General Business Licenses

If your retail business is located inside the city limits you will need a General Business License. 

General Business License Application - Add the City of Puyallup as an endorsement on your Washington State business license.

If your business is located outside the city limits, please go to Pierce County's website or call (253) 798-7445.

If your business is located inside the city limits you will need a General Business License. 

If your business is based outside the city limits but you have work inside the city limits you will need a General Business License.

If you operate your business from your home, you may be required to obtain a Home Occupation Permit.  If your home is within City limits, then you must submit a Home Occupation Questionnaire. Once submitted to the Planning Division, your questionnaire will be reviewed, and you'll be notified if a Home Occupation Permit is required.

General Business License Application - Add the City of Puyallup as an endorsement on your Washington State business license.

Home Occupation Application - If you've completed the Home Occupation Questionnaire and been notified that a Home Occupation Permit is required in addition to your general business license.

If you are operating a business out of a residence within a residential zone, then you are required to adhere to the laws governing home occupations and may need to obtain a Home Occupation Permit to operate your business from the home. If you answered “yes” to the question “Is the physical address of the business in a residence?” on your business license application, or if your business will be operated in a residential zone, please read below for information about the requirements for home-based businesses. 

It is the business's responsibility to obtain a home occupation permit from the City of Puyallup if the nature of the business meets any of the following criteria:

1. The home occupation is visible from the outside of the house or accessory residential structures (such as garages).  Urban agriculture activities meeting the criteria of PMC 20.20.010 or 20.25.010 are exempt from this requirement.
2. There will be clients or customers visiting the premises for the home occupation.
3. Materials, goods, or commodities for the home occupation are delivered outside the allowed hours of 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM (except for regular mail deliveries).
4. There is signage related to the home occupation (other than one sign that is no more than 6 square feet in area mounted against the wall of the residence).

General Business License Application - Add the City of Puyallup as an endorsement on your Washington State business license.
 
Home Occupation Permit Application - If you've been notified that a Home Occupation Permit is required in addition to your general business license, fill out this form and submit it to the City of Puyallup Development Services Department.  You need a home occupation permit if you meet any of the requirements listed above, even if you are not required to obtain a business license because the business sales are less than $12,000 a year.

The cost of a home occupation permit is $140. Any questions regarding the home occupation permit application process should be directed via email to the Planning Division or via phone at (253) 864-4165 (#3 Planning). 

Additional Home-Based Business Requirements

If you are operating your business from a residence in a residential zone, then you must adhere to the laws for home occupation businesses whether you are also required to obtain a home occupation permit.  All of the requirements for home-based businesses can be found in PMC 20.75.  Some of the most important requirements are:

• A home occupation shall be conducted in a dwelling or accessory building and shall be clearly incidental and secondary to the use of the structure(s) and property as primarily residential. No such home occupation shall occupy a floor area greater than 25% of the total enclosed floor area of the structures on the property. Retail sales of items not produced on the premises shall be allowed only if clearly incidental to the primary function of the home occupation. Urban agriculture activities meeting the criteria of PMC 20.20.010 or 20.25.010 are exempt from this standard.
• In no way shall the appearance of the structure or premises and properties be so altered, or the conduct of the occupation within the structure be such that the structure or premises may be reasonably recognized as serving the home occupation. Such alteration or conduct shall include but not be limited to color, materials, construction, lighting, signs, sounds, noises, storage of construction equipment, vehicle parking areas, radio or television interference, vibrations, smoke, odors, and/or display of equipment or materials; provided, that this subsection shall not preclude the placement of one nameplate, mounted flush against the wall of the residence, stating the name of the home occupation. Urban agriculture activities meeting the criteria of PMC 20.20.010 or 20.25.010 are exempt from this standard. 
• Employees who do not reside at the location of the home occupation may be allowed to work at the home occupation: vehicular trips associated with employees entering and leaving the site for employment shall count toward the maximum trips allowed by this section. 

If your business is located inside the city limits you will need a General Business License. 

If your business is based outside the city limits but you have work inside the city limits you will need a General Business License.

If you operate your business from your home, you may be required to obtain a Home Occupation Permit.  If your home is within City limits, then you must submit a Home Occupation Questionnaire. Once submitted to the Planning Division, your questionnaire will be reviewed, and you'll be notified if a Home Occupation Permit is required.

General Business License Application - Add the City of Puyallup as an endorsement on your Washington State business license.

Home Occupation Application - If you've completed the Home Occupation Questionnaire and been notified that a Home Occupation Permit is required in addition to your general business license.