Business Licensing & Operations in Snohomish County, WA (2026)
6 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 4 cities in Snohomish County, Washington.
Verified from official government sources
Adult Entertainment
Unincorporated Snohomish County requires a separate license for any adult entertainment dance studio and for every