The City of Long Beach adopted a Small Business Enterprise (SBE), Very Small Business Enterprise (VSBE), and Local Small Business Enterprise (LBSBE) ordiance to support small, very small, and local small businesses. This program helps these businesses get more contract opportunities, build experience, and grow in government work. For some projects, the City will set specific subcontracting goals.

For more information see the City's Local Small Business Enterprise (LSBE) Ordinance

The City determines SBE eligibility by utilizing federal U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) size standards either by the average gross annual revenue or by the number of employees, based on North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) codes. To see if your business qualifies, view the SBA’s Table of Small Business Size Standards.

In addition, for a small business to be eligible for certification, the small business must be a for-profit business and must meet the following requirements as set forth from the California Department of General Services:   

• Be independently owned and operated
• Not dominant in field of operation
• Principal office located in California
• Owners must reside in California
• Be a for-profit business

VSBE eligibility is determined utilizing maximum allowable annual gross revenues consistent with those of the State of California’s Department of General Services “micro-business” designation. The current guidelines for this designation can be accessed on the California Department of General Services website.

LSBE eligibility shall be determined by the criteria established in Municipal Code section 2.84.030, subdivisions (1) and (2), in addition to the SBE eligibility criteria described above.

If you are a small business, you must register and obtain SBE certification through the City's online bid management system. If you are a prime contractor who has a small business you would like to subcontract out to, be sure to encourage them to apply for a Long Beach Small Business Certification. 

Contractors can search our bid management system for registered LBSBE businesses by follwing these instructions.  

LBSBE Documents:

• SBE Participation Instructions   
• LBSBE Program Acknowledgement (Attachment A)
• SBE-2 Form - SBE Committment Plan (Attachment B)
• SBE Good Faith Efforts Cover Sheet (Attachment C)
• SBE Monthly Utilization Report

Disadvantaged Business Enterprises

The objectives of a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program are to ensure nondiscrimination in the award and administration of federally-funded contracts in highway, transit, and airport financial assistance programs and to create a level playing field on which DBEs can compete fairly for federally-funded contracts.

Effective October 3, 2025 the DBE programed is paused. 

OVERALL FAA TRIENNIAL DBE GOAL:

The City of Long Beach Airport proposes an overall triennial goal for federal fiscal years 2024-2026 of  9.6% for Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) participation on Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)-funded airport construction projects. See Public Notice

• Triennial DBE Goal and Methodology for Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2024 through 2026
  as submitted to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

LONG BEACH AIRPORT DBE PLAN

• Long Beach Airport DBE Plan

LONG BEACH AIRPORT CONCESSION DBE PROGRAM (ACDBE)

• ACDBE Public Notice

DBE RESOURCES:

• Caltrans DBE Website
• DBE Business Search 
• Caltrans DBE Forms Website
• OSDBU Technical Assistance Brochure

DBE CONTACTS:

For assistance in DBE outreach and Caltrans DBE program information, upcoming events, or small business resources, please contact the City of Long Beach DBELO or the Caltrans District 7 Small Business Liaison (covering Los Angeles and Ventura Counties):

Michelle "Micah" Scott
District 7 Small Business Liaison
(213) 897-0891
Michelle.Scott@dot.ca.gov 

City of Long Beach Disadvantaged Business Enterprises Liaison Officer (DBELO)
(562) 570-6200

Prevailing Wages

In the performance of public work under any Contract, Contractor shall comply with the provisions of Standard Specifications for Public Works Construction, latest edition, and City of Long Beach Amendments thereto. Where labor is required for public work as part of this Contract, Contractor shall pay no less than the prevailing wages set by the Director of the Department of Industrial Relations of the State of California (in accordance with City of Long Beach Municipal Code II Wages - 2.87.090, 2.87.120 and 2.87.130). The wage schedule is available at http://www.dir.ca.gov/OPRL/DPreWageDetermination.htm

 The City has a Labor Compliance Program which is certified by the State of California, Department of Industrial Relations. 

Applicability of Senate Bill (SB) 854: 

Public works Projects are subject to the following:

No contractor or subcontractor may be listed on a bid proposal for a public works project (submitted on or after March 1, 2015) unless registered with the Department of Industrial Relations pursuant to Labor Code section 1725.5 [with limited exceptions from this requirement for bid purposes only under Labor Code section 1771.1(a)].

