LICENSE REQUIREMENTS

SEA-MC tit. 6, subtit. IV, ch. 6.208

in effect

Seattle Mun. Code § 6.208.010 Business license requirements

6.208.010 - Business license requirements A. No person, unless specifically exempted, shall engage in any business activity, profession, trade or occupation in the City without having first obtained and being the holder of a valid and subsisting license to do so, to be known as a "business license." The business license shall expire at the end of the calendar year for which it is issued. The business license shall be personal and nontransferable except as provided in subsection 6.208.010.F. Applications for the business license shall be made to the Director of Finance and Administrative Services on forms provided by the Director. Each business license shall be numbered, shall show the name, place and character of the business of the licensee, and such other information as the Director deems necessary, and shall at all times be conspicuously posted in the place of business for which it is issued. If the licensee changes the place of business, the licensee shall return the business license to the Director and a new license shall be issued for the new place of business free of charge. B. When business is transacted at two or more separate places by one taxpayer, a separate business license for each place at which business is transacted with the public shall be required. C. No person to whom a business license has been issued pursuant to this Chapter 6.208 shall suffer or allow any other person for whom a separate license is required to operate under or display the license; nor shall such other person operate under or display such license. D. As provided in Section 6.20.040, a participant at an event, identified in the list supplied by the promoter or organizer, shall be exempt from obtaining a business license under subsection 6.208.010.A on account of business activities at the licensed event for the duration of the event license; provided however, that such participant is not otherwise engaging in business in the City as such term is defined in Section 5.30.210. E. Any business license may be renewed by submitting an application for the ensuing year of the on or before the date of the expiration of such license. All business licenses issued subsequent to the initial license period shall be deemed renewal licenses if there has been no discontinuance of the licensee's operations or activities. Nonpayment by the licensee of taxes, business license tax certificate fees, or business license fees other than those due upon expiration for the renewal of a license, when due during the term of any business license shall constitute grounds for revocation of or the refusal to renew said license. F. A business license cannot be assigned or transferred, except that a license may be transferred: 1. To the surviving or new corporation, whenever the licensed corporation is merged or consolidated pursuant to chapter 23B.11 RCW, as now or hereafter amended; 2. To the surviving partner, or to a new partnership which consists exclusively of the surviving partners, whenever one partner of a licensed partnership dies; 3. To the surviving spouse, whenever one spouse of a licensed marital community dies; 4. To any one or more former partners, whenever a licensed partnership is dissolved and one or more of the former partners of the licensed partnership continue the operation of the business as an individual proprietorship or partnership without the addition of any new partner, and all of the other former partners consent in writing to the transfer of the license, which written consent shall be filed with the application for such transfer; 5. To one spouse, whenever a licensed marital community is dissolved and the other spouse consents in writing to the transfer of the license, which written consent shall be filed with the application for such transfer; 6. In case of the death of any licensee before the expiration of the license, the licensee's administrator or executor, duly appointed as such by order of court, may continue to act under said license for the unexpired term thereof upon filing with the City proof of such appointment. As used in this subsection 6.208.010.F, the term "partnership" includes joint venture, and the term "partner" includes a co-venturer. G. The issuance of a business license under this Chapter 6.208 shall not be deemed as approval or permission from the City to engage in any illegal activity and shall not prevent the City from revoking or suspending a business license as permitted under this Title 6. The issuance of a business license under this Chapter 6.208 is not a determination by the City that the business is in compliance with any other laws and does not exempt the business from obtaining other necessary licenses or permits or from complying with any other applicable laws. The Director may require applicants for business licenses to certify that the business to be engaged in under the license is not in violation of any applicable law. (Ord. 124963, § 1, 2015)

Seattle Mun. Code § 6.208.020 Denial, revocation of, or refusal to renew business license

