Form SPD 384, Permit Application, is the City of Sacramento form used to apply for, renew, replace or transfer certain permits issued by the Sacramento Police Department (SPD). If you are sorting out a Sacramento business license, note that SPD 384 is not the Business Operations Tax (BOT) Certificate the city requires of anyone engaged in business there; it covers special permits such as secondhand/pawn, amusement arcade, cardroom employee, adult entertainer and solicitor/canvasser. On this page you can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF; the city publishes the original PDF and accepts applications through the Revenue Division.
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What is SPD 384?
Form SPD 384, Permit Application, is the City of Sacramento form for requesting a new, changed-owner, duplicate or renewed police-issued business permit. It gathers business, owner, permit-history, criminal-history and property details that the city reviews before a permit is issued.
The City of Sacramento lists SPD 384 as the required form for five Sacramento Police Department permits: Adult Entertainer Permit, Amusement Arcades, Cardroom Employees, Secondhand/Pawn and Solicitor/Canvasser. The form's own permit-type boxes are Alcohol, Card Room, Gun Dealer, Entertainment and 2nd Hand/Pawn.
The form has these parts: reason for application and type of business entity; business information; owners, partners and applicants; products and services sold (food, alcohol, amusement machines, music, dancing, live performance, and dealing in coins, firearms, jewels, gold or secondhand property); property ownership; criminal history; and a signature certified under penalty of perjury. A "For official use only" block records Planning, Building and Fire approvals, the SPD number and a thumb print.
The form warns that a permit may be denied, suspended or revoked for a false statement or for reasons in Sacramento City Code Chapter 5, and that application fees are non-refundable.
SPD 384 is not the Business Operations Tax (BOT) Certificate. Billiards uses a separate Billiard Application, and Christmas tree lot and firework booth permits are issued by the Fire Department on their own forms.
Who needs to file SPD 384?
Business owners, partners and individual applicants who need one of the police-issued permits the City of Sacramento lists with SPD 384 use this form:
- Adult Entertainer Permit applicants.
- Operators of Amusement Arcades.
- Cardroom Employees.
- Secondhand/Pawn businesses.
- Solicitors and canvassers.
The form is written for the business and for each owner, partner or applicant, so the "Owners, Partners, and Applicants" section asks for personal details of the person applying. It accepts sole proprietorships, partnerships, corporations, LLCs and LTD PTR entities.
Do not use SPD 384 for permits the city lists with other forms. The city's page sends Billiards applicants to the Billiard Application, Christmas tree lot and firework booth applicants to Fire Department forms, and directs people to separate pages for cannabis, food vending, massage, pedicab, taxi, tow, sidewalk vending, short-term rental and entertainment permit information. SPD 384 also does not replace the Business Operations Tax (BOT) Certificate.
When to file SPD 384
File SPD 384 when you start a new business that needs a police-issued permit, when ownership of the business changes, when you need a duplicate permit, or when your permit is up for renewal. These are the four reasons printed at the top of the form.
The form puts renewal on you: it is the applicant's responsibility to renew by the expiration date, whether or not a renewal form arrives. It also says the business owner must notify the Sacramento Police Department immediately of any change to the business entity from what the application stated.
No other deadline or processing time is printed on the form. Permit questions go to SPD Permits at 916.808.0700.
Documents you need
- A floor plan of the business. The form states "Please include a floor plan" next to the property ownership section.
- A separate sheet of paper, only if needed, to fully answer any question on the form, such as permit history, a revoked or denied permit, or criminal history details.
How to fill out SPD 384
Choose the reason and business type
Mark the reason for application: New Business, Change of Owner, Duplicate or Renewal, and enter the permit number where the form asks. Then mark the entity type: Sole Proprietorship, Partnership, Corporation, LLC or LTD PTR.
Enter the business information
Give the name of business, business address including suite number, business phone, alternate phone, e-mail address, type of business and number of employees. Enter any state or federal license number (FFL, PPO).
Complete the owner and applicant section
Enter the owner name, other names you have used, phone, cell phone, e-mail, home address, state, ZIP and years lived in CA. Add date of birth, driver license, height, weight, hair color, eye color, nationality and whether you are a U.S. citizen.
Mark the permit type and history
Mark the type of permit: Alcohol, Card Room, Gun Dealer, Entertainment or 2nd Hand/Pawn. List all permits you have held, and explain if any permit or license was ever revoked or denied.
Describe food, alcohol and hours
Answer whether you plan to sell or serve food (with the number of seats) and alcohol (with the ABC license number, type and the name of your licensing rep at ABC). Enter your hours of operation.
