Fictitious business name in San Diego
San Diego DBA fees and deadlines
- A business files within 40 days of first transacting business and starts the newspaper notice within 45 days of filing.
- The San Diego County Clerk charges $54 for one name and one owner, plus $5 for each extra name or owner (2026).
- A fictitious business name statement is valid for five years, or until a change of business address or owner.
Who needs a DBA in San Diego County
A San Diego County business files a fictitious business name statement when it trades under:
- A name without the owner's surname, such as Sugar Hill Bakes for a North Park baker
- A name from which the nature of the business isn't clear
- The owner's surname plus words that suggest other owners, such as Associates or Sons
- A name without every partner's surname, for a partnership
- Any name other than the exact registered name, for a corporation or LLC
Businesses file only in the county where they are located, since California keeps no statewide registry. The County Clerk neither approves names nor guarantees exclusive use.
How to file a fictitious business name in San Diego
- Complete the online application and bring the transaction summary with a government photo ID to the downtown San Diego, Chula Vista, Santee or San Marcos office. The Kearny Mesa office doesn't take FBN filings. Mail filers print the form, sign it in wet ink and send it to San Diego Recorder/County Clerk, ATTN: FBN, PO Box 121750, San Diego, CA 92112-1750.
- Pay in person by cash, check, money order or card, with a $2.50 surcharge on cards; mail filers pay by check or money order only.
- Publish the notice once a week for four consecutive weeks in a newspaper from the clerk's list. Owners can check that the proof of publication was filed under Document Details in the FBN records search.
Mail filers need no notary and no ID copy, only the original signature and payment.
The City of Chula Vista asks Chula Vista business license applicants trading under a DBA for proof of filing.
Filing fee for two owners and two names
A two-owner Encinitas food truck filing two trade names on one statement, in person by card, pays the County Clerk:
| Item | Amount (2026) |
|---|---|
| First name and first registrant | $54 |
| Second registrant | $5 |
| Second name | $5 |
| Card surcharge | $2.50 |
| Total | $66.50 |
The newspaper bills separately for the four notices.
Renewing, changing or abandoning a fictitious business name
- Renewal: an owner who renews with no changes within 40 days of the expiration date skips the newspaper notices.
- Changes: the County Clerk accepts no changes to a filed statement. An owner refiles, pays again and republishes for any change or correction, with no refund of the first fee.
- Abandonment: an owner who stops using the name before the statement expires files a statement of abandonment, pays the fee and publishes it.
- Copies: the County Clerk charges $2 for the first page, $0.05 for each additional page and $1 to certify.
When to hire a CPA for several trade names
An LLC that runs several DBAs, such as a Gaslamp bar, a catering business and a food truck, reports them on one return. A CPA can set up separate books for each trade name. Start with how to choose a CPA.