Fictitious Business Name (FBN)

Due to high volume our current processing time for FBN applications is eight to twelve business days.

Napa County is asking the public to use online, mail, or drop off your application to transact business. 

A Fictitous Business Name Statement (also known as a DBA) can be filed in person or by mail, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., excluding legal holidays.

Forms

Five ways to get forms:

There is no charge for blank forms. For assistance with completion of the form, please contact your legal or financial advisor or check at your local public library.

Fictitious Business Name Searches and Copies

You can search our Fictitious Business Name (FBN) index online by business name or registrant name.

If you would like our office to search for you, there is a search fee of $6 per business name which is payable in advance. The search fee includes a copy of the statement or a certificate of no record.  Requests can be mailed to our office at P.O. Box 298, Napa CA 94559-0298.  Please enclose payment along with the name(s) you want us to search. We accept checks drawn on a California bank or a money order payable to Napa County Recorder. For an additional $7 processing fee, you may use a credit card for payment by calling 707-253-4247.  

A copy can be certified for an additional fee of $5.00 per statement.

Filing a Fictitious Business Name Statement

The filing fee for a single fictitious business name with one registrant is $50. Each additional business name and/or registrant names is $7 per DBA and/or registrant. We accept checks drawn on a California bank, cash or money orders. We also accept all major credit/debit cards when filing in person in our office. There is an additional $2.50 processing fee if a debit/credit card is used for payment.

Please note: After the fictitious business name statement is filed with our office, the statement must be published once a week for four consecutive weeks in a local adjudicated newspaper. Our office will provide a list of adjudicated local newspapers at the time the statement is filed.

Business Licenses

Please note: Business licenses are not issued by the County Clerk Office. Please contact your local City/Town Hall:

  • City of American Canyon: 707-647-4354
  • City of Calistoga: 707-942-2800
  • City of Napa: 707-257-9508
  • City of St. Helena: 707-967-2792
  • Town of Yountville: 707-944-8851

Abandonment of a Fictitious Business Name

A Statement of Abandonment of a Fictitious Business Name, as required by Business and Professions Code Section 17922, shall be filed upon ceasing to transact business under a current fictitious business name. The fee for filing an abandonment of a fictitious name is $50. This filing also requires the same publication as the fictitious business name. Information on how to obtain this form is in the "Fictitious Business Name" section.

Withdrawal of General Partner From a Fictitious Business Name

A Withdrawal of General Partner from a Fictitious Business Name, Business and Professions Code Section 17923, may be filed upon ceasing to transact business as a general partner under a current Fictitious Business Name. The fee filing a withdrawal of general partner from a fictitious name is $50. This filing also requires the same publication as the fictitious business name. Information on how to obtain this form is in the "Fictitious Business Name" section.