Businesses with a physical presence in Richland or who plan to conduct business within Richland city limits must register the business with the City of Richland and State of Washington, Department of Revenue. The City and State are involved in a combined licensing one-stop system that allows you to obtain, renew, manage, and pay State and City licenses at the same time.

How to Apply for a City of Richland Business License:

  1. Visit the Washington State Department of Revenue's website.
  2. Select Get or renew a license
  3. Follow the steps to register your business through the State and add the City of Richland endorsement.

Existing Users

Log into your account at www.dor.wa.gov and modify your business location to add the City of Richland endorsement.  

Payment Processing Fee Information

The license fee for your Richland endorsement is $40, which includes the fee cost for two full-time equivalent workers (whether owners or employees), plus $12 for each additional full-time equivalent employee. You can find additional information in the requirements and fee calculation instructions.

Master & City License 

You will receive your master licenses with the City of Richland endorsement four to six weeks after you submit your completed application and appropriate payment. This license will show both your City and State business licenses.

Licensing Information & Requirements

Home Based Business
 

If your business is located at a residence within the city, you must comply with Richland Municipal Code 23.42.090. Submitting an application for a City of Richland Home Occupation Business License certifies you have read and agree to comply with the home occupation requirements located in RMC 23.42.090, section C. 

 

Temporary Business & Special Event
Licensing

Temporary business licenses are issued in Richland for temporary activities such as trade shows, promotional events, itinerant merchants, and solicitors. A vendor list must be included for all applicable events. Applications must be received by Customer Service at least 7 business days prior to the event start date.

“Special event” means any organized assemblage of 30 or more persons at any public park which is to gather for a common purpose under the direction and control of a responsible person or agency; or any organized formation, parade, procession or assembly consisting of persons, animals, vehicles or any combination thereof, traveling in unison and with a common purpose upon any street, highway, alley, sidewalk or public way which does not comply with normal and usual traffic regulations or controls; or any other organized activity or set of activities conducted by an individual, group or entity for a common or collective use or benefit and which involves the use of public facilities and the possible or necessary provision of city services ancillary thereto.

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Vehicle-Based Food Service
(Mobile Food Vendor)
  Vehicle-Based Food Service Vendors (Mobile Food Vendors) who plan to move from one location to another must obtain a business license for both the State and City through the State of Washington Department of Revenue. Once applications have been submitted through the Department of Revenue, applicants are required to complete our Mobile Food Vendor Addendum.

Vendors who plan to be stationary and operate for a long period of time in a parking lot or City property are considered an "itinerant merchant." 

View the Mobile Food Vendor Addendum

Solicitor & Canvasser Licenses
 

Solicitor and canvasser’s licenses are issued to individuals for a period of 30 days at a cost of $10.00 or for a period of 90 days for a cost of $30.00. Licenses must be carried at all times by each solicitor/canvasser for whom the license is issued while soliciting or canvassing in the City of Richland. For additional information on solicitor and canvasing licenses please reference RMC 05.12.

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Special Business License
  Special business licenses are issued in Richland for Taxicab or Transportation Network Companies (TNC). The purpose of this license is for a taxicab company or TNC having one or more drivers who transport any passenger or item of property for compensation from any point within the corporate limits of the City of Richland.

Note: This is not required for independent TNC contractors and drivers. However, all TNC drivers or independent contractors operating in Richland must complete a City of Richland Business License application through the Department of Revenue as indicated above (Register Your Business with the City and State).

Start the Process 

 

Fireworks Stand Permit
 

The sale and discharging of fireworks within the city of Richland shall be in accordance with the Washington State Fireworks Law, Chapter 70.77 RCW, and Chapter 212-17 WAC along with Richland Municipal Code 20.02 Fire Prevention Code. Application for permits for public display and/or retail sales of fireworks shall be accompanied by a letter from the person legally responsible for the property on which such display and/or sale is to take place. Such letter shall grant permission to the applicant for the use of said property.

Apply Here

Zoning and Land Use in General

As you are identifying a location you will want to pay attention to what zoning district it is located within. Zoning Districts define the underlying allowable use of a property or building and determine the allowances created for new construction and modification of existing structures appropriate to the surrounding area. Zoning Districts are typically made across an entire property parcel and set allowances for all structures on that property, but in some cases, a parcel may be subject to multiple zoning or overlay requirements.

Use this map to identify the zoning district of the property you'd like to locate on.

For additional information, please choose the link below that refers to our Municipal Code on these areas:

Home Based Business