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.

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.

Frequently Asked License Questions

I would like to start a business. What do I need to do?

You will need to contact the Washington State Business Licensing Service for your state licensing requirements. This department will register your business name. Please visit their website to get your license. You will need to determine if you are located within the city limits or reside within Pierce County. If you are within Puyallup city limits you will have to obtain a local license. Business License applications can be found in the "Business" section.

I am a contractor or subcontractor doing business in Puyallup. How do I get my license?

Please go to the Washington State Business License Services website. 

How long is my license good for?

You need to renew your business license annually. BLS will send renewal notices six weeks prior to license expiration.

How will I know when to renew my license? 

Renewal forms are mailed out six weeks prior to the license expiration date. Licenses that are expired and not renewed after 120 days of the expiration date will be closed.

I recently sold my business. Do I need to notify you?

Notification to the Business License Services allows us to update the business license database indicating the status of your business. You can notify them by visiting their website.

I recently opened a second business location. Do I need to notify you?

Yes. Licenses are issued by location and a separate license is required for each location.

Does the City of Puyallup have a B&O Tax?

No, we do not.

I want to have a parking lot sale. Do I need a permit?

Sales in parking lots are classified as temporary sales and the applicant will need to complete a temporary stand application. These applications are submitted to the City Clerk's Office and reviewed by the Planning Department as well as Central Pierce Fire & Rescue Fire Marshal for regulation compliance. Please visit our Special Business License page for application information.

How long can I operate a temporary stand?

Temporary stands are allowed for up to 30 days per year per site.

Where can I set up my temporary stand?

Stands can only be set up in commercial zones. For a list of commercial zones, please visit our GIS maps page.

I want to operate a stand inside the fairgrounds during the Fair. Do I need a license?

No, not if your stand is located within the fairgrounds. But you will need permission from the Fair to operate one on their property. You can contact the Fair by visiting its website.

I want to park cars on my property during the Fair. Do I need a license?

Yes, you do. You will need a Fair Parking License. If you park 15 or more cars at a time you will need to pay the $37.50 application fee for the license. Please go to our Special Business License page for info.

I want to have a stand at the Farmer's Market or Meeker Days. Do I need a license?

You do not need a license. These events are managed by the Main Street Association. You can visit their website for contact information.

I want to sell food or ice cream from my vehicle. Do I need a license?

Mobile food sales require a mobile food vendor license. This license takes approximately ten working days to process and requires a background check. The cost is $50 per calendar year. All mobile food vendor licenses expire on December 31st. Go to our Special Business License page for our application materials.

I want to go door-to-door selling merchandise. Do I need a license?

Door-to-door sales require a solicitor's license. This license takes approximately ten working days to process and requires a background check. The cost is $50 per year. All solicitor's licenses expire on December 31st. Go to our Special Business License page to apply for a Solicitor's License.

I want to pass out flyers. Do I need a permit?

Yes. This type of activity requires a bill poster license. The fee is $10 per day (per person) and takes 24-48 hours to process. Go to our Special Business License page to apply for a Bill Poster License.

I want to have a garage sale. Do I need a permit?

No, but garage sales are limited to four weekends per year.

I make arts and crafts at home that I sell at the Farmer's Market. Do I need a business license?

No, as long as you are not selling items out of your home, you do not need a license.