Photography Business Permit Requirements in Los Angeles, CA

1. EIN (Employer Identification Number)

   Required if you have employees or operate as an LLC or corporation. Apply free and instantly online through the IRS website.

   Official government source

   Free·Immediate (online application)

   Free

   Immediate (online application)

2. FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate (Drone Photography)

   Required for commercial aerial photography using drones. Los Angeles has extensive Class B airspace (LAX), requiring LAANC authorization or FAA waivers for most drone operations near the city. Photographers must pass the FAA Aeronautical Knowledge Test. Certificate renewed every 24 months via online recurrent training.

   Official government source

   $175 (exam fee)·2–4 weeks

   $175 (exam fee)

   2–4 weeks

1. California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) — Seller's Permit

   California photographers must obtain a Seller's Permit from the CDTFA if they sell tangible personal property — including prints, photo albums, frames, physical storage media, or other tangible photographic products. The 'true object' test determines taxability: if the client primarily wants a service (e.g., a wedding session), the service is not taxable, but the physical prints or products delivered are taxable. Purely digital delivery to customers is generally not taxable in California.

   Official government source

   Free (security deposit may be required)·Immediate (online registration)

   Free (security deposit may be required)

   Immediate (online registration)

2. California Secretary of State — Business Entity Registration

   If operating as an LLC or corporation, register your photography business entity with the California Secretary of State. LLCs pay a $70 filing fee for Articles of Organization. All California LLCs are also subject to the annual minimum $800 franchise tax payable to the California Franchise Tax Board.

   Official government source

   $70 (LLC Articles of Organization) + $800/year minimum franchise tax·3–5 business days (online) or 2–3 weeks (by mail)

   $70 (LLC Articles of Organization) + $800/year minimum franchise tax

   3–5 business days (online) or 2–3 weeks (by mail)

1. City of Los Angeles Business Tax Registration Certificate (BTRC)

   All businesses operating within Los Angeles city limits must register with the City of Los Angeles Office of Finance and obtain a Business Tax Registration Certificate. Photography studios, freelance photographers, and home-based photography businesses are all required to register. Most new businesses receive a tax exemption for the first two years of operation; businesses with $100,000 or less in gross receipts may qualify for a small business exemption. Register online at finance.lacity.gov.

   Official government source

   $0 (first two years for new businesses); thereafter based on gross receipts — typically $50–$250/year for small photography businesses·Immediate (online registration); permanent certificate mailed in 4–6 weeks

   $0 (first two years for new businesses); thereafter based on gross receipts — typically $50–$250/year for small photography businesses

   Immediate (online registration); permanent certificate mailed in 4–6 weeks

2. FilmLA Commercial Photography Permit (for shoots on public property)

   Commercial photography shoots on public property within the City of Los Angeles — including streets, sidewalks, parks, and public buildings — require a permit through FilmLA. A permit application fee applies per permit. Small still photography sessions (e.g., a photographer and one or two subjects with handheld equipment) may be exempt. Larger productions with lighting equipment, production vehicles, or crew require a full FilmLA permit along with liability insurance.

   Official government source

   $931 application fee per permit (as of 2024); still photography rider $31 additional·3–10 business days

   $931 application fee per permit (as of 2024); still photography rider $31 additional

   3–10 business days

3. Los Angeles County Fictitious Business Name (DBA) Statement

   If your photography business operates under any name other than your own legal name (e.g., 'LA Lens Studio'), you must file a Fictitious Business Name statement with the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder. The statement must also be published in a newspaper of general circulation once a week for four consecutive weeks within 30 days of filing.

   Official government source

   $26 filing fee for first business name; $5 per additional name; publication costs vary ($50–$150)·Filing: same day; publication: 4 weeks

   $26 filing fee for first business name; $5 per additional name; publication costs vary ($50–$150)

   Filing: same day; publication: 4 weeks

Official Sources

• City of Los Angeles Office of Finance — Business Registration Process
• FilmLA — Get a Film Permit
• CDTFA — Tax Guide for Photography
• LA County Registrar-Recorder — Fictitious Business Name
• FAA — Become a Drone Pilot (Part 107)

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