Businesses operating in King County may come under the jurisdiction of State, County, and, where applicable, city regulations. The location of the business, as well as the nature and scope of the business, determines what types of business licenses are required.

King County issues business licenses for businesses engaged in certain regulated activities in unincorporated King County.  Check jurisdiction and zoning information.

King County does not require a general business license. Unless your business is engaged in a regulated activity in unincorporated King County, no King County license is required. However, all businesses located in unincorporated King County must be in compliance with zoning code regulations.

A King County business license is required only for a few types of businesses as explained below.

• King County Permits issues regulatory licenses for the following business types if they are in, or operate in, unincorporated King County.

  • Amusement/dance venues
  • Amusement devices
  • Carnivals
  • Charitable solicitation
  • Entertainers and managers
  • Go-cart tracks
  • Junk shops and wagons
  • Massage businesses and bathhouses
  • Outdoor musical entertainment
  • Pawnshops
  • Secondhand dealers
  • Shooting ranges
  • Theaters

  See types of licenses and regulated business activity for more information.  Permitting office contact and location information.

• Records and Licensing Services, with its main office in downtown Seattle, issues the licenses for pets, taxicabs and for-hire drivers, and process servers.

Important - please note:

• A King County business license is required only if:

  1. The business engages in a regulated activity and

  2. The business is located in and/or operates in unincorporated King County.

     See types of licenses for more information.

• If the business is located in unincorporated King County, the business must be in compliance with zoning code regulations. See business zoning for more information on conducting a business out of your home or other zoning questions.

  • If the business is located or operates within city limits of any incorporated city in King County (such as Seattle, Kent, Issaquah, etc.), you must check with the city instead of King County to find out the city&rsq;s requirements for business licenses. For more information, see city licenses.

  • All businesses in King County are required to file a personal property tax affidavit. See King County personal property tax for more information.

  • All businesses operating in the State of Washington must get a Washington State Business Licensing Service (external link). Other state licenses may be required as well. See State of Washington licenses for more information.

For more information

Related topics

• Business development
• Kennels, groomers, and other pet businesses
• Records and Licensing Services
• Vehicle & vessel/boat licenses
• Food business licenses
• Concealed gun licenses
• Marriage licenses

External links

Washington State:

• Business License Service 
• Liquor licenses 
• Corporations
• Check license status