Business Licensing & Operations in Richland, WA (2026)
4 verified business licensing & operations rules for Richland, Washington, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Adult Entertainment
Richland requires every adult use establishment, including adult retail stores, panoram and motion picture theaters, and live entertainment venues, to hold a business license under Municipal Code Chapter 5.21. The business license costs $700, entertainer and manager licenses cost $100 each, and establishments may not open between 2:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.
Richland Adult Use Establishment License
Significant RestrictionsRichland Municipal Code §§ 5.21.020, 5.21.160, 5.21.180
§ 5.21.020. License required. ... A. It is unlawful for any person to conduct, manage or operate an adult use establishment in the city unless such person is the holder of a valid adult use establishment business license issued by the city. ... ... § 5.21.160. Licensing fees. Any person desiring to obtain an adult use establishment business license shall first pay a license fee of $700.00. Any ...
Massage Establishments
Richland requires every public massage parlor and public bathhouse, along with each massage therapist, manager and attendant, to hold a separate city license under Municipal Code Chapter 5.30. The License Officer denies or revokes licenses for felony convictions, moral turpitude offenses, or violations within a seven-year lookback, and licensed premises may not serve alcohol.
Richland Massage Establishment License
Significant RestrictionsRichland Municipal Code §§ 5.30.020, 5.30.080, 5.30.185
§ 5.30.020. License for business required – Public massage parlor – Public bathhouse. It is unlawful to conduct, operate or maintain a public massage parlor or a public bathhouse unless such establishment or premises is licensed as hereinafter provided. No massage parlor or public bathhouse shall operate under any name or conduct its operation under any designation not specified in the license ...
Auto Repair on Residential Property
In the City of Richland, Washington, vehicle repair and maintenance, motor rebuilding, and painting of vehicles, trailers or boats are expressly barred from operating as a home occupation in any residential district, along with any Group H hazardous occupancy under the International Building and Fire Codes.
Richland Bans Home Auto Repair Businesses
Heavy RestrictionsRichland Municipal Code § 23.42.090(B)(2)
2. The following uses and those similar in nature shall not be allowed as a home occupation within a residential district due to the increased possibility for generating hazardous or nuisance conditions and tendency for expansion beyond the limits permitted for home occupations: vehicle repair and/or maintenance; rebuilding of motors; painting of vehicles, trailers or boats; any Group H occupan...
Towing Companies
When no citywide towing contract is in place, Richland's chief of police keeps a rotating list of licensed towing businesses qualified for police-ordered impounds and emergency tows. To get on that list under RMC § 11.34.020, a business must file a $10,000 surety bond, prove compliance with Washington's towing standards, and provide proof of liability insurance covering the vehicle during impound.
Richland Non-Consent Towing Business Rules
Some RestrictionsRichland Municipal Code § 11.34.020
The chief of police shall maintain a list of all businesses within the city of Richland, which businesses are licensed, properly equipped, and otherwise qualified to engage in the occupation of vehicle towing and storage. As a condition precedent to the name of any such business appearing upon the list so compiled by the chief of police, each such business shall file with the finance director a...
Looking for Benton County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Richland city rules.
Business Licensing & Operations in Benton County →