DHSed practical guide · Sources checked November 12, 2026
A low advertised rent does not tell you whether a space will work for your business. A shop, restaurant and repair service can need different approvals and improvements at the same address. Start with the activity you plan to run, then check the space.
First step: write down the exact address and your proposed use. Call City Hall at 760-329-6411 and ask which Planning, Building and business licensing reviews apply. The number appears in the City's published department directory.
Ask before you pay a deposit
- Can this particular activity operate at this address? Is another land-use approval needed?
- Will a change in use, new equipment or construction require plans or inspections?
- What records show the space's approved use and completed building work?
- Who will arrange and pay for permits, signs and needed improvements?
A previous tenant's license, a broker's description and a landlord's promise answer different questions from a City review. Ask for the actual records. If you are opening a food business, also speak to County Environmental Health before taking over the facility.
Compare the whole cost
Use the same worksheet for each location: base rent, any shared-property charges, utilities, insurance, repairs, equipment, construction, deposits and money needed while you wait to open. Ask which amounts can increase, which are estimates and which are written into the lease. Include the cost of getting out of a space that cannot be approved.
Visit when your customers would arrive. Try the parking, entrance, delivery area and route from the bus stop. Photograph existing conditions with the owner's permission. Ask who maintains air conditioning, plumbing and other equipment; a large repair can change the comparison.
Turn uncertainty into written questions
Keep a page with four headings: question, person responsible, written answer and next action. For example: “Who pays if the electrical supply cannot support our equipment?” An unanswered question is a reason to keep investigating, rather than count an assumed cost as zero.
Ask a commercial leasing attorney to review the lease, including any personal guarantee, repair duties, permit contingency and move-in condition. An SBDC adviser can help test the business budget; that does not replace legal review of a lease.
Your next step
Take the address and your one-page business description to the appropriate City staff. Use the business contact guide to organize the calls. Compare the answers with your opening budget before you sign or pay money you may not get back.
Keep going
Sources and updates
- City-published department directory, October 2025
- City business licensing: current application route
- OCIE Small Business Development Center: business advice
- County Environmental Health: taking over or opening a restaurant
Prepared by DHSed with AI assistance from the linked public sources. Check current availability and the rules for your situation with the responsible provider. Send a correction.