Business Licensing & Operations in Island County, WA (2026)
4 rules for unincorporated Island County, Washington.
Verified from official government sources
Secondhand Dealers
Buying, selling, or trading used goods for value in unincorporated Island County, including running a booth at flea markets or swap meets more than three times a year, makes a person a secondhand dealer who needs the same county license as pawnbrokers under Chapter 5.20, but with a longer 30-day resale hold on consigned goods.
Island County Secondhand Dealer License
Some RestrictionsIsland County Code §§ 5.20.010, 5.20.100
Secondhand dealer means every person engaged in whole or in part in the business of purchasing, selling, trading, consignment selling, or otherwise transferring for value, secondhand property including metal junk, melted metals, precious metals, whether or not the person maintains a fixed place of business within the county. Secondhand dealer also includes persons or entities conducting busines...
Pawnbrokers
Anyone loaning money on pledged property or buying and selling used goods for a living in unincorporated Island County must hold the county's pawnbroker's and secondhand dealer's license under Chapter 5.20, and a pawnbroker specifically must hold purchased items at least four days before reselling them.
Island County Pawnbroker License
Some RestrictionsIsland County Code §§ 5.20.010, 5.20.100
Pawnbroker means every person engaged, in whole or in part, in the business of loaning money on the security of pledges of personal property, or deposits or conditional sales of personal property, or the purchase or sale of personal property. ... A.Pawnbrokers. ... No pawnbroker shall sell any personal property prior to four (4) days after reporting the purchase of said property to the Island C...
Auto Repair on Residential Property
Island County allows small auto repair shops as a "home industry" on Rural, Rural Agricultural, Rural Forest or Commercial Agricultural land under Island County Code section 17.03.180.J, which lists "Auto repair with a maximum of two (2) service bays" among its illustrative uses, subject to a minimum 2.5-acre parcel and a 50-foot setback from every property line.
Island County Home Auto Repair Zoning Limits
Significant RestrictionsIsland County Code § 17.03.180.J
J.Home industry—Purpose and standards. To provide for small-scale commercial or industrial activities on Rural, Rural Agricultural, Rural Forest, or Commercial Agricultural zoned parcels, accessory to the primary residential/agricultural/forestry use. ... a.Antique shops;b.Art or photography studios;c.Auto repair with a maximum of two (2) service bays;d.Blacksmith shop; ... b.Minimum parcel siz...
Towing Companies
When an Island County Sheriff's deputy arrests a driver for driving with a suspended or revoked license, the vehicle is towed and held at a registered tow truck operator's lot rather than released on scene. Redemption requires paying the tow operator's fees and, depending on prior convictions, waiting out a mandatory hold of up to thirty days.
Vehicle Impoundment and Towing Rules, Island County
Significant RestrictionsIsland County Code §§ 10.06.060, 10.06.080, 10.06.090
A.Pursuant to the authority of RCW 46.55.113, whenever the driver of a vehicle is arrested for violation of RCW 46.20.342 (driving while license suspended or revoked (DWLS/DWLR)) or 46.20.345 (operation of vehicle under other license or permit prohibited while license suspended or revoked), except as provided in subsection B. below, the vehicle is subject to summary impoundment at the business ...
All Island County ordinances
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