California FBN statements are filed with the county of the principal business location. BPC § 17910 generally requires filing within 40 days after commencing business; § 17917 requires publication to begin within 45 days, weekly for four successive weeks, and an affidavit within 45 days after completion. Statements generally expire after five years under § 17920. The current publication deadline comes from SB 1495, not AB 878; confirm local fees and any exemption.
Official source: California Legislative InformationOfficial source: California Legislative InformationOfficial source: California Legislative InformationVerified against the California Secretary of State and FTB on Oct 21, 2026
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Identify the county and file within 40 days
BPC § 17910 generally requires filing within 40 days after commencing business under the fictitious name. Use the principal-place-of-business county; FBN is not SOS entity formation.
Official source: California Legislative InformationSchedule publication and affidavit separately
BPC §§ 17910, 17917, 17920: file within 40 days after commencing business under the name; begin publication within 45 days after filing, weekly for 4 successive weeks in an adjudicated newspaper of general circulation; file the affidavit within 45 days after completion. Statements generally expire after 5 years, or earlier following specified changes. Confirm statutory exemptions with the clerk. The 45-day rule is not an AB 878 amendment.
Official source: California Legislative InformationCheck the county’s current schedule
The lookup includes official county portals, offices and fee comparisons. Unconfirmed supplied quotes are clearly marked; verified corrections include Alameda’s $7 additional fee and San Francisco’s $17 additional fee. Newspaper charges and service fees are separate. Confirm local procedures before paying.
Official source: California Secretary of StateYour preparation checklist
- Determine the principal-place-of-business county
- Find the official county clerk’s current FBN process
- Confirm fees, signer and search requirements
- Confirm publication, exemptions and affidavit requirements
- Keep the filed statement and any publication evidence
County confirmation lookup
County confirmation lookup
Los Angeles County
LA County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk12400 Imperial Hwy, Norwalk, CA 90650
Official fee schedule: $26 base + $5 additional
Per additional name or registrant.
Official source: https://www.lavote.gov/home/county-clerk/fictitious-business-names/feesBPC §§ 17910, 17917, 17920: file within 40 days after commencing business under the name; begin publication within 45 days after filing, weekly for 4 successive weeks in an adjudicated newspaper of general circulation; file the affidavit within 45 days after completion. Statements generally expire after 5 years, or earlier following specified changes. Confirm statutory exemptions with the clerk. The 45-day rule is not an AB 878 amendment.
Publication, optional services and taxes are separate from the county fee.
0 of 5 local confirmations recorded for Los Angeles County.
| County | Base / Additional | Office | Fee conditions & portal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $26 / $5 Official schedule | LA County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk 12400 Imperial Hwy, Norwalk, CA 90650 | Per additional name or registrant.Official source: https://www.lavote.gov/home/county-clerk/fictitious-business-names/fees |
| Orange | $23 / $7 Official schedule | Orange County Clerk-Recorder 601 N. Ross St., Santa Ana, CA 92701 | Base covers one name and up to two registrants; $7 per additional name or registrant after the first two.Official source: https://www.ocrecorder.com/clerk-services/fictitious-business-name |
| San Diego | $54 / $5 Official schedule | San Diego Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk 1600 Pacific Hwy, Suite 260, San Diego, CA 92101 | Base covers one name and owner; additional charge per name or owner.Official source: https://www.sdarcc.gov/content/dam/arcc/recorder-county-clerk/forms/Recorder%20County%20Clerk%20Fee%20Schedule.pdf |
| Riverside | $66 / $5 Unconfirmed quote | Riverside County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder 2724 Gateway Dr., Riverside, CA 92507 — confirm current FBN counter | Provided quote; fee and counter address not independently confirmed. Confirm with the clerk before relying on this amount.Official source: https://www.rivcoacr.org/fictitiousbusinessnames |
| San Bernardino | $90 / $2 Official schedule | San Bernardino Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk 222 W. Hospitality Ln., San Bernardino, CA 92415-0022 | Additional charge per name or owner.Official source: https://arc.sbcounty.gov/fbn/ |
| Santa Clara | $40 / $7 Unconfirmed quote | Santa Clara County Clerk-Recorder 110 W. Tasman Dr., First Floor, San Jose, CA 95134 | Provided quote; fee not independently confirmed. Check the current county fee brochure.Official source: https://clerkrecorder.sccgov.org/services-we-provide/fictitious-business-name-fbn-statement |
| Alameda | $40 / $7 Official schedule | Alameda County Clerk-Recorder 1106 Madison St., Oakland, CA 94607 | Official schedule: $7, not $10, per additional name or owner; schedule effective January 1, 2024. Confirm current fee.Official source: https://www.acgov.org/auditor/clerk/fbnfees.htm |
| Sacramento | $50.06 / $8.52 Official schedule | Sacramento County business licensing / FBN 700 H St., Room 1710, Sacramento, CA 95814 — confirm the appropriate filing counter | Business Licensing FBN schedule effective July 1, 2026: base includes $47 + $3.06 IT fee. Confirm filing office and applicable current charge.Official source: https://finance.saccounty.gov/content/dam/finance/docs/tax/forms/business/Business%20Licensing%20Effective%2007.01.26.pdf |
| San Francisco | $69 / $17 Official schedule | SF Office of the County Clerk City Hall Room 168, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Pl., San Francisco, CA 94102 — confirm current service counter | Announced July 1, 2026 schedule: $17 per additional name/registrant; $11 is the affidavit filing fee, not the additional-owner charge.Official source: https://www.sf.gov/information--fees-county-clerk-services |
| Ventura | $53 / $7 Unconfirmed quote | Ventura County Clerk and Recorder 800 S. Victoria Ave., Ventura, CA 93009 | Provided quote; fee not independently confirmed. Confirm the current county FBN schedule.Official source: https://recorder.countyofventura.org/county-clerk/county-clerk/fictitious-business-name/ |
Keep the requirements separate.
