Businesses are required to obtain a business license through the Washington State Department of Revenue (DOR). Businesses in Lakewood must complete all required permits before the City will endorse a business license.
Business Licensing
6000 Main St SW
Lakewood, WA 98499
[email protected]
Permit and Service Counter
Walk ins welcome
Tuesday-Thursday, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Washington Business Licensing Service:
[email protected]
360-705-6741
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Business Licensing
Businesses are required to obtain a business license through the Washington State Department of Revenue (DOR). Businesses in Lakewood must complete all required permits before the City will endorse a business license.
Note: inspections may be required prior to issuing your business license. All tenant improvements must be completed with a certificate of occupancy prior to issuance of a City of Lakewood business license.
Businesses are required to obtain a business license through the Washington State Department of Revenue (DOR). The City of Lakewood reviews business license applications within its jurisdiction and endorses business licenses that meet all City standards. Businesses in Lakewood must receive zoning approval and complete all required permitting before the City will endorse a business license.
Lakewood Business Licencing staff will evaluate your application to determine that the zone your business is located in allows for the type of business you have applied for. View the Lakewood Land Use and Development Code here.
For questions regarding zoning and land use, please contact Lakewood Business Licensing staff: [email protected]
Lakewood Permit staff will process any permits required to endorse the license. Permits must be completed in order to endorse a business license. Applying for a permit does not guarantee a business license endorsement.
For questions regarding permitting, please contact Lakewood Permit staff: [email protected]
Once all required permits and inspections are complete, Lakewood Business Licensing staff will endorse your business license.
Renewals and Fees
You may apply for a city business license or renew your state and city licenses at the same time using the state Department of Revenue’s Business Licensing Service’s online renewal portal.
Your renewal form will list the city of Lakewood license fee and a Business Licensing Service renewal processing fee. Your first renewal may be prorated in order to change your current city license expiration date to match the expiration tied to your state license. This may take anywhere from 3-14 months. This is typical for any business with licenses related to liquor, tobacco, gasoline, cities and others. After a year, all the licenses will renew at the same time.
Note: Any changes to your DOR account or application must be made through the DOR web portal.
To apply for a business license in Lakewood, you must pay the DOR business license processing fees as well as Lakewood’s city endorsement fees. The DOR processing fees are non-refundable.
Types of Business Licenses
General Business License
Lakewood General Business Licenses are for businesses with a commercial location within the City of Lakewood’s jurisdiction.
Lakewood General Business Licenses are for businesses with a commercial location within the City of Lakewood’s jurisdiction. If you are not sure if your business address is within Lakewood’s jurisdiction, please contact Lakewood’s Business Licensing staff for more information: [email protected].
If your business will have more than one commercial location within Lakewood, you must complete a separate business license application for each location.
Lakewood General Business Licenses will only be endorsed for commercial addresses within the City of Lakewood’s jurisdiction. Lakewood General Business Licenses cannot be endorsed for residential addresses, PO boxes, mail forwarding services, registered agents, or addresses not within Lakewood’s jurisdiction.
General Business License Permitting
Constructing a new building
All businesses which construct a new building in Lakewood must complete all required construction permits and inspections before the City will endorse the business license.
Moving into a new space, no construction or renovations
All businesses which move into a new space as the owner or named tenant of the property at the address listed on the application must complete a Change of Occupancy (COO) permit, including completed inspections.
Moving into a new space with construction or renovations
All businesses which move into a new space and perform construction or renovations must complete a Tenant Improvement (TI) Permit, including completed inspections.
Moving into a new space as a sub-lease, no construction or renovations
Businesses that move into a new space and are not the named tenant or owner of the property at the address listed on the application are not required to submit permits in order to obtain a business license endorsement. Some special use cases may require other permitting and will be handled on a case-by-case basis.
Business License applications WILL NOT BE ENDORSED without completing required permits. All permit documents must be submitted through the City of Lakewood Permit Dashboard.
