Marysville's Business Licensing & Operations: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles business licensing & operations a little differently. In Marysville, Washington, there are 5 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Secondhand Dealers

Marysville requires anyone buying or selling secondhand weapons, tools, electronics, jewelry, or metal junk to hold a business license as a secondhand dealer, log every transaction, and report daily to police.

Key details: License: MMC Chapter 5.02, per premises. Definition: secondhand weapons/tools/jewelry/metal. Daily report: due before noon next day. Age restriction: no purchase from minors under 18. Penalty: up to $500 + 6 months jail.

Operating unlicensed, failing to log a transaction, falsifying records, or buying from a prohibited person is a misdemeanor with up to a $500 fine and six months in jail; each day of violation is a separate offense (§ 5.64.110).

Towing Companies

To join Marysville's police rotation list or tow within city limits, a tow truck business needs a city license, an in-city office, and a secured storage yard under MMC Chapter 11.37.

Key details: City business license: Required to conduct business. Office & yard location: Must be within city limits. Police call response: Within 30 minutes. List removal: After 3+ suspensions.

Willful violation of chapter requirements is cause for the police chief to suspend an operator from the rotation list; three or more suspensions can mean permanent removal, appealable to the city's land use hearing examiner within 10 days.

Tattoo & Body Modification

Marysville requires every tattoo, body-piercing and body art business to hold a Chapter 5.02 MMC business license, and bars anyone from working in a tattoo parlor without a valid state and city license.

Key details: Governing section: MMC § 5.92.150. License route: Chapter 5.02 MMC business license. Employee rule: State AND city license required. Minors: RCW 26.28.085 adopted by reference.

Working in or operating a licensed tattoo parlor without both state and city licenses is unlawful; violating this chapter is a misdemeanor under MMC § 5.92.120.

Pawnbrokers

Marysville requires pawnbrokers to hold a city business license under Chapter 5.02 MMC, keep a detailed daily transaction record, and report all transactions to the police chief before noon the next day.

Key details: License: MMC Chapter 5.02, per premises. Record retention: 15-day hold on pledges. Daily report: due before noon next day. Interest cap: RCW 19.60.060 rate. Penalty: up to $500 + 6 months jail.

Operating unlicensed, falsifying records, refusing inspection, or accepting goods from a minor or suspected thief is a misdemeanor punishable by up to $500 and six months in jail, with each day a separate offense (§ 5.64.110).

Adult Entertainment

Marysville requires a city license before operating an adult cabaret, adult motion picture theater, or adult drive-in theater, plus separate licenses for every manager, entertainer, and security worker at the venue.

Key details: Business license: adult cabaret/theater/drive-in. Application fee: $700, renewal $500/yr. Worker license fee: $20–$100. Requires: fingerprints + 5-yr criminal history. Decision deadline: 30 days.

Operating or working at an unlicensed adult cabaret, theater, or drive-in violates § 5.80.020; the clerk can deny, suspend, or revoke a license for fraud in the application or other violations of the chapter (§§ 5.80.060, .070).

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Marysville actively enforces its adult entertainment requirements.

The Bottom Line

Marysville's business licensing & operations rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Marysville is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Marysville can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.