No contractor or subcontractor may be awarded a contract for public work on a public works project (awarded on or after April 1, 2015) unless registered with the Department of Industrial Relations pursuant to Labor Code section 1725.5.

Public Works Projects are subject to compliance monitoring and enforcement by the Department of Industrial Relations. Contractors are further cautioned that certified payrolls shall be submitted electronically directly to the Department of Industrial Relations. 

FEDERAL DAVIS BACON REQUIREMENTS: 

Federally-Funded Public Work is subject to the requirements of the Davis Bacon Act. The contractor to whom a Federally-Funded contract is awarded must comply with the Federal Wage Decision contained in Division E of the Specifications and all record keeping requirements of the Davis Bacon Act.

CALIFORNIA WAGE RATE REQUIREMENTS: 

 Pursuant to Division 2, Part 7, Chapter 1 of the Labor Code of the State of California, the Director of Public Works of the City by and on behalf of the City Council has obtained from the Director of the Department of Industrial Relations of the State of California the general prevailing wage rate of per diem wages, and the general prevailing rate of holiday and overtime work in the locality in which the public work is to be performed for each craft, classification or type of workers needed to perform the Work, and are kept on file in the office of the City Engineer, 5th Floor, City Hall, 411 West Ocean Boulevard, Long Beach, California 90802. The Contractor to whom a Public Works Contract is awarded, and its subcontractors, shall pay to all workers in the performance of the Work not less than the prevailing rate of wages needed to execute the contract, where such rates are not less than the rates contained in the above-referenced Federal Wage Decision. Copies of schedules of prevailing wage rates may be obtained on the California Department of Industrial Relations website http://www.dir.ca.gov/dlsr. Bidders are directed to review bid documents carefully and to familiarize  themselves with the State of California Labor Code to ensure they are aware of the requirements concerning payment of prevailing wages, payroll records, and hours of labor.

Labor & Material Bond Requirements

Bonds: If the total bid price for the work required herein is greater than $25,000 the bidder shall provide a labor and material bond as specified in Section 2-4 "Contract Bonds" of the Standard Specifications for Public Works Construction.

The successful bidder shall submit a Labor and Materials Bond to the Department of Parks, Recreation & Marine, 7600 East Spring Street/Building C, Long Beach CA 90815. The amount of the bond shall be 100% of the contract amount and shall be submitted within ten (10) days of Notice of Award. Bond shall be submitted upon forms secured at the office of the Department of Parks, Recreation & Marine, 7600 East Spring Street/Building C, Long Beach CA 90815.

A corporation must have the bond executed by two (2) authorized officers. If the bond is executed by only one (1) authorized officer or a person not listed in Section 313 of the California Corporations Code, then the corporation must attach a certified copy of a resolution of its Board of Directors authorizing execution by said individual(s).

Notarial Acknowledgement: Signature of all Principals and Sureties shall be accompanied by an appropriate Notarial Acknowledgement whether the company is located inside or outside the State of California.

Project Labor Agreement

The Project Labor Agreement (PLA) is an agreement between the City of Long Beach and the Los Angeles/Orange County Building and Construction Trades Council, its affiliated local unions and the Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters. The PLA is also a partnership with Long Beach City College, Pacific Gateway and the Trades for pre-apprentice training support for Long Beach residents.

A Citywide PLA was approved by the Long Beach City Council in 2021 (View the City Council letter). and is applicable to all covered projects with a contract value that exceed $750,000 for non-street/right of way or $1,000,000 for street/right of way projects. The intent of the PLA is to promote employment opportunities for the Long Beach community on local capital construction projects.

PLA requirements include:

• 40% of total work hours to be performed by local residents. Local residents can include:       residents from City of Long Beach, Gateway Cities, and residents residing within the counties of Orange and Los Angeles.
• 10% goal for disadvantaged/veteran workers.
• Mandates a Jobs Coordinator.
• No work stoppages or strikes.

