On June 2, 2026, the Hayward City Council voted unanimously to place a measure on the Nov. 3, 2026

On June 2, 2026, the Hayward City Council voted unanimously to place a measure on the Nov. 3, 2026, ballot seeking voter approval of an ordinance updating the City's Business License Tax.

The Business License Tax, or BLT, is an annual fee paid by businesses registered to operate in Hayward to support general city services, including police protection, firefighting, 911 response, library operations, pothole repair, maintenance and graffiti cleanup.

The current Business License Tax was established on July 11, 1978, and its structure and rates haven't been amended in the past 48 years to keep up with changes in the local economy or the cost of delivering general municipal services.

The proposed ordinance to modernize the Hayward BLT, appearing on the ballot as Measure CC, would transition the City toward a more progressive gross-receipts based structure with higher rates for higher-grossing, typically larger businesses and lower rates for lower-grossing, typically smaller businesses.

It is estimated that the updated BLT would annually bring in an additional $12 million to support general City services. For more information, visit the Hayward BLT modernization page on the City of Hayward website.