Business and Special Licenses
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.
- Overview
- New business licenses
- Renewal and license updates
- Fee info and calculator
- Special licenses
- Short and Long-Term Rentals
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.
Customer service
City business and special licensing staff are available by email or phone, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday – Friday.
- Email: business.licenses@cityofvancouver.us
- Phone: 360-487-8410, option 3
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.
Business requirements
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.
- Profit Business. As of April 1, 2023, a business that reports on the application or renewal questionnaire that it will generate a gross annual income of more than $2,000 through $50,000 will pay the city license fee of $50, however, it will be exempt from paying the city employee fee.
- Nonprofit Organization. A nonprofit organization is exempt from paying the city business license employee fee upon correctly completing the city business license part of the application. The organization must check “Yes” in the application box corresponding to “Is this business a 501(c) nonprofit?” and attach a copy of its current IRS tax exemption certificate to the application.
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.
Recently obtained new business licenses for the City of Vancouver
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.
Have questions?
For license application or renewal questions, contact Washington State DOR BLS:
- Email: bls@dor.wa.gov
- Phone: 360-705-6741
For City license regulations questions, contact Vancouver business licensing:
- Email: business.licenses@cityofvancouver.us
- Phone: 360-487-8410 option 3
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 license applicants
If 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.
How to: verify if doing business in City Limits
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.
- Enter address at: City Limits Map, or
- Enter address and check “Jurisdiction” at: Clark County Property Information Center, or
- Provide address to city business licensing staff via email: business.licenses@cityofvancouver.us, or phone: 360-487-8410, option 3.
How to: obtain City business license
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.
- Online application (fastest and preferred method). Go to My DOR and follow instructions to complete online application for a city business license and pay associated fees via debit or electronic check from your bank account, or via credit card. For assistance with this process, contact the Washington State Department of Revenue (DOR), Business Licensing Service (BLS) at 360-705-6741 or bls@dor.wa.gov.
- By US mail. To obtain paper forms for mailing, go to: DOR’s Vancouver City Licenses webpage and select “Business License Application and City Addendum”, or contact DOR BLS at 360-705-6741 or bls@dor.wa.gov. Mail completed forms, along with a check or money order, to the DOR BLS address on page 1 of the application form.
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.
- Vancouver General Business. Applies to a for-profit business with a location address in city limits, that is not a home occupation.
- Vancouver General Non-Resident Business. Applies to a for-profit business with a location address outside city limits.
- Vancouver Home Occupation. Applies to a for-profit business operated from owner’s residence located in city limits.
- Vancouver Nonprofit Business. Applies to a business that qualifies for one of the city’s nonprofit employee-fee-only exemption criteria and provides a copy of its IRS 501(c) tax exempt certification letter as an attachment to the application/addendum.
- Vancouver Employee Fee-Exempt Business. Applies to a business that qualifies for one of the city’s employee-fee-only exemption criteria, other than the nonprofit criteria.
Fees: application and renewal
For state fees, see State Business License Fees (Washington State DOR website).
How to: renew City license
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.
How to: update business information
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.
Fees: application and renewal
For state fees, see State Business License Fees.
Annual City business license fees
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.
- Example 1: 600 hours divided by 1,664 hours equals 0.36, rounded to 1.
- Example 2: 6,000 hours divided by 1,664 hours equals 3.6, rounded to 4.
- Example 3: 75,000 hours divided by 1,664 hours equals 45.1, rounded to 45.
“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.
Estimated business license fee calculator
Total estimated business license fees:
This tool is only for estimation purposes.
Adopted future fee increases
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.
Annual business license fee increases – 2024 to 2030
| 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 |
New business license fees in April 2023
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.
How to: request refund of City fees, if applicable
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:
- Washington State UBI number,
- full business name,
- location and mailing addresses,
- date fees paid to Washington State DOR BLS,
- requested refund amount,
- reason for error in applying for license or miscalculation of fees, and
- name and phone number of authorized contact person
Special Licenses
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.
- The following special licenses require the submittal of a specific special license application and corresponding fee payment to the city.
Ambulance Service Special License
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.
Carnival Special License
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.
Pawnbroker Special License
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.
Solicitor/Peddler Permit/Special License
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.
Taxicab Co Special 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.)
Tow Truck Service Special License
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.
Tow Truck Operator Special License
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.
Other Special Licenses
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
- ≤500 persons: $150
- 501-1,000 persons: $200
- 1,001-1,500 persons: $250
Recyclable Material Collector: $50 per vehicle – annually, expires December 31
Secondhand Dealer: $100 per dealer – annually, expires December 31
Short-Term Rentals (STR)
Effective 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.
Permit Center Planning
cddplanning@cityofvancouver.us
360-487-7803
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.
- Please note, per Vancouver Municipal Code Ch. 5.04.090 that “there shall be a separate business license for each separate location at which business is transacted”.
- If multiple STR’s are owned by the same entity, their business license # would appear, in the examples below, with each location identified by the last four numbers.
- 123456789-001-0001
- 123456789-001-0002
- 123456789-001-0003
- This also means that a business already in operation (real estate, for example) must obtain another license because it is a separate business than the already established business.
- The Location address must be the rental address.
- STR tax questions can be addressed by DOR’s tax division at 360-256-2060.
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.
Long-Term Rentals
For information on long term rental properties, view the Business License Requirement for Rental Property Owners FAQ.