What determines whether licensees must file county paperwork and publish in a local newspaper?

• A. The number of employees.
• B. The company name chosen on the license.
• C. The type of alarm system installed.
• D. The geographic location of the business.

Answer: (B)

The need to file county paperwork and publish a notice in a local newspaper is driven by the name the license uses. If the alarm company operates under a fictitious business name (a DBA) or a name other than the owner’s legal name on the license, California requires filing a DBA statement with the county and publishing notice in a local newspaper. This public notice links the business to its registered trade name and provides public protection. If the license is issued under the owner’s legal name or a properly registered corporate name without a separate DBA, publication isn’t required. The factors that don’t determine this are how many employees you have, what type of alarm system you install, or where the business is located; these don’t trigger publication requirements.