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Fictitious Business Name (DBA) Statement: Los Angeles restaurant guide

LA County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk

What it is

Registers the trade name your restaurant uses if it differs from the legal entity or owner name.

When a restaurant needs it

If you do business under a name that does not include the owner's surname or the entity's exact legal name.

How to apply

File with the LA County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk (where the principal place of business is), then publish the statement in an adjudicated newspaper.

Documents you’ll need

Fee
$26 for one business name and one registrant (first filing or renewal); $5 for each additional name or registrant; online filing adds a $10.75 identity/processing fee
Processing time
Filing same day; newspaper publication runs about 4 weeks
Renewal
Every 5 years
Who files
The registrant or an authorized agent files; publication is handled by the newspaper.

Good to know

Banks often require the filed FBN to open an account in the trade name. Within 45 days of filing you must publish the statement in a newspaper of general circulation once a week for four consecutive weeks and file proof of publication; renewals don't require publication. The statement expires five years after filing.

Official source

LA County Clerk — Fictitious Business Names

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Last reviewed 2026-10-06. Guidance only, not legal advice.