milpitas Finance Department | Varies | Not listed | Not listed |
| Product safety certificate, filed electronically at entry | U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission | Free | Not listed | Not listed |
| Hazardous materials registration | Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (DOT) | Varies | Not listed | Every year by June 30. |
| Registration Form for Commercial Employers | California Employment Development Department | Free | Mail-in registration takes about 10 to 14 days; online is faster. | Not listed |
| Food facility plan check | County of Santa Clara Department of Environmental Health | Varies | After payment, inspector review may take up to 20 business days. | Not listed |
| Building permit for the tenant improvement | City of Milpitas Building Safety and Housing | Varies | Not listed | Not listed |
| Health permit to operate a food facility | County of Santa Clara Department of Environmental Health | Varies | The county's plan review can take up to 20 business days, and the invoice for the operating permit is sent after the final inspection passes. | Every year. |
| LLC annual tax ($800) | California Franchise Tax Board | $800 | Paying the $800 LLC tax online through Web Pay is immediate; it's due by the 15th day of the 4th month of the LLC's tax year. | Every year, by the 15th day of the 4th month of the tax year. |
| Packaging producer registration (EPR) | CalRecycle, through Circular Action Alliance | Varies | Not listed | Not listed |
| Proposition 65 warning labels | California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment | Free | Nothing is filed with or approved by OEHHA, so there's no processing time; the business decides whether a warning is needed and must have it in place itself. | Not listed |
Application for Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Internal Revenue ServiceUS federal
Owners with an SSN or ITIN apply online. A company whose responsible party has neither (most China-based owners) faxes or mails Form SS-4, or calls the IRS international line.
- Fee
- Free
- Filed
- Paper form, faxed or mailed
- Takes
- Fax: about 4 business days. Mail: about 4 to 5 weeks. Phone: issued on the call.
Articles of Organization (California LLC)
California Secretary of StateCalifornia
Filed online in bizfile Online.
- Fee
- $70
- Filed
- Filed online
- Takes
- Online filings are currently reviewed about 3 days after receipt (mail about 8 days), per the Oct 8, 2026 queue.
- Renews
- Statement of Information (LLC-12, $20) within 90 days, then every two years.
Statement of Information (California LLC)
California Secretary of StateCalifornia
Due within 90 days of forming or registering the LLC in California, then every two years. Filed in bizfile Online, or on the paper form by mail.
- Fee
- $20
- Filed
- Filed online
- Renews
- Every two years, in the anniversary month of formation and the five months before it.
Seller's permit
California Department of Tax and Fee AdministrationCalifornia
Register online before your first sale; one permit for each location.
- Fee
- Free
- Filed
- Filed online
- Takes
- Often issued the same day.
- Renews
- Does not expire.
Create/Update Importer Identity Form
U.S. Customs and Border ProtectionUS federal
Sent to CBP (usually through your customs broker), or created in the ACE portal. Needed before your first entry as importer of record.
- Fee
- Free
- Filed
- Paper form, mailed
- Takes
- Up to 5 business days.
Customs Bond
U.S. Customs and Border ProtectionUS federal
Bought from a CBP-approved surety, usually through your customs broker, who files it electronically. A continuous bond covers a year of entries.
- Fee
- Varies
- Filed
- Filed on the agency's portal
- Takes
- At least 5 business days for review.
- Renews
- Continuous bonds renew yearly.
Certified food protection manager
California Retail Food Code, enforced by the county or city environmental health departmentCalifornia
An owner or employee of a place that prepares, handles or serves unpackaged perishable food passes a food protection manager exam from an accredited organization. A new place, a new owner, or a place that loses its certified person has 60 days to have one, and one person can't be certified for two locations. Keep the certificate on file for the inspector.
- Fee
- Varies
- Filed
- Filed online
- Renews
- Every 5 years.
ACE Secure Data Portal account for importers
U.S. Customs and Border ProtectionUS federal
Applied for online in ACE. Lets you see your entries, duties and bond.
- Fee
- Free
- Filed
- Filed online
Food handler cards for staff
California Retail Food Code, enforced by the county or city environmental health departmentCalifornia
Every employee who prepares, stores or handles food gets a California Food Handler Card from an accredited course within 30 days of hire; the card is good for 3 years. Anyone holding a valid food manager certificate is exempt.