For help with completing permits and forms, please contact Lakewood’s Permit staff: [email protected]
Non-Profit Business License
Lakewood Non-Profit Business Licenses are for 501.c3 corporations with a commercial location within the City of Lakewood’s jurisdiction.
Lakewood Non-Profit Business Licenses are for 501.c3 corporations with a commercial location within the City of Lakewood’s jurisdiction.
Non-profit businesses may be exempt from city fees. To qualify, you must submit a copy of your business’ IRS 501(c) certificate with your application. If you are not sure if your business address is within Lakewood’s jurisdiction, please contact Lakewood’s Business Licensing staff for more information: [email protected].
Lakewood Non-Profit Business Licenses will only be endorsed for commercial addresses within the City of Lakewood’s jurisdiction. Lakewood Non-Profit Business Licenses cannot be endorsed for for-profit businesses, residential addresses, PO boxes, mail forwarding services, registered agents, or addresses not within Lakewood’s jurisdiction.
Note: Non-profit businesses can be based at residential addresses in Lakewood. In order to license a home-based non-profit business in Lakewood, you must apply for a Lakewood Home Occupation Business License.
Non-Profit Business License Permitting
Constructing a new building
All businesses which construct a new building in Lakewood must complete all required construction permits and inspections before the City will endorse the business license.
Moving into a new space, no construction or renovations
All businesses which move into a new space as the owner or named tenant of the property at the address listed on the application must complete a Change of Occupancy (COO) permit, including completed inspections.
Moving into a new space with construction or renovations
All businesses which move into a new space and perform construction or renovations must complete a Tenant Improvement (TI) Permit, including completed inspections.
Moving into a new space as a sub-lease, no construction or renovations
Businesses that move into a new space and are not the named tenant or owner of the property at the address listed on the application are not required to submit permits in order to obtain a business license endorsement. Some special use cases may require other permitting and will be handled on a case-by-case basis.
Business License applications WILL NOT BE ENDORSED without completing required permits. All permit documents must be submitted through the City of Lakewood Permit Dashboard.
For help with completing permits and forms, please contact Lakewood’s Permit staff: [email protected]
Home Occupation Business License
Lakewood Home Occupation Business Licenses are for businesses that are based at a residential address within the City of Lakewood’s jurisdiction.
Lakewood Home Occupation Business Licenses are for businesses that are based at a residential address within the City of Lakewood’s jurisdiction.
If your business does not have a commercial location, it is most likely a home-based business.
Home-based businesses which are located in Lakewood’s jurisdiction must obtain a Lakewood Home Occupation Business License whether or not business will be conducted in the City of Lakewood. The license is based on your home address, not on where you perform work. Please check with the cities you plan to perform work in to ensure you have all proper licensing and permitting necessary to perform work in those jurisdictions.
Lakewood Home Occupation Business Licenses will only be endorsed for residential addresses within the City of Lakewood’s jurisdiction. Lakewood Home Occupation Business Licenses cannot be endorsed for commercial addresses, PO boxes, mail forwarding services, registered agents, or addresses not within Lakewood’s jurisdiction.
Home Occupation Business License Permitting
Home-based businesses that will have clients or customers on-site, business signage on-site, or other outward appearance of a business at a residential address require a completed Home Occupation Permit. Some special use cases may require other permitting and will be handled on a case-by-case basis.
Business License applications WILL NOT BE ENDORSED without completing required permits. All permit documents must be submitted through the City of Lakewood Permit Dashboard.
For help with completing permits and forms, please contact Lakewood’s Permit staff: [email protected]
Lakewood Non-Resident Business License
Lakewood Non-Resident Business Licenses are for businesses that are located outside of Lakewood’s jurisdiction and will be performing work in the City of Lakewood.
Lakewood Non-Resident Business Licenses are for businesses that are located outside of Lakewood’s jurisdiction and will be performing work in the City of Lakewood.
