Business

Business Registration and Licensing

Business Registration & Licensing

The City of Kenmore requires all businesses located in the City to register for and maintain a city business license.

The City of Kenmore requires businesses conducting business within the City limits, to register for and maintain a city business license.

Register for City Business License

The City has partnered with the Washington State Department of Revenue (DOR), Business Licensing Service, to issue City business licenses. This combined licensing system allows the business owner to meet the local and state requirements with one transaction. A City license will be added to your State Master License as an addendum.

Apply for a State business license and a City business license:

Online:   https://dor.wa.gov/open-business/apply-business-license.  Online applications are typically processed within two business days. For assistance, contact the Department of Revenue Business Licensing Service at 360-705-6741.

By mail:   Complete and mail the Business License Application, along with any additional forms, and payment to the address on the form. Mailed applications can take up to six weeks to process. 

For Kenmore business license questions, please contact the City of Kenmore at (425) 398-8900. 

Contractors Applying for Development Permit

If you are a contractor obtaining a Kenmore endorsement in order to apply for a private development permit, once your endorsement is visibly active for Kenmore on the Department of Revenue Business Lookup page, please email permittech@kenmorewa.gov or call 425-398-8900 Option 1 to have your company profile updated in MyBuildingPermit.com.

Exemptions

The following business types are exempt from the City Business License/Endorsement requirement. For more information, refer to Kenmore Municipal Code 5.105.040.

  • Minors
  • Schools and Universities
  • Churches
  • Farmers selling their own products
  • Government agencies

Business Registration and Licensing Fees

The City of Kenmore business registration fee structure updated on January 1, 2024, as follows,

Businesses reporting an annual gross business income of $12,000 or less qualify for a fee-free registration. The City's registration fee is $0 for these businesses.

Businesses reporting over $12,000 in annual gross business income, will be charged a $10.00 registration fee.

Non-Resident Business License:  If your business is physically located outside city limits, but conducts business within city limits, your license fee is determined by gross annual income earned within this city's limits, using the same income threshold as Kenmore businesses (see above).

Fee Structure

The registration fee is based on state reported business income earned in Kenmore. City registration fee is $10 for business reporting over $12,000.

 Type of Registration

 Kenmore
Fee 
Business income at or
under threshold

Kenmore   Fee
Business 
income
over threshold

 DOR-BLS Admin Fee

 

 Total Fee

 
New or Re-opened Business Located in Kenmore $0 $10   $50  $60
Additional Location in Kenmore  $0  $10 $0  $10 
Existing Kenmore businesses, Initial Registration   $0  $10  $10  $20
Business Registration Annual Renewal  $0  $10  $5  $15
New or Re-opened Kenmore Nonprofit Organization  $0  $0  $50  $50
Existing Kenmore Nonprofit Organization, Initial Registration  $0  $0  $10  $10
Nonprofit Organization Registration Renewal  $0  $0  $5  $5
Non-Resident Business Registration $0  $10  $0  $10

 

Kenmore Business Directory FindKenmore.org

Registered businesses may add their business to the Kenmore Business Directory, www.FindKenmore.org.

For more information, contact Nicole Suarez at nsuarez@kenmorewa.gov.