Project Labor Agreement 

• View current  CITY-WIDE PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENT  (2021)
• Click the Project Labor Agreement Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to see a larger version and page 2 of the flyer below

For more information regarding the Project Labor Agreement, you may contact: 

City of Long Beach * Project Labor Agreement
(562) 570-7158 

Annual PLA Report

The Annual PLA Report includes a description of the fundamental provisions of the PLA, the projects to which PLA has applied, the PLA administrative process, the associated costs to the City, and compliance with PLA requirements and goals.

PLA Monthly Reports

HUD SECTION 3 PROGRAM

HUD SECTION 3 GUIDELINES HAVE CHANGED WITH THE ISSUANCE OF HUDS "FINAL RULE". PROJECTS WITH FUNDS COMMITTED PRIOR TO NOVEMBER 30, 2020 ARE CONSIDERED "LEGACY PROJECTS" AND WILL ADHERE TO THE OLD SECTION 3 GUIDELINES (24 CFR PART 135).

PROJECTS WITH FUNDS COMMITTED NOVEMBER 30, 2020 AND AFTER WILL ADHERE TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE NEW FINAL RULE (24 CFR PART 75) REQUIREMENTS. 


SECTION 3 GUIDELINES 

Click here for the new HUD Final Rule Regulation 24 CFR Part 75.

Section 3 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968 is a Regulation of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that attempts to provide economic and employment opportunities to low-income residents and businesses when certain HUD funds are used for construction. As of November 30, 2020, 24 CFR Part 135 has been replaced with 24 CFR Part 75. The new regulation is applicable to all projects whose funding was committed November 30, 2020 or after. 

It is a policy of the City of Long Beach that when a construction project contains HUD Section 3 regulations, that best efforts are to be utilized to meet Section 3 requirements.  Contractors shall cooperate with the City and its representatives regarding compliance with Section 3 regulations and shall cause its employees and subcontractors to cooperate with the City in complying with Section 3.  The City will provide assistance to Contractors in complying with Section 3 HUD regulations.

For more information on how to comply with the City of Long Beach’s Section 3 Policy, please read the Compliance Guidelines and Attachments.  

For information on how to apply Section 3 to projects with funds committed November 30, 2020 or after, please use the COLB HUD Section 3 Guidelines and Attachments. 

For information on how to complete outreach for projects with funds committed prior to November 30, 2020, please use the City of Long Beach HUD Best Efforts Submittal Package and see our HUD Section 3 Frequently Asked Questions.  

HUD SECTION 3 CERTIFICATION

The City of Long Beach has a created a certification process for contractors and businesses that would like to be included in our HUD Section 3 database.  To be eligible for certification contractors must meet one of the following qualifications as described in the HUD Final Rule:

• Fifty-one percent (51%) of the business has to be owned and controlled by low or very-low income persons; or
• Seventy-five percent (75%) or more of the labor hours performed for the business over the prior three-month period are performed by Section 3 Workers; or
• Fifty-one percent (51%) of the business has to be owned and controlled by current residents of public housing or Section 8-assisted housing.  

Contractors and businesses self-register as a Section 3 Business via the City's bidding portal, Long Beach Buys.

Publishing Sources for HUD Section 3 Contracting Opportunities

Listed alphabetically below by category

ADVERTISING BUSINESS ASSISTANCE AGENCIES, MINORITY CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATIONS AND/OR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS

• Compliance News
•  Construction Bid Source
• LA County Office of Small Business
• Good Faith Advertising
• National Association of Minority Contractor Southern California
• Small Business Development Center - Los Angeles Regional SBDC Network 

PUBLICATIONS THAT ADVERTISE OPPORTUNITIES FOR TO OBTAIN ASSISTANCE TO OVERCOME LIMITATIONS SUCH AS INABILITY TO OBTAIN BONDING, LINES OF CREDIT, FINANCING, OR INSURANCE

• Asian Business Association
• Black Contractors Association
• GoodFaithEfforts.com
• Latin Business Association
• National Association of Women Business Owners
• Southern California Contractors Association
• National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development

AGENCIES ADMINISTERING HUD YOUTHBUILD PROGRAMS OR LOCAL CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE

• Hispanic Chambers of Commerce Orange
• Long Beach Chamber of Commerce
• Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce
• Regional Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
• Signal Hill Chamber of Commerce

TRADE ASSOCIATION PAPERS/NEWSLETTERS, LOCAL MEDIA, SUCH AS COMMUNITY TELEVISION NETWORKS, NEWSPAPERS OF GENERAL CIRCULATION, AND/OR RADIO ADVERTISING

