Vancouver requires a business to hold a city business license if it is located within Vancouver city limits or its staff generate income within city limits. Also, certain businesses are required to hold city special licenses. For more information, see below.
Vancouver’s business and special license requirements and processes are summarized below, and related regulations are found in Title 5, Vancouver Municipal Code (VMC). For a printable summary see, Quick Guide – City Business License Info.
City business and special licensing staff are available by email or phone, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday – Friday.
In-person license assistance from city staff can be arranged by appointment.
As noted above, Vancouver business license applications and renewals are processed by the city’s licensing partner, the Washington State Department of Revenue (DOR), Business Licensing Service (BLS). DOR BLS customer service staff are available for assistance at 360-705-6741, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., weekdays.
Vancouver special license applications are processed by city licensing staff using forms available on this website, under the Special Licenses tab, or upon request from city licensing staff.
See below for more details about applying for a city business license or special license.
City Business License. Vancouver requires a business to hold a city business license (also called “endorsement”) if it is either (1) physically located within city limits, or (2) its staff engage in business within city limits; including employees that work remotely for the business from a residence or elsewhere in the city limits. (To confirm if a business address or work location is within city limits, use the Do I Live in Vancouver? GIS lookup tool.)
Separate city business license. A separate city business license is required for each permanent business location in the city. In addition, if more than one business is operated from a single location, a separate city business license is required for each business.
Partnership with Washington State. Vancouver is partnered with the Washington State DOR BLS, for the administration of its city business licenses (also called “endorsements”). A business’s state-issued Unified Business Identifier (UBI) is used to reference both its state business and its city business license.
Exemption from paying all city business license fees. As of April 1, 2023, a business is exempt from paying all city business license fees if it reports on the application an estimated in-city gross income in the upcoming 12 months of $2,000 or less (or, for renewing license holders, if it reports on the renewal questionnaire an in-city gross income in the previous 12 months of $2,000 or less). State fees are still charged.
For a complete list of criteria to qualify for the all-city-fees exemption, see: Qualifying Criteria, City Business License Fee Exemptions. For questions about these criteria, contact Vancouver business licensing staff (see contact information below).
Exemption from city employee fee, only.
For a complete list of criteria to qualify for the employee fee-only exemption, see: Qualifying Criteria, City Business License Fee Exemptions. For questions about these criteria, contact city business licensing staff (see contact information below).
Not transferable. A city business license is not transferable to another party; each new owner must apply for a new city business license.
City Special License. Certain types of businesses that operate in Vancouver (e.g., ambulance companies, solicitors, taxicab companies, mobile food vendors, movie theaters, secondhand dealers, recycling collectors, etc.) must hold a city-issued special license, in addition to a city business license. See Special License tab on this page.
Home-based Business. In addition to holding a city business license, a business with a location address that is a residence in the city (referred to as “home occupation”) must comply with the city’s home occupation regulations set forth in VMC 20.860, and may be required to hold a Home Occupation Permit issued by the Community Development Department. To learn more, go to Home Occupation Permit, or contact the Vancouver Community Development Department at 360-487-7803 or cddplanning@cityofvancouver.us.
Washington State DOR BLS provides listings monthly for newly obtained business licenses, and in accordance with RCW 19.02.115(3)(g), are not provided for any commercial purpose.
License listings will typically be updated from the City of Vancouver Business License department around mid-month. To request listings prior to 2023, email business.licenses@cityofvancouver.us with specific months/years and allow 5-10 business days for processing.
For license application or renewal questions, contact Washington State DOR BLS:
For City license regulations questions, contact Vancouver business licensing:
The City of Vancouver is contracted with HDL for compliance purposes; if you receive communication from them, please contact them at the information listed in the request or call 564-219-4733.
New business licensesIf your company is new to Washington State, please review information at: Washington State Department of Revenue (DOR), Open a Business, prior to obtaining a Vancouver business license. Also, DOR BLS is Vancouver’s partner for the administration of its new (and renewing) business licenses (see more details below). For questions about state requirements or the city business license application process, please contact DOR BLS at 360-705-6741, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.
If your business is based within Vancouver city limits, you should also confirm that the proposed business activity is an allowed use at the business location address. To confirm the proposed use complies with zoning, contact the Vancouver Community Development Department at 360-487-7803 or cddplanning@cityofvancouver.us. The issuance of a city business license does not equate to city zoning approval of the business activity in the specified business location.
Before applying for a city business license or special license, verify that your business location address, or location where you will conduct work, is within city limits and, thus, subject to the city’s business license regulations. See following options for making this verification.