6.208.020 - Denial, revocation of, or refusal to renew business license A. In addition to any other powers and authority provided under this Title 6, the Director, or the Director's designee, has the power and authority to deny, revoke, or refuse to renew any business license issued under the provisions of this Chapter 6.208. The Director, or the Director's designee, shall notify such applicant or licensee in writing by mail of the denial, revocation of, or refusal to renew the license and on what grounds such a decision was based. The Director may deny, revoke, or refuse to renew any license issued under this Chapter 6.208 on one or more of the following grounds: 1. The license was procured by fraud or false representation of fact. 2. The licensee has failed to comply with any provisions of this Chapter 6.208. 3. The licensee has failed to comply with any provisions of Chapters 5.35, 5.37, 5.38, 5.39, 5.40, 5.45, 5.46, 5.48, 5.50, or 5.52. 4. The licensee is in default in any payment of any license fee or tax under Title 5 or Title 6. 5. The property at which the business is located has been determined by a court to be a chronic nuisance property as provided in Chapter 10.09. 6. The applicant or licensee has been convicted of theft under subsection 12A.08.060.A.4 within the last ten years. 7. The applicant or licensee is a person subject within the last ten years to a court order entering final judgment for violations of chapters 49.46, 49.48, or 49.52 RCW, or 29 U.S.C. 206 or 29 U.S.C. 207, and the judgment was not satisfied within 30 days of the later of either: a. The expiration of the time for filing an appeal from the final judgment order under the court rules in effect at the time of the final judgment order; or b. If a timely appeal is made, the date of the final resolution of that appeal and any subsequent appeals resulting in final judicial affirmation of the findings of violations of chapters 49.46, 49.48, or 49.52 RCW, or 29 U.S.C. 206 or 29 U.S.C. 207. 8. The applicant or licensee is a person subject within the last ten years to a final and binding citation and notice of assessment from the Washington Department of Labor and Industries for violations of chapters 49.46, 49.48, or 49.52 RCW, and the citation amount and penalties assessed therewith were not satisfied within 30 days of the date the citation became final and binding. 9. Pursuant to relevant provisions in Title 8, subsections 14.16.100.A.4, 14.17.075.A, 14.19.100.A.4, 14.20.080.A.4, 14.22.115.A.4, 14.23.115.A.4, 14.26.210.A.4, 14.27.210.A.4, 14.28.210.A.4, 14.30.180.A.4, 14.33.210.A.4, and 14.34.210.A.4, the applicant or licensee has failed to comply, within 30 days of service of any settlement agreement, with any final order issued by the Director of the Office of Labor Standards, or any final order issued by the Hearing Examiner under Title 8, Chapters 14.16, 14.17, 14.19, 14.20, 14.22, 14.23, 14.26, 14.27, 14.28, 14.29, 14.30, 14.33, and 14.34 for which all appeal rights have been exhausted, and the Director of the Office of Labor Standards has requested that the Director deny, refuse to renew, or revoke any business license held or requested by the applicant or licensee. The denial, refusal to renew, or revocation shall remain in effect until such time as the violation(s) under Title 8, Chapters 14.16, 14.17, 14.19, 14.20, 14.22, 14.23, 14.26, 14.27, 14.28, 14.29, 14.30, 14.33, and 14.34 are remedied. 10. The business is one that requires an additional license under this Title 6 and the business does not hold that license. 