• Associated General Contractors (AGC)
• Building Industry Association of Southern California, Inc.
• California Bids
• Downtown & Grunion Gazette
• LA Opinion
• LiUNA Local 300  
• Long Beach Business Journal
• Long Beach Post
• Long Beach Press Telegram
• Signal Hill Tribune
• Southern California Contractors Association

Unions - ask for Contractors that are signatories & Section 3 eligible

If your business qualifies for one of the above-referenced categories and you would like to be added to the list, please email us at:  LaborCompliance@longbeach.gov or call us at: (562) 570-6200.

LINKS:

• City of Long Beach Section 3 Business List 
• HUD Regulations (24 CFR Part 135)
• 24 CFR Part 75 "Final Rule"
• COLB HUD Section 3 Guidelines and Attachments (For projects November 30, 2020 and after)
• Section 3 Guidelines and Section 3 Attachments for Legacy Projects (Prior to November 30, 2020)
• HUD Section 3 Application  - Complete and send to laborcompliance@longbeach.gov to be added to our Section 3 Business List
• Section 3 Frequently Asked Questions
• HUD Income Limits website

California Minimum Wage

This webpage has been developed by the City of Long Beach as a resource to the local community regarding changes to the State’s minimum wage and related matters.

If you have a received a notice from the County of Los Angeles regarding a minimum wage increase that is set to take place on July 1, 2023, please note that this notice only applies to unincorporated areas of the Los Angeles County and does not apply to businesses located in the City of Long Beach.

* Employees treated as employed by a single qualified taxpayer pursuant to Revenue and Taxation Code section 23626 are treated as employees of that single taxpayer.

** On July 27, 2022, the Director of the Department of Finance certified that based on the annual inflation rate from 7/1/21-6/30/22, under Labor Code section 1182.12(c)(3)(A), the state hourly minimum wage must be increased, effective January 1, 2023, to $15.50 an hour (regardless of the number of workers employed by an employer).

*** The minimum wage in California, effective January 1, 2024, is $16.00/hour for all employers. Fast Food Restaurant employers, effective April 1, 2024, and Healthcare Facility employers, effective June 1, 2024, will have a higher minimum wage.

Long Beach Hotel Workers

On November 6, 2012, voters in the City of Long Beach adopted an initiative ordinance (Measure N) requiring minimum compensation and sick days paid to hotel workers.

The full text of Long Beach Municipal Code Chapter 5.48 is available on the Long Beach City Clerk website.

Long Beach Hotel Workers Initiative Ordinance (Measure N)

2023 Updates for Long Beach Hotel Workers
2022 Updates for Long Beach Hotel Workers
2021 Updates for Long Beach Hotel Workers
2020 Updates for Long Beach Hotel Workers
2019 Updates for Long Beach Hotel Workers
2018 Updates for Long Beach Hotel Workers
2017 Updates for Long Beach Hotel Workers

Long Beach Concessionaire Workers

On February 11, 2014, the Long Beach City Council adopted an Ordinance No.
ORD-14-0002 (Chapter 16.60) requiring minimum compensation and sick days be paid to concessionaire workers at the Long Beach Airport and the Long Beach Convention Center.

The full text of Long Beach Municipal Code Chapter 16.60 is available on the Long Beach City Clerk website.

Payment of Living Wage to (Concessionaire) Workers at the Long Beach Airport and the Long Beach Convention Center Ordinance

2023 Notice of Annual Adjustment Effective July 1, 2023
2022 Notice of Annual Adjustment Effective July 1, 2022
2021 Notice of Annual Adjustment Effective July 1, 2021
2020 Notice of Annual Adjustment Effective July 1, 2020 
2019 Notice of Annual Adjustment Effective July 1, 2019
2018 Notice of Annual Adjustment Effective July 1, 2018
2017 Notice of Annual Adjustment Effective July 1, 2017

