Business Licensing & Operations in Kitsap County, WA (2026)
4 rules for unincorporated Kitsap County, Washington.
Verified from official government sources
Adult Entertainment
Adult entertainment businesses in unincorporated Kitsap County may locate only in regional commercial, urban commercial, or highway/tourist commercial zones, at least 1,000 feet from any other adult entertainment use, residential zone, school, church, park, or licensed day care, and must hold an annual county license.
Kitsap County Adult Entertainment Business Rules
Significant RestrictionsKitsap County Code § 10.52.030
In addition to complying with the other sections of the Zoning Ordinance, adult entertainment uses shall only be permitted in the regional commercial (RC), urban commercial (UC) and highway/tourist commercial (HTC) zones within the county and shall not be permitted: (a) Within one thousand feet of any other existing adult entertainment use; and/or (b) Within one thousand feet of any rural or re...
Massage Establishments
Operating a massage business in unincorporated Kitsap County requires a license from the board of county commissioners under Chapter 6.40. Applicants pay a $100 fee, undergo sheriff, health and zoning review, and must clear a public hearing before the license issues, valid only through December 31.
Kitsap County Massage Business License
Significant RestrictionsKitsap County Code §§ 6.40.040, 6.40.050(c)
§ 6.40.040. Massage business license. No person, firm, partnership, corporation or other entity shall operate, conduct or finance a massage business without a valid massage business license issued by the commissioners. ... (c) Applications shall be accompanied by a nonrefundable fee of one hundred dollars.
Secondhand Dealers
Secondhand dealers and junk dealers operating in unincorporated Kitsap County must register with the Kitsap County sheriff's office under Chapter 6.12 before buying or selling used goods, pay the county's registration fee, and file separately for each location. Casual sellers who limit garage sales to three days each, three times a year, are exempt.
Kitsap County Secondhand Dealer Registration
Significant RestrictionsKitsap County Code §§ 6.12.010, 6.12.020
“Secondhand dealer” means any person engaged in conducting, managing, or carrying on an ongoing business of buying, selling, trading, exchanging, consigning or otherwise dealing in secondhand property, whether or not these transactions are the principal or sole business conducted or are a part thereof or incidental to it. “Secondhand dealer” also includes persons or entities operating an automa...
Pawnbrokers
In unincorporated Kitsap County, pawnbrokers are regulated as "dealers" under Chapter 6.12 of the county code and must register with the Kitsap County sheriff's office before opening, pay a commissioner-set fee, and file a separate registration for every physical location. The rule reaches unincorporated county territory only; Bremerton, Port Orchard, Poulsbo and Bainbridge Island license pawnbrokers under their own municipal codes.
Kitsap County Pawnbroker Registration
Significant RestrictionsKitsap County Code §§ 6.12.010, 6.12.020
“Dealer” means the junk dealer, pawnshop broker and secondhand dealer and their respective employees, agents and representatives. ... “Pawnbroker” is any person who is engaged in the business, in whole or part, of advancing money on the security of pledged goods or is engaged in the business of purchasing property on the condition that it may be redeemed or repurchased by the seller for a fixed...
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