Carlsbad small business owners can book free 30-minute appointments with the city's Small Business Liaison for help with permits, zoning and other startup questions.

The City of Carlsbad, the Carlsbad City Library and the Carlsbad Village Association are jointly offering the Business Support Office Hours at two locations, Patch reported. Sessions run from 9 to 11 a.m. every Tuesday at the Carlsbad City Library, 1775 Dove Lane, and from 9 to 11 a.m. on the first Wednesday of each month at the Carlsbad Village Association, 2695 State St.

The program connects business owners with the city's Small Business Liaison for one-on-one guidance on licenses, permits, zoning, grants, incentives, signage regulations and code compliance. Appointments are open to anyone starting, expanding or relocating a business in Carlsbad.

Small businesses account for 98% of all businesses in Carlsbad, according to a February 2025 city announcement that introduced the liaison position. The city hosts more than 10,500 active businesses and generated an estimated $18.6 billion in economic output in 2025, according to a Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce profile of the city's Economic Development Director published in July. That makes Carlsbad the second-largest economy in San Diego County outside the City of San Diego.

The city hired Rachel Maltz as its first dedicated Small Business Liaison in February 2025. A University of San Diego alumna, Maltz came to the role after working with the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation and the City of San Diego.

"I can help them with understanding what kind of permits they might need, zoning requirements for different locations and other issues that come up when starting or running a business," Maltz said in the February 2025 city announcement, when the liaison position was first introduced. She described the service as free and said it "can save small businesses time and money on some crucial decisions."

Appointments can be scheduled online at carlsbadca.gov/business/digital-resource-hub/business-office-hours.