11. The business has been determined under a separate enforcement process to be operating in violation of law. B. Within 30 days from the date that the notice of denial, revocation or refusal to renew notice was mailed to the applicant or licensee, the applicant or licensee may appeal such refusal to issue, revocation or refusal to renew by filing a written notice of appeal ("petition") setting forth the grounds therefor with the Office of the Hearing Examiner. The applicant or licensee must provide a copy of the petition to the Director and the City Attorney on or before the date the petition is filed with the Hearing Examiner. The hearing shall be conducted in accordance with the procedures for hearing contested cases in Chapter 3.02. The Director or the Director's designee shall have the burden of proving by a preponderance of the evidence that grounds for denying, suspending, or revoking a license existed. The Hearing Examiner shall set a date for hearing said appeal and notify the licensee of the time and place of the hearing. After the hearing thereon the Hearing Examiner shall, after making appropriate findings of fact and conclusions of law, affirm, modify, or overrule the denial, revocation or refusal to renew, and issue or reinstate the license. The Hearing Examiner may impose any terms upon the issuance or continuance of the license that may be advisable. No denial, revocation of, or refusal to renew a license issued pursuant to the provisions of this Chapter 6.208 shall take effect until 30 days after the mailing of the notice thereof by the Director, and if appeal is taken as herein prescribed, the refusal to issue, revocation or refusal to renew shall be stayed pending final action by the Hearing Examiner. All licenses that are revoked or refused to be renewed by the Director shall be surrendered to the City on the effective date of such revocation or refusal to renew. No business license shall be renewed and no new license shall be issued to the licensee or to any person (as defined by Section 5.30.305) in which the licensee is a principal for a period of one year where the license has been revoked or not renewed by a decision of the Director pursuant to this Section 6.208.020. The decision of the Hearing Examiner shall be final. The licensee and/or the Director may seek review of the decision of the Hearing Examiner in the Superior Court of Washington in and for King County within 14 days from the date of the decision. C. Upon revocation of any license no portion of any license fee shall be returned to the licensee. D. The period of denial, revocation or non-renewal for grounds stated in subsections A.1, A.5, A.6, A.7, A.8, and A.11 of this Section 6.208.020 shall be at least one year, and the licensee or any person (as defined in Section 5.30.305) that is or was a principal of the licensee shall not again be licensed during such period. E. The period of denial, revocation or non-renewal for grounds stated in subsections A.2, A.3, A.4, A.9, and A.10 of this Section 6.208.020 shall last until the violation or default is cured. If the violation cannot be cured, the period of denial, revocation or non-renewal shall last until the end of the license period in which the non-issuance, revocation or non-renewal occurred. (Ord. I-137, § 11, 2025; Ord. No. 126880, § 13, 2023; Ord. 126595, § 6, 2022; Ord. 126373, § 4, 2021; Ord. 126274, § 4, 2021; Ord. 126108, § 11, 2020; Ord. 126189, § 5, 2020; Ord. 126094, § 3, 2020; Ord. 126091, § 3, 2020; Ord. 125930, § 3, 2019; Ord. 125929, § 3, 2019; Ord. 125928, § 3, 2019; Ord. 125923, § 3, 2019; Ord. 125627, § 2, 2018; Ord. 125684, § 3, 2018; Ord. 125203, § 4, 2016; Ord. 124963, § 1, 2015)