Your primary business license is based on the location of your business, not where you will be performing work. All businesses based outside the City of Lakewood that perform work in the City of Lakewood must obtain a Lakewood Non-Resident Business License.
Lakewood Non-Resident Business Licenses cannot be endorsed for addresses within the City of Lakewood’s jurisdiction.
Non-Resident Business License Permitting
Non-resident businesses generally do not require permitting in order to obtain a business license endorsement. Some special use cases may require permitting and will be handled on a case-by-case basis.
Note: Non-Resident businesses doing business in Lakewood must still submit all required Lakewood permits for work they are performing in the City of Lakewood. For example: non-resident construction contractors must still submit building permits for construction projects in Lakewood.
Residential Rental Property License
All rental property owners who own rental property in the City of Lakewood are required to register their rental property on an annual basis with the City. The properties must be inspected and are required to pass City of Lakewood rental inspection protocols. The Rental Housing Safety Program (RHSP) oversees residential rental properties in the City of Lakewood.
For more information about licensing residential rental properties, please contact Lakewood Rental Housing Safety Staff: [email protected]
Specialty Business Licenses
Certain businesses require specialty licenses to operate in Lakewood. Specialty licenses require business owners to register in person at the City’s Development Services counter. Fill out the appropriate form below before coming to City Hall.
- Adult cabaret business license
- Adult entertainment application
- Adult entertainment manager application
- Adult Family Home submission standards
- Automotive industry business application
- Cabaret application
- Christmas tree lots and seasonal sales: A temporary business license and temporary use permit approved by the community development director are required.
- Commercial kennels, hobby kennels, grooming parlor or pet shop licenses
- Panoram manager business license application
- Panoram owner/operator license application
- Panoram premise license application
- Pawnshops (click here to read LeadsOnline requirements)
- Temporary business license: Applications must be submitted in person, with one valid form of identification at City Hall from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Applications for the specialty licenses listed below are only available in person at city hall. You must make an appointment and speak with city staff to apply.
- Bathhouse
- Public dances, dance halls and teenage dances
- Secondhand sales
- Solicitor’s and peddler’s permit requirements: All persons conducting door-to-door solicitation in the city of Lakewood, whether you are located inside or outside of the city, are required to obtain a city of Lakewood general business license, and apply for a Solicitor/Peddler permit.
For any questions regarding specialty business licensing, please contact:
Becky Newton
Economic Development Manager
(253) 983-7738
[email protected]
Frequently Asked Questions
I don’t have a commercial business location, but I don’t perform any work at my home. What type of license should I apply for?
If you do not have a commercial business location, your business is probably a home-based business. Many construction contractors and contract-based professionals operate home-based businesses even though they do not perform any work at their home. Note that home-based businesses must be licensed in the jurisdiction where your home is located, not where you perform work.
Examples:
- You live in Lakewood and perform contract work in Tacoma: You need a Lakewood Home Occupation Business License and a Tacoma Non-Resident Business License.
- You live in Tacoma and perform contract work in Lakewood: You need a Tacoma Business License and a Lakewood Non-Resident Business License
- You live in Lakewood and perform contract work in many cities: You need a Lakewood Home Occupation Business License and a Non-Resident Business License in each jurisdiction you plan to perform work in.
Can I apply for a business license without disclosing my address?
The only way the City of Lakewood can endorse a business license without using an address within the City of Lakewood’s jurisdiction is through the Washington Secretary of State’s Address Confidentiality Program (ACP)
I applied for a permit, why is my business license application still pending?
You must complete all required permits, including inspections, before the City will endorse your business license. Please contact Lakewood Permit staff and include your permit number for reference: [email protected]
How do I close a business account?
In order to close a business account, please refer to the DOR “Close My Account” page.
Important Links
- Closing business declaration (PDF)
- Lakewood Municipal Code, Title 5 (Business licenses and City regulations)
- State Labor and Industries (verify contractor license number)
- Tacoma Pierce County Health Department (opening a food business, mobile unit, catering or vending)