| Requirement | Verified detail / confirmation needed | Official authority |
|---|---|---|
| Filing | Within 40 days after commencing business under the name. | Official source: California Legislative Information |
| Publication | Begin within 45 days after filing; once weekly for four successive weeks in an adjudicated newspaper. | Official source: California Legislative Information |
| Affidavit | File within 45 days after publication is completed. | Official source: California Legislative Information |
| Expiration | Generally five years, or earlier after specified changes. | Official source: California Legislative Information |
| Los Angeles | LA County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk: 12400 Imperial Hwy, Norwalk, CA 90650. Official schedule: $26 base + $5 additional. Per additional name or registrant. | Official source: https://www.lavote.gov/home/county-clerk/fictitious-business-names/fees |
| Orange | Orange County Clerk-Recorder: 601 N. Ross St., Santa Ana, CA 92701. Official schedule: $23 base + $7 additional. Base covers one name and up to two registrants; $7 per additional name or registrant after the first two. | Official source: https://www.ocrecorder.com/clerk-services/fictitious-business-name |
| San Diego | San Diego Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk: 1600 Pacific Hwy, Suite 260, San Diego, CA 92101. Official schedule: $54 base + $5 additional. Base covers one name and owner; additional charge per name or owner. | Official source: https://www.sdarcc.gov/content/dam/arcc/recorder-county-clerk/forms/Recorder%20County%20Clerk%20Fee%20Schedule.pdf |
| Riverside | Riverside County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder: 2724 Gateway Dr., Riverside, CA 92507 — confirm current FBN counter. Unconfirmed supplied quote: $66 base + $5 additional. Provided quote; fee and counter address not independently confirmed. Confirm with the clerk before relying on this amount. | Official source: https://www.rivcoacr.org/fictitiousbusinessnames |
| San Bernardino | San Bernardino Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk: 222 W. Hospitality Ln., San Bernardino, CA 92415-0022. Official schedule: $90 base + $2 additional. Additional charge per name or owner. | Official source: https://arc.sbcounty.gov/fbn/ |
| Santa Clara | Santa Clara County Clerk-Recorder: 110 W. Tasman Dr., First Floor, San Jose, CA 95134. Unconfirmed supplied quote: $40 base + $7 additional. Provided quote; fee not independently confirmed. Check the current county fee brochure. | Official source: https://clerkrecorder.sccgov.org/services-we-provide/fictitious-business-name-fbn-statement |
| Alameda | Alameda County Clerk-Recorder: 1106 Madison St., Oakland, CA 94607. Official schedule: $40 base + $7 additional. Official schedule: $7, not $10, per additional name or owner; schedule effective January 1, 2024. Confirm current fee. | Official source: https://www.acgov.org/auditor/clerk/fbnfees.htm |
| Sacramento | Sacramento County business licensing / FBN: 700 H St., Room 1710, Sacramento, CA 95814 — confirm the appropriate filing counter. Official schedule: $50.06 base + $8.52 additional. Business Licensing FBN schedule effective July 1, 2026: base includes $47 + $3.06 IT fee. Confirm filing office and applicable current charge. | Official source: https://finance.saccounty.gov/content/dam/finance/docs/tax/forms/business/Business%20Licensing%20Effective%2007.01.26.pdf |
| San Francisco | SF Office of the County Clerk: City Hall Room 168, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Pl., San Francisco, CA 94102 — confirm current service counter. Official schedule: $69 base + $17 additional. Announced July 1, 2026 schedule: $17 per additional name/registrant; $11 is the affidavit filing fee, not the additional-owner charge. | Official source: https://www.sf.gov/information--fees-county-clerk-services |
| Ventura | Ventura County Clerk and Recorder: 800 S. Victoria Ave., Ventura, CA 93009. Unconfirmed supplied quote: $53 base + $7 additional. Provided quote; fee not independently confirmed. Confirm the current county FBN schedule. | Official source: https://recorder.countyofventura.org/county-clerk/county-clerk/fictitious-business-name/ |
Carry the decision forward.
Corp USA is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. State fees are pass-through. Service fees and taxes are separate. Review the order price before payment.
Before your next step
No. The current BPC § 17917 attributes its deadline amendment to SB 1495 (2022). AB 878 amended other FBN provisions effective January 1, 2024. The publication and affidavit windows are each 45 days.
Official source: California Legislative InformationIt covers ten major counties; unconfirmed quotes are marked and corrected official schedules are identified. For the other 48 counties, statewide deadlines still apply, but confirm the local clerk’s fee.
Official source: California Secretary of StateNo. It registers a fictitious name; LLC formation is a separate SOS filing.
Official source: California Secretary of State