Answer the machines and entertainment questions
Mark Yes or No for amusement machines, video games, juke boxes and pool tables, entering the quantity for each Yes. Mark Yes or No for music, dancing and live performance.
Mark what you will deal in
Mark Yes or No for coins, firearms, jewels, gold and secondhand property.
State property ownership and add the floor plan
Select I am renting my business property or I own my business property, and enter the property owner's name and phone number. Prepare the floor plan the form requires, and answer whether you are familiar with the City of Sacramento ordinances and California laws that apply.
Answer the criminal history question
Mark No, or Yes with the date of arrest, the offense charged and the city. Include verdicts, guilty and no contest pleas, fines paid and completed diversion programs.
Sign and date the certification
Sign and date under the certification made under penalty of perjury. Leave the For official use only block blank.
Review and download the completed PDF
Check that the answers are accurate, then download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF. Add the floor plan and any separate sheet, and submit the package as described under How to submit.
How to submit SPD 384
Applications and fees for police-issued permits are accepted at the Revenue Division public counter of the City of Sacramento Finance Department; the city's page also gives a mailing address.
- Public counter: open Monday through Thursday, 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM. The Revenue Division is at 915 I Street, Room 1201, Sacramento, CA 95814.
- Mail: the Permits & Taxes mailing address is City of Sacramento, Revenue Division, 915 I Street, Room 1201, Sacramento, CA 95814. The city says checks and money orders may be mailed or brought in person; confirm with the office before mailing a full application.
- Questions: Permits & Taxes at (916) 808-8500 (Monday to Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Friday 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.) or [email protected]; SPD Permits at 916.808.0700 or [email protected].
A fee applies and is non-refundable. The amount depends on the permit and is in the city's Permits Fee Schedule; the Cardroom Employees and Adult Entertainer permits also list a fingerprinting fee for new applicants only. The city accepts checks and money orders, ACH where accepted and credit cards, and says a service fee will apply to credit card transactions.
Include the floor plan the form asks for. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Waiting for a renewal form before renewing. The form says the applicant must renew by the expiration date whether or not a renewal form arrives.
- Not telling the Sacramento Police Department right away about changes to the business entity after the application was submitted.
- Leaving out the floor plan that the form says to include.
- Giving a false or misleading answer; the form says this results in denial or revocation of a permit and the signature is under penalty of perjury.
- Answering the conviction question incompletely. It covers verdicts, guilty and no contest pleas, fines paid and completed diversion programs, and a Yes needs the arrest date, the charge and the city.
- Expecting a refund of application fees; the form states they are non-refundable.
- Filling in the For official use only block (approvals, SPD #, thumb print), which is for city staff.
- Using SPD 384 for Billiards, which the city lists with a separate Billiard Application.
Frequently asked questions
Is SPD 384 a Sacramento business license?
No. SPD 384 is a permit application for certain police-issued special permits. A Sacramento business license search usually points to the Business Operations Tax (BOT) Certificate, which the city requires of anyone engaged in business in the City of Sacramento and which is a separate process.
Which permits use Form SPD 384?
The city lists SPD 384 for Adult Entertainer Permit, Amusement Arcades, Cardroom Employees, Secondhand/Pawn and Solicitor/Canvasser permits. Billiards uses a separate Billiard Application, and Fire Department permits have their own forms.
Where do I turn in the SPD 384 permit application?
Applications and fees are accepted at the Revenue Division public counter, open Monday through Thursday, 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM. The Revenue Division's mailing address is 915 I Street, Room 1201, Sacramento, CA 95814.
Is there a fee, and is it refundable?
Yes, a fee applies and the form says application fees are non-refundable. The amount depends on the permit; see the city's Permits Fee Schedule or call Permits & Taxes at (916) 808-8500. Checks, money orders and ACH where accepted are listed, and a credit card service fee will apply.
Do I have to renew my permit if I do not get a renewal notice?
Yes. The form states it is the applicant's responsibility to renew by the expiration date, whether or not a renewal form is received. Mark Renewal as the reason for application and enter your permit number.
What do I attach to the SPD 384 application?
Include a floor plan, which the form requires. If a question needs more room, use a separate sheet of paper to fully answer it. New Cardroom Employees and Adult Entertainer applicants also pay a fingerprinting fee.
Can I fill out SPD 384 online?
You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is an independent service and does not submit the form; you deliver it to the City of Sacramento through the channels above.
Who do I contact with questions about SPD 384 permits?
Questions about police-issued permits go to Sacramento Police Department Permits at 916.808.0700 or [email protected]. General Permits & Taxes questions go to (916) 808-8500 or [email protected].
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