Short answer. The county clerk where the principal place of business is. There's no state or national registry. LLCs and corporations file with the county too; Los Angeles asks for a Secretary of State good-standing printout. Expires five years from the filing date unless abandoned sooner. Renew by refiling; a renewal with no changes doesn't need to be published again (San Luis Obispo, Tulare).
At a glance
- Called
- fictitious business name (FBN) statement
- Where to file
- County
- Filing fee
- No state fee. Each county sets its own: $26 in Los Angeles and $45 in Tulare for one name and one registrant.
- Local fees vary
- Yes
- How long it lasts
- 5 years
- Newspaper notice
- Yes
- Online filing
- Some counties take filings online (Los Angeles); San Luis Obispo's portal still needs an in-person visit within 30 days.
Renewal, with dates
Expires five years from the filing date unless abandoned sooner. Renew by refiling; a renewal with no changes doesn't need to be published again (San Luis Obispo, Tulare).
For a registration filed on Monday, November 2, 2026:
- Sole proprietor or partnership: expires Sunday, November 2, 2031
The newspaper notice
Once a week for four consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the filing county. Los Angeles says to start within 30 days of filing; San Luis Obispo and Tulare say 45 days. San Luis Obispo wants the affidavit of publication within 45 days after the last run.
Filed on Monday, November 2, 2026, the dates work out as:
- First notice by: Wednesday, December 2, 2026
- Last of the 4 weekly notices, if the first runs that day: Wednesday, December 23, 2026
- Proof of publication filed by (counted from that last notice): Saturday, February 6, 2027
Your own date: open the calculator set to California.
Before you file
File no later than 40 days after you start doing business under the name (Business and Professions Code 17910, as quoted by Tulare County).
Official sources
- Tulare County Clerk-Recorder: Fictitious business names FAQ (checked November 2026)
- Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk: FBN FAQ (checked November 2026)
- San Luis Obispo County Clerk-Recorder: New FBN filing (checked November 2026)
General information, not legal advice; we are not lawyers. Checked November 2026 against the pages above. Fees and forms change, and a county or town office can add its own steps, so confirm with the filing office before you file. We don't file DBAs or trade names for anyone.
Questions people ask
Where is a DBA filed in California?
It's called a fictitious business name (FBN) statement. The county clerk where the principal place of business is. There's no state or national registry. LLCs and corporations file with the county too; Los Angeles asks for a Secretary of State good-standing printout.
What does it cost to register a business name in California?
No state fee. Each county sets its own: $26 in Los Angeles and $45 in Tulare for one name and one registrant. Local fees differ from one office to the next.
How long does a California fictitious business name last?
Expires five years from the filing date unless abandoned sooner. Renew by refiling; a renewal with no changes doesn't need to be published again (San Luis Obispo, Tulare).
Does California require a newspaper notice?
Yes. Once a week for four consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the filing county. Los Angeles says to start within 30 days of filing; San Luis Obispo and Tulare say 45 days. San Luis Obispo wants the affidavit of publication within 45 days after the last run.
Can the filing be done online in California?
Some counties take filings online (Los Angeles); San Luis Obispo's portal still needs an in-person visit within 30 days.
Anything else to know before filing in California?
File no later than 40 days after you start doing business under the name (Business and Professions Code 17910, as quoted by Tulare County).
All states: DBA registration by state · Florida