Seattle Mun. Code § 6.208.030 Unlawful actions—Violation—Penalties

6.208.030 - Unlawful actions—Violation—Penalties A. It shall be unlawful for any person subject to the provisions of this Chapter 6.208: 1. To violate or fail to comply with any of the provisions of this Chapter 6.208 or any lawful rule or regulation adopted by the Director; 2. To make or manufacture any license required by this chapter except upon authority of the Director; 3. To make any false statement on any license or license application; 4. To aid or abet any person in any attempt to evade payment of a license fee; 5. To refuse admission to the Director to inspect the premises and/or records as required by this Chapter 6.208; 6. To fail to appear or testify in response to a subpoena issued pursuant to Section 3.02.120 in any proceeding to determine compliance with this Chapter 6.208; 7. To testify falsely in any investigation, audit or proceeding conducted pursuant to this Chapter 6.208; 8. To continue to engage in any business activity, profession, trade, or occupation after the denial, revocation, or suspension of a business license issued under this Chapter 6.208; or 9. In any manner, to hinder or delay the City or any of its officers in carrying out the provisions of this Chapter 6.208. B. Each violation of or failure to comply with the provisions of this Chapter 6.208 shall constitute a separate offense. Except as provided in subsection 6.208.030.C, any person who commits an act defined in subsection 6.208.030.A is guilty of a gross misdemeanor, punishable in accordance with Section 12A.02.070. The provisions of Chapters 12A.02 and 12A.04 apply to the offenses defined in subsection 6.208.030.A, except that liability is absolute and none of the mental states described in Section 12A.04.030 need be proved. C. Except as provided in subsections 6.208.030.C.1 and 6.208.030.C.2, each violation of Section 6.208.010 is a Class 1 civil infraction as contemplated by chapter 7.80 RCW, for which the penalty is $250 plus statutory assessments. Each day a person is in violation of Section 6.208.010 is a separate violation and the monetary penalties shall accumulate. A civil infraction under these sections shall be processed in the manner contemplated by chapter 7.80 RCW and notices of infraction for such violations may be issued by law enforcement officers or the Director, or the Director's designees, including License and Standards Inspectors. 1. Each person who commits a violation of Section 6.208.010 after having been found to have committed a previous violation of the same Section 6.208.010 is guilty of a gross misdemeanor punishable in accordance with Section 12A.02.070. Each day a person is in violation of Section 6.208.010 shall be a separate violation. 2. If a corporation commits a violation of Section 6.208.010 after having been found to have committed a previous violation of the same Section 6.208.010 then any individual who would be criminally liable for the corporation's acts, pursuant to Sections 12A.04.110, 12A.04.120, 12A.04.130, or any other provision of the Seattle Municipal Code, is guilty of a gross misdemeanor punishable in accordance with Section 12A.02.070, whether or not the individual has been found to have committed a previous violation of the same section. Each day a person is in violation of Section 6.208.010 shall be a separate violation. For purposes of this subsection 6.208.030.C.2, corporation shall have the meaning as set forth in Section 12A.04.110. D. Prosecution pursuant to this Section 6.208.030 shall not be commenced more than four years after the Director knew or should have known that the act(s) constituting the offense occurred. The penalties and punishments established by this section shall be in addition to all other penalties provided by law. E. Upon a determination that a person is subject to criminal prosecution under this section, the Director and agents of the Director, who are commissioned as non-uniformed special police officers pursuant to Section 5.55.225, may issue citations and make arrests for criminal violations of this Section 6.208.030. (Ord. 124963, § 1, 2015)

Seattle Mun. Code § 6.208.040 Definitions

6.208.040 - Definitions The definitions contained in Chapter 5.30 shall be fully applicable to this Chapter 6.208 except as expressly stated to the contrary herein. (Ord. 124963, § 1, 2015)

Seattle Mun. Code § 6.208.050 Exemptions

6.208.050 - Exemptions Any person exempt under Section 5.45.090 or subsection 5.55.030.G from obtaining a business license tax certificate is exempt from obtaining a business license under this Chapter 6.208. This exemption does not apply to other licenses required under this Title 6 or activities that require a special permit. (Ord. No. 126880, § 14, 2023; Ord. 125720, § 3, 2018; Ord. 124963, § 1, 2015)

Seattle Mun. Code § 6.208.060 Rules

6.208.060 - Rules The Director of Finance and Administrative Services shall have the power to adopt, publish, and enforce rules and regulations not inconsistent with this Chapter 6.208 for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this Chapter 6.208, and it shall be unlawful to violate or fail to comply with, any such rule or regulation. (Ord. 124963, § 1, 2015)

Seattle Mun. Code § 6.208.070 Previously-issued licenses

6.208.070 - Previously-issued licenses Any person who obtained, prior to the effective date of the Ordinance introduced as Council Bill 118596, a business license or a business license tax certificate under Section 5.55.030 for 2016 shall be deemed to hold for the remainder of 2016, unless otherwise revoked or suspended, a business license under this Chapter 6.208. (Ord. 124963, § 1, 2015)

Source: City of Seattle, Seattle Municipal Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/wa/seattle/codes/municipal_code?nodeId=TIT6BURE_SUBTITLE_IVNELICO_CH6.208LIREFetched: 11/1/2026