Glendale Businesses: Do You Have Your BRC?

Every business with a physical location in Glendale, including those subleased, is required to maintain a valid BRC. So what is a BRC? First off, a BRC is not a business license or a business tax; the City of Glendale does not have a business license or business tax. A BRC, or Business Registration Certificate, is a certificate that allows the City to ensure that businesses are operating according to the rules of the Glendale Municipal Code. This annually-renewed certificate will allow the City to have a better understanding of the business activity taking place in Glendale, allowing the City to better serve the needs of the business community. To operate a business in Glendale, you are required to obtain a BRC regardless of any other licenses or certificates you may have previously obtained.

The most significant change as part of the BRC compared to a ZUC (dissolved in 2016) or U&O is that the BRC will need to be renewed on an annual basis to continue operating a business in Glendale. If you have a current ZUC or U&O issued by the City for your business in Glendale, you are still required to obtain a BRC to replace these previous certificates.

During the month of March 2016, HdL Companies began mailing out the first renewal notices to businesses with physical locations in Glendale. To ensure that the business community of Glendale is provided with the highest level of customer service, HdL has established a dedicated website and phone number to assist those who receive BRC renewal notices: visit glendale.hdlgov.com or call (818) 551-4681. Should you receive a renewal notice from HdL, please work directly with them to ensure a streamlined processing of your BRC. If you currently have a BRC that is expired or about to expire, there’s no need to do anything yet. HdL and the City are working together very closely to ensure that renewal notices are sent out in an organized manner and that each business receives the attention it deserves. As long as the BRC/ZUC/U&O you currently have is valid (i.e. nothing on the certificate has changed, such as the business name, ownership, business activity, square footage, etc.), then you will not be penalized for having an expired certificate. HdL will send you a notice when it’s time for your business to renew its BRC; until then, it is just business as usual.

If you are interested in applying for a BRC for the first time, please visit HdL’s online application process at glendale.hdlgov.com. The current fee for first time applicants is $262.42; renewals for every year thereafter will be charged at roughly 25% of this original fee. To apply, you will need to provide the following: a completed HdL application (glendale.hdlgov.com); a copy of the lease (if applicable) showing the property address, the individual leasing the space, and the square footage; and, if subleasing, a letter from the property owner stating that he or she is aware that a sublease is taking place and the square footage that is being subleased. Because it is the law in Glendale for every business to have a valid BRC and operating without one could result in fines. Every business is required to have its BRC posted in a visible location for all to see.

The City wants to make the implementation and transition to a BRC as simple and worry-free as possible for the businesses of Glendale. On a side note, business operations without a fixed location in Glendale, such as a realtor with an office in Los Angeles selling a house in Glendale, or a towing company with offices in Burbank towing a car in Glendale, are not required to obtain a BRC. Individuals conducting a business from the confines of their home are also not required to obtain a BRC; however, they do require a Home Occupation Permit to be issued before work may commence. If you have any questions about this process, please contact HdL at (818) 551-4681 or at support@hdlgov.com.

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  melinda clarke