- Fee
- Varies
- Filed
- Filed online
- Renews
- Every 3 years.
Cosmetic product facility registration (MoCRA)
U.S. Food and Drug AdministrationUS federal
Filed online in Cosmetics Direct by the facility that makes or processes the cosmetics.
- Fee
- Free
- Filed
- Filed online
- Renews
- Every two years.
Cosmetic product listing (MoCRA)
U.S. Food and Drug AdministrationUS federal
Filed online in Cosmetics Direct by the brand (the responsible person on the label), one listing per product.
- Fee
- Free
- Filed
- Filed online
- Renews
- Update every year.
City of Milpitas business license
City of Milpitas Finance DepartmentMilpitas
A commercial application is reviewed and approved by Building and Planning before the license issues.
- Fee
- Varies
- Filed
- Filed online
Product safety certificate, filed electronically at entry
U.S. Consumer Product Safety CommissionUS federal
The importer issues the certificate itself (there is no government form) and, under the eFiling rule, files the certificate data with CBP at entry.
- Fee
- Free
- Filed
- Filed online
Hazardous materials registration
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (DOT)US federal
Filed online when you ship or offer certain hazardous materials in bulk, such as large lithium battery shipments.
- Fee
- Varies
- Filed
- Filed online
- Renews
- Every year by June 30.
Registration Form for Commercial Employers
California Employment Development DepartmentCalifornia
Register in e-Services for Business within 15 days of paying over $100 in wages.
- Fee
- Free
- Filed
- Filed online
- Takes
- Mail-in registration takes about 10 to 14 days; online is faster.
Food facility plan check
County of Santa Clara Department of Environmental HealthSCC
Email the application, scaled plans, menu and equipment sheets to dehplancheck@deh.sccgov.org, then pay the invoiced review fee. The city needs the county's stamped plans before its own plan check.
- Fee
- Varies
- Filed
- Paper form, mailed
- Takes
- After payment, inspector review may take up to 20 business days.
Building permit for the tenant improvement
City of Milpitas Building Safety and HousingMilpitas
Submit the items on the city's tenant improvement list; a food facility brings drawings approved by Santa Clara County first.
- Fee
- Varies
- Filed
- Filed on the agency's portal
Health permit to operate a food facility
County of Santa Clara Department of Environmental HealthSCC
Submit the permit application by email or in person at or before the final inspection; the operating fee is invoiced after the final.
- Fee
- Varies
- Filed
- Paper form, mailed
- Takes
- The county's plan review can take up to 20 business days, and the invoice for the operating permit is sent after the final inspection passes.
- Renews
- Every year.
LLC annual tax ($800)
California Franchise Tax BoardCalifornia
Paid every year by every LLC registered or doing business in California.
- Fee
- $800
- Filed
- Filed online
- Takes
- Paying the $800 LLC tax online through Web Pay is immediate; it's due by the 15th day of the 4th month of the LLC's tax year.
- Renews
- Every year, by the 15th day of the 4th month of the tax year.
Packaging producer registration (EPR)
CalRecycle, through Circular Action AllianceCalifornia
The brand owner or importer of packaged goods sold in California registers and reports with the producer organization.
- Fee
- Varies
- Filed
- Filed on the agency's portal
Proposition 65 warning labels
California Office of Environmental Health Hazard AssessmentCalifornia
Nothing is filed. Businesses with 10 or more employees warn before exposing Californians to listed chemicals, including online at checkout.
- Fee
- Free
- Filed
- Nothing to file
- Takes
- Nothing is filed with or approved by OEHHA, so there's no processing time; the business decides whether a warning is needed and must have it in place itself.
Guides for each business in Milpitas
Every filing links to the agency's own page, and every fact comes from an official form or agency page. Agency requirements change; check the agency's page before you file. How we source and check these guides
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Get the plan for your business in Milpitas
This guide covers the city. Your exact address decides the county, the health district and the zoning. Placetta maps every filing for it, fills the official forms from your details, adds the deadlines and puts them up for your approval.
- The full list for your address, in filing order
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