Important information regarding renewal deferrals due to the California wild fires

Department of Consumer Affairs

Renewal Fee Postponement for Los Angeles Wildfire Survivors

On January 29, 2025, Governor Gavin Newsom issued Executive Order N-15-25, which postponed for one year the license renewal fees for Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA/Department) licenses that expire between January 1, 2025 and June 30, 2025, and whose residential or business address is within the wildfire impacted zip codes of 90041, 90049, 90265, 90272, 90290, 90402, 91001, 91024, 91103, 91104, 91107, 91367, or 93536.

How does this impact me? If your license expires between January 1, 2025 and June 30, 2025 and your residential or business address zip code is within the identified impacted zip codes, you can postpone payment of your renewal fees for one year. The renewal fees are not waived. You will still be required to pay the fees, but they will not be collected until 2026. You will be able to renew your license without paying the fee, and the fee will be collected in one year.

Do I still need to renew my license if I am eligible to postpone payment of my renewal fees? Yes. You must still complete the license renewal process by the license expiration date. You will just not have to pay the renewal fee.

What does a fee postponement mean? It means if your license expires January 1, 2025 through June 30, 2025, you would not have to pay 2025 renewal fees until 2026. The fees are not waived, and you will still be required to pay the fees in 2026.

Will I need to pay my renewal fees ever? Yes. Your renewal fee payment will be due in one year. For example, if your license expires on March 31, 2025, and you choose to postpone paying the license renewal fee for one year, you will be able to renew your license now without paying the fee, but you will be required to pay the fee one year later in March 2026. Depending on your Board’s license renewal process, renewals may either be processed online or by submitting a paper renewal.

How will the renewal system know I’m eligible to postpone payment of my renewal fees? The Department identified licenses expiring between January 1, 2025 through June 30, 2025 with an address on file within the identified zip codes. For these licenses, the renewal system will automatically reflect that $0 is owed at the time of renewal. You will be able to proceed with your renewal process without payment.

What if I believe I am eligible to postpone payment of my renewal fees, but the renewal system states that I am required to pay the fee now? If you believe you are eligible to postpone payment of your renewal fees because your residence or business address is within one of the identified zip codes, please contact the DCA board, bureau or commission that issued your license for assistance.

Am I required to postpone payment of my renewal fees? No, you are not required to postpone payment of renewal fees. You may choose to pay renewal fees now. If you choose to pay your renewal fees and you are renewing online, please contact the DCA board, bureau or commission that issued your license for assistance.

Who can I talk to if I still have questions? The DCA board, bureau, or commission that issued your license can assist you with any additional questions you may have. 

The DCA Disaster Help Center is also available to help fire survivor licensees with other DCA-related questions. Please contact 1-800-799-8314 or email CAFires@dca.ca.gov.

DCA Renewal Fee Postponement Information

Governor Gavin Newsom’s Announcement

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