Business Licensing & Operations in Seattle, WA (2026)
8 verified business licensing & operations rules for Seattle, Washington, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Adult Entertainment
Operating an adult entertainment premises in Seattle without a license from the Director of Finance and Administrative Services is unlawful under SMC 6.270.040, and every entertainer and manager needs a separate license too. Premises licenses cost $905 a year, entertainers $170, managers $216, and no one under 18 may enter or work such a venue.
Seattle Adult Entertainment Licensing Rules
Significant RestrictionsSeattle Municipal Code § 6.270.040
A.It is unlawful for any person to operate or maintain an adult entertainment premises in The City of Seattle unless the owner, operator or lessee thereof has obtained from the Director of Finance and Administrative Services a license to do so, to be designated an "adult entertainment premises license."B.It is unlawful for any entertainer, employee or manager to knowingly work in or about, or t...
Massage Establishments
Massage businesses in Seattle must hold both a state Department of Health practitioner license under RCW 18.108 and a city massage business license under SMC 6.290, with background checks, anti-trafficking signage, and inspections targeting illicit massage operations.
Massage Establishment and Practitioner Licensing
Heavy RestrictionsChapter 18.108 RCW — Massage Therapists (Washington State)
Chapter 18.108 RCW — MASSAGE THERAPISTS. Sections: 18.108.005 Intent — Health care insurance not affected; 18.108.010 Definitions; 18.108.020 Board of massage — Generally; 18.108.025 Board powers and duties; 18.108.030 Licensure or certification required; 18.108.035 Unlicensed practice — Penalties; 18.108.040 Advertising — Use of title; 18.108.045 Display of license or certification — Availabil...
Tattoo & Body Modification
Operating a tattoo shop in Seattle without a City license is unlawful under SMC 6.102.020, and the application goes to the Director of Finance and Administrative Services with review by the Chief of Police and Director of Public Health before it can issue. The annual fee is $530, licenses expire February 28, and no one under 18 may hold one.
Seattle Tattoo Shop Licensing Rules
Some RestrictionsSeattle Municipal Code § 6.102.020
It is unlawful to operate a tattoo shop or establishment without a tattoo shop license. Applications for such license shall be made to the Director of Finance and Administrative Services accompanied by the required fee, and shall be referred to the Chief of Police and the Director of Public Health and shall be returned to the Director within ten days with their report and recommendation. No tat...
Tobacco Retail License
Selling any tobacco product in Seattle, pipe tobacco, cigars, cigarettes, chewing tobacco, snuff, or cigarillos, without a City tobacco product retailer's license is unlawful under SMC 6.240.020. The license runs July 1 to June 30 annually, costs $135 per location, vehicle, or operation under SMC 6.204.120, and mobile vendors must follow a fixed, approved route.
Seattle Tobacco Retailer License Rules
Some RestrictionsSeattle Municipal Code § 6.240.020
No person shall offer for retail sale at any location within The City of Seattle any tobacco product without having a valid City license therefor. For the purposes of this Chapter 6.240, all tobacco vending machines owned or managed by the same operator at a single business address shall be deemed to be one operation for which a single tobacco product retailer's license shall be required. A sep...
Secondhand Dealers
Secondhand dealers in Seattle must register under SMC 6.288, comply with WA RCW 19.60 reporting, hold purchases for 30 days, photograph and electronically transmit transaction details to the Seattle Police Department through LeadsOnline, and verify seller identification.
Secondhand Dealer Reporting Requirements
Some RestrictionsChapter 19.60 RCW — Pawnbrokers and Secondhand Dealers (Washington State)
Chapter 19.60 RCW — PAWNBROKERS AND SECONDHAND DEALERS. Sections relevant to secondhand dealers include: 19.60.020 Duty to record information; 19.60.025 Duty to record information — Precious metal property; 19.60.040 Report to chief law enforcement officer; 19.60.042 Report to chief law enforcement officer — Precious metal dealers; 19.60.045 Duties upon notification that property is reported st...
Pawnbrokers
Pawnbrokers in Seattle operate under WA RCW 19.60, capping monthly interest at three percent plus a small fee, requiring 90-day loan terms, daily SPD reporting, and a 30-day police hold on pawned goods before forfeiture and sale.
Pawnbroker Licensing and Loan Limits
Heavy RestrictionsChapter 19.60 RCW — Pawnbrokers and Secondhand Dealers (Washington State)
Chapter 19.60 RCW — PAWNBROKERS AND SECONDHAND DEALERS. Sections: 19.60.010 Definitions; 19.60.014 Fixed place of business required; 19.60.020 Duty to record information; 19.60.025 Duty to record information — Precious metal property; 19.60.040 Report to chief law enforcement officer; 19.60.042 Report to chief law enforcement officer — Precious metal dealers; 19.60.045 Duties upon notification ...
Auto Repair on Residential Property
Seattle lets residents run automotive retail sales and services as a home occupation, but SMC 23.42.050(F) bars any "substantial increase in on-street parking congestion or...traffic within the immediate vicinity," and like every home occupation the business is capped to three associated vehicles on site, each under 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight.
Seattle Home Auto-Repair Occupation Limits
Some RestrictionsSeattle Municipal Code § 23.42.050(F)-(G)
A home occupation of a person residing in a dwelling unit is permitted outright in all zones as an accessory use to any residential use permitted outright or to a permitted residential conditional use, subject to the following requirements: ... F. An automotive retail sales and services home occupation shall not cause a substantial increase in on-street parking congestion or a substantial incre...
Towing Companies
Tow operators in Seattle need a WA State Patrol registered tow truck operator (RTTO) certificate under RCW 46.55 plus a Seattle business license, and must follow city impound-rate caps, signage rules for private-property impounds, and SDOT rotational towing contracts.
Tow Truck Licensing and Impound Rules
Heavy RestrictionsChapter 46.55 RCW — Towing and Impoundment (Washington State)
Chapter 46.55 RCW — TOWING AND IMPOUNDMENT. Sections include: 46.55.010 Definitions; 46.55.020 Registration required — Penalty; 46.55.025 Registration or insurance required — Penalty; 46.55.030 Application — Contents, bond, insurance, fee, certificate; 46.55.035 Prohibited acts — Penalty; 46.55.037 Compensation for private impounds; 46.55.040 Permit required — Inspections of equipment and facil...
Looking for King County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Seattle city rules.
Business Licensing & Operations in King County →