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

EMPLOYEES

General Information

Minimum Wage Order 2024 (MW-2024): Effective January 1, 2024
Minimum Wage Order 2023 (MW-2023): Effective January 1, 2023
Minimum Wage Order 2022 (MW-2022): Effective January 1, 2022
Minimum Wage Order 2021 (MW-2021): Effective January 1, 2021
Minimum Wage Order 2020 (MW-2020): Effective January 1, 2020
Minimum Wage Order 2019 (MW-2019): Effective January 1, 2019
Minimum Wage Order 2017 (MW-2017): Effective January 1, 2017
Minimum Wage Order 2014 (MW-2014): Effective July 1, 2014

Frequently Asked Questions (State of California Department of Industrial Relations)

How to File a Wage Claim with the State of California

How to Contact the Labor Commissioner’s Office for more information

EMPLOYERS

General Information

Workplace Postings

Frequently Asked Questions about Workplace Postings

Current California Wage Orders

ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND

Senate Bill 3

Contacts

To contact a representative of the State of California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) regarding minimum wage, you may call the DIR at: (562) 590-5048.

To speak with a City representative for general inquiries, contact us at:

• by phone: (562) 570-WAGE or (562) 570-9243 
• via email at: LaborCompliance@longbeach.gov

HEALTHCARE WORKERS MINIMUM WAGE ORDINANCE

You have reached the landing page for the City of Long Beach Healthcare Workers Minimum Wage Ordinance.

September 22, 2022 UPDATE: A referendum petition was filed with the City of Long Beach on September 21, 2022. Pursuant to state law, upon submittal of a referendum petition to the City, the Healthcare Worker Minimum Wage Ordinance is now automatically suspended and will not go into effect pending review. Once appropriate steps have been taken to verify the referendum petition, the City Council will make a decision at a future date to either submit the ordinance to the Long Beach voters, or to repeal the ordinance. View the memorandum.

 This update is to advise the public that under the law, the ordinance will not take effect due to a referendum and businesses are not required to pay the Healthcare Worker Minimum Wage until further notice.

The Healthcare Worker Minimum Wage Ordinance was approved by City Council on August 16, and signed by the Mayor on August 26, 2022. In accordance with City Charter Section 213(a)(1), the ordinance will become effective 31 days after signature by the Mayor. The Healthcare Worker Minimum Wage Ordinance will become effective on September 26, 2022. The Ordinance creates a healthcare worker minimum wage of $25.00 per hour for covered employees. View the Ordinance. 

This is a very new regulation and the City will be developing educational materials to provide assistance to the community, for both the workers and the employers. These materials are expected to be available on this website in the near future.

In the meantime, each business should evaluate the ordinance as written to determine if it applies to them and take the necessary steps to comply. The definitions are located in section 5.96.020 of the ordinance. 

• If your business falls within the definition of “Covered Healthcare Facility,” as defined under Section 5.96.020(B), then the ordinance applies to your business.

• If your business falls within the definition of “Covered Physician Group,” as defined under Section 5.96.020(C), then the ordinance applies to your business.

• If your business falls within the definition of “Integrated Healthcare Delivery System,” as defined under Section 5.96.020(G), then the ordnance applies to your business.

Individual businesses are in the best position to know the underlying facts relevant to the business in relation to these definitions and whether the ordinance might apply.

If you have questions regarding the ordinance, its adoption or the associated timeline, you may contact Deputy City Attorney Erin Weesner-McKinley at erin.weesner-mckinley@longbeach.gov in the City Attorney's Office.

A process for reporting complaints will be published on this page for employees alleging violations of the Ordinance. In the meantime, employees can email questions or comments to minimumwage@longbeach.gov.

Legal Notices
Upon the effective date of the Ordinance (September 26, 2022), every Privately-Owned healthcare facility in the City of Long Beach shall post in a conspicuous place at any workplace or jobsite where an employee works, the notice published by the City informing qualifying healthcare workers of the current minimum wage rate. 

Healthcare Worker Minimum Wage Bulletin (downloadable PDF coming soon)

One-Year Court-Granted Waiver
Per Ordinance Section 5.96.090,  a court may grant a one-year waiver from the Minimum Wage requirements of this Ordinance if an Employer can demonstrate by substantial evidence that compliance with the Ordinance would raise substantial doubt about the Employer's ability to continue as a going concern under generally accepted accounting standards. Waiver requests are filed with the court, not with the City. Visit Ordinance Section 5.96.090 for more information.

For more information contact us at minimumwage@longbeach.gov.