Obtaining a city business license (also called “endorsement”) is a 3-step process:
1. Application. There are two possible methods to apply for a city business license: (1) online via the My DOR website (fastest and preferred method), or (2) by US mail (via paper forms). Application-related fees are found in the “Fees: Application and Renewal” section below.
2. City review and license activation. When a business successfully completes application and associated payment, DOR BLS notifies city that application information is available for review with respect to city regulations. Unless issues arise during review, city typically activates a license within a week of DOR BLS notification. If issues arise, the applicant will be contacted.
3. Issuance of business license. After city activates city business license, DOR BLS will email the business to print its Washington State business license that has the applicable category of city license “City Endorsement” via the business’s MyDOR account. There are five possible categories of city license issued for Vancouver; see descriptions below.
A city business license is active until expiration date shown on state license.
To facilitate the annual renewal process, the Washington State DOR BLS, issues a renewal notice to each active city business licensee no less than 30 days prior to the applicable expiration date. The notice includes instructions to complete renewal process prior to expiration date, to avoid a state-leveed late penalty.
Upon completion of the renewal process and payment, DOR BLS will email the business to print its Washington State business license that has the applicable category of city license “City Endorsement” via the business’s MyDOR account.
City fees to renew the city business license are the same as city fees to apply for the city business license. See Fee Info and Calculator tab.
To close account or provide updates to the business name, governing people, mailing address, and/or location address, see instructions at DOR Update by Business Information. For assistance with this process contact the Washington State Department of Revenue (DOR), Business Licensing Service (BLS), at 360-705-6741.
On January 1, 2024, city fees changed to those shown below. Application and/or renewal.
| Reported Gross Annual Income in City | License Fee per License | Employee Fee per Calculated Employee* | Minimum Total Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0 – $2,000 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| >$2,000 – $50,000 | $51.00 | $0.00 | $51.00 |
| >$50,000 | $315.00 | $125.00 | $440.00* |
*This amount is minimum to be charged to applicant or renewing license holder that reports generating a gross annual income in city of >$50,000 and has 1 calculated employee.
When completing a business license application, an applicant must report estimated total employee hours to be worked in city in coming 12 months, and when completing the annual license renewal, a license holder must report total employee hours worked in city in previous 12 months or 4 quarters. (See definition of “employee” below.) Then DOR will divide the reported hours by 1,664 hours, and round the result to nearest whole number before multiplying it by the per employee fee; see examples below. Resulting employee number may exceed business’s employee headcount. Minimum employee number is one.
“Employee” includes: Any person working in city that is on business’ payroll or that is a self-employed person, sole proprietor, owner, manager, or partner of business. (Persons working for a business through an employment agency are considered employees of that agency.)
To estimate the city business license employee fee charged, as of April 1, 2023, enter your base fee, based on your gross income from the prior 12 months and type of business, and the amount of hours worked by each employee (enter “0” in hours, for this calculator only, if your business is not subject to the employee fee). Remember, the calculated employees may be higher than the actual headcount of business employees.
Total estimated business license fees:
This tool is only for estimation purposes.
In accordance with VMC 5.04.090.2 and.4 and 5.04.095.B, city business license fees will increase on January 1 each year from 2024 to 2030. Businesses that report $2,000 or less in gross income in the city will continue to be exempt from paying all city fees through 2030.
The following table shows the scheduled increase dates and corresponding fee increases for businesses that report a gross annual income in the city of more than $2,000.
| Future Increase Dates | License Fee per License | Employee fee per Calculated Employee |
|---|---|---|
| > $2,000 – ≤ $50,000 reported gross annual income in City | ||
| 1-Jan-24 | $51 | – |
| 1-Jan-25 | $52 | – |
| 1-Jan-26 | $53 | – |
| 1-Jan-27 | $54 | – |
| 1-Jan-28 | $55 | – |
| 1-Jan-29 | $56 | – |
| 1-Jan-30 | $57 | – |
| > $50,000 reported gross annual income in City | ||
| 1-Jan-24 | $315 | $125 |
| 1-Jan-25 | $331 | $145 |
| 1-Jan-26 | $347 | $165 |
| 1-Jan-27 | $365 | $185 |
| 1-Jan-28 | $383 | $205 |
| 1-Jan-29 | $402 | $225 |
| 1-Jan-30 | $422 | $245 |
On April 1, 2023, City of Vancouver’s business license fees changed.
Why did license fees change? To respond to community priorities identified in the recently approved 2023-2024 biennial budget, the Vancouver City Council made changes to City business license fees to make investments in increased police services, park playground replacements, new roads, and economic development and job creation programs.
The changes will also reduce the fee burden on the smallest businesses in Vancouver, and those conducting limited business in the city.
If you determine that you obtained a city business license in error or overpaid the employee fee part of the fees, you may be eligible for a full or partial refund of the city license fees.
To request a refund, send an email to: business.licenses@cityofvancouver.us with the following information:
In accordance with Title 5 Vancouver Municipal Code (VMC), certain businesses are required to hold a city special license, in addition to a city business license. For a complete list of all required city special licenses see Title 5 VMC.
To confirm whether or not a business requires a special license, please contact the Business Licensing section at business.licenses@cityofvancouver.us or 360-487-8410 option 3.
Required of each ambulance vendor operating in the city. To obtain this special license, submit a completed Ambulance Service Special License Application to the city, along with the required attachments and $200 annual fee.
For a copy of the application, contact the city at business.licenses@cityofvancouver.us or 360-487-8410 option 3.
For information about Carnival Special License requirements and the related process, contact the city at business.licenses@cityofvancouver.us or 360-487-8410 option 3.
Per chapter 5.48 VMC, there are a total of seven (7) pawnbroker licenses available to be issued in the City of Vancouver based on population. There are currently four (4) licenses that have not been issued. Upon sufficient interest, the City will hold a drawing as per chapter 5.48 VMC. For information about Pawnbroker Special License requirements and the related process, contact the city at business.licenses@cityofvancouver.us or 360-487-8410 option 3.
Required of all persons—including principals and agents, as well as employers and employees—who sell, offer for or expose for sale, or who shall trade, deal or traffic in any personal property or services in the city by going from house to house or from place to place or by indiscriminately approaching individuals. To obtain this special license, submit a completed Solicitor/Peddler Permit/License Application to the city, along with two 2″ x 2″ passport-quality photographs and applicable fees for each person.
In addition to each individual holding a solicitor/peddler permit/license, the company that is hiring agents or employees to do the soliciting must hold a city business license.
Required of each taxicab company operating (picking up passengers) in the city. To obtain this special license, review the taxicab company requirements and submit the associated application to the city along with the $200 annual fee. (This special license requirement does not apply to individuals contracted to drive for taxicab companies.)
Required of each tow truck service business (including services associated with the business, e.g., vehicle storage) located in the city. To obtain this special license, submit a completed Tow Truck Service Special License Application to the city, along with the required attachments and fee.
For a copy of the application, contact the city at business.licenses@cityofvancouver.us or 360-487-8410 option 3.
Required of each person driving for a tow truck service located in the city. To obtain this special license, submit a completed Tow Truck Operator Special License Application to the city, along with the required attachments and fee.
For a copy of the application, contact the city at business.licenses@cityofvancouver.us or 360-487-8410 option 3.
Required of each business listed below that is operating in the city. To obtain one of these special licenses, submit a completed Special Licenses Application to the city, along with the corresponding fee.
Bill Posting/Handbills Distribution: $10 per person – quarterly
Mobile Food Vendor: $25 each vehicle/stand/booth – annually, expires December 31 (must also comply with applicable Clark County Health Dept regulations and City Street Use Permit regulations)
Motion Picture Theater: Based on seating capacity – annually, expires December 31
Recyclable Material Collector: $50 per vehicle – annually, expires December 31
Secondhand Dealer: $100 per dealer – annually, expires December 31
Short and Long-Term RentalsEffective January 18, 2024, the City of Vancouver has amended VMC 20.835 to allow for Short Term Rentals (STR) through Ordinance M-4433.
There are several required steps that must be completed prior to a permit being issued for operation of an STR. They can be found by accessing the Short-Term Rentals (STR) page on the City of Vancouver’s website or by contacting Community Development.
COV Business Licenses must be obtained per the Permit Center’s STR checklist requirement.
The City of Vancouver is partnered with the Washington State DOR BLS for the administration of its city business licenses. You can apply online for the state and city business licenses at: My DOR: Sign In (wa.gov). For assistance with the application process, please contact DOR BLS at 360-705-6741.
Upon completion of the application process, the Vancouver business license will show as a “city endorsement” on the state business license issued by DOR BLS.
Questions related to non-business license STR information should be directed to the Permit Center Planning Department at 360-487-7803 or cddplanning@cityofvancouver.us.
For information on long term rental properties, view the Business License Requirement for Rental Property Owners FAQ.
