Doing Business

Whether you’re a long established business in the Old Sacramento Waterfront or you’re looking to grow, you can find valuable resources you’ll need below.

We want you to have the grand opening of your dreams! Opening your own business requires so many moving parts, which can take away from planning a day to celebrate your new milestone. With our assistance, we can provide you the tools to host a successful grand opening, reach media outlets, advertise on social media and create a welcoming atmosphere for consumers. Fill out this form to get started!

Sign Ordinances & Application Process

To download the complete sign guidelines for the Old Sacramento Waterfront, click here.

To apply for a sign permit:

https://aca-prod.accela.com/SACRAMENTO/Cap/CapHome.aspx?module=Planning&TabName=Planning

• Create or log in to your account
• Follow the on-screen instructions to complete and submit your application. 
• For assistance or questions, please refer to the informative videos located at the bottom of the page at the following link: https://www.cityofsacramento.gov/community-development/planning/e-planning.

Street parking in the Old Sacramento Waterfront is designed for short-term visitors and should not be used for your business or employee parking needs. The city offers many programs from monthly passes in the garages to discounted parking for your employees.

• District Validation Program – These are stacks of validations that are for customers to offset their parking ($5 off garage parking) with purchases in your establishment. Please contact csteacker@downtownsac.org for more details about the program. 
• DEPP/PTEP Parking Program – This is for employees who are either part time or full time, and it offers them discounted rates in the garage. They simply fill out the form online and submit their paystub as proof that they qualify. The online form can be found here.

The qualifications are:  

DEPP (Full Time Employees only) 

• Earns $20 or less an hour
• Rate is .25 per half hour 

PTEP (Part Time Employees only) 

• Earns $25 or less an hour
• Works 30 hours or less a week 
• Rate is .50 per half hour 
   
• Commuter Parking Special: There is a $6/day parking special at the Tower Bridge and Old Sacramento Garage that’s available to staff but would advise that they book these the day before their shift. Click here for the dates available to reserve.
  • The details on this program are: Commuter Parking Special are available Monday through Friday. Commuters must be “IN” between 4:00 – 10:00 a.m. and “OUT” between 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. No discounts, coupons or validations are accepted with this rate. A maximum of one scan is allowed to enter and one scan at the exit to drive out.

Offer your customers an added benefit to shopping in your store or dining in your restaurant with the City of Sacramento Validation Program.

Once you have applied and been approved, you may contact the Old Sacramento Waterfront District office at (916) 846-7922 or csteacker@downtownsac.org. Minimum order quantity equals 100 validations / $100.

The Old Sacramento Waterfront District Office of the Downtown Sacramento Partnership communicates through email merchant alerts and quarterly merchant meetings. If you are a merchant in the district and you are not receiving emails, please email us at info@oldsacramento.com with your name, your business name and your email address so we can add you to the directory.

All businesses that operate in the city limits or do business with the City of Sacramento must have a Business Operation Tax certificate. The certificate is the equivalent of a business license in other jurisdictions.

For more information about the Business Operations Tax click here.

For FAQs and online services, click here.