Why Kennewick Has Some of the Strictest Business Licensing & Operations in the State

Kennewick maintains 100 local ordinances across all categories, and 2 of those deal specifically with business licensing & operations. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Kennewick falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Tobacco Retail License

Tobacco and vapor-product retailing in Kennewick is governed by Washington state law, not by a city-specific tobacco retail license. RCW Chapter 70.155 (Tobacco - Access to Minors) and RCW 70.345 (Vapor Products) set the statewide age threshold at 21 years (effective January 1, 2020, by SHB 1074, conforming with federal Tobacco 21) and require every retailer to hold a state-issued tobacco retailer's license through the Department of Revenue's Business Licensing Service. Kennewick has not codified a parallel local tobacco retail license.

Key details: Minimum Sales Age: 21 years (RCW 70.155.005, effective January 1, 2020). Governing Statute - Tobacco: RCW Chapter 70.155. Governing Statute - Vapor: RCW Chapter 70.345. State License Authority: WA Department of Revenue Business Licensing Service. Enforcement Agency: WA State Liquor and Cannabis Board (RCW 70.155.140).

Selling tobacco or vapor products to a person under age 21 is a violation of RCW 70.155 and RCW 70.345 enforced by the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (which administers tobacco and vapor enforcement under RCW 70.155.140), with civil penalties escalating by violation count and a license-suspension schedule (typically 7-day suspension on a second violation within 24 months, longer suspensions and revocation on subsequent violations). Operating without the required state tobacco retailer's license is an excise violation enforced by the Department of Revenue. Failure to post the minimum-age sign required by RCW 70.155.005 is independently enforceable. Kennewick Code Enforcement does not separately enforce tobacco-sales-age rules; complaints route to the Liquor and Cannabis Board.

This is one of the stricter rules in Kennewick's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Secondhand Dealers

Pawnbrokers and secondhand dealers operating in Kennewick are regulated by the Washington Pawnbroker Act, codified at RCW Chapter 19.60. The Act requires daily reporting of all secondhand purchases and pledges to a law-enforcement-accessible system, photo identification of every seller, a holding period before resale (typically 30 days for pawned items), and recordkeeping. Kennewick has not codified a separate local secondhand-dealer ordinance; the city relies on the statewide framework, with daily transaction reports filed through Kennewick Police's chosen reporting system.

Key details: Governing Statute: RCW Chapter 19.60 (Pawnbroker Act). Daily Reporting Required: Yes - by close of next business day (RCW 19.60.030). Photo ID of Seller: Required (RCW 19.60.040). Holding Period: 30 days before resale (RCW 19.60.060). Minimum Seller Age: 18 years (RCW 19.60.020).

Operating a pawnbroker or secondhand-dealer business without a current city license under RCW 19.60.020 is a gross misdemeanor under RCW 19.60.075. Failure to maintain or submit the daily transaction record, failure to verify seller identification under RCW 19.60.040, or disposing of property within the 30-day holding period in RCW 19.60.060 are also enforceable under RCW 19.60.075 and may carry separate criminal liability under the receiving-stolen-property statutes in RCW 9A.56.140 if the dealer knew or should have known the property was stolen. Kennewick Police investigates compliance through the daily reporting feed and may revoke or refuse to renew the city business license for repeat violations.

Compared to other cities, Kennewick takes a harder line on secondhand dealers. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

The Bottom Line

Kennewick is tougher than many cities when it comes to business licensing & operations. Out of the 2 rules covered here, 2 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Kennewick, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

These rules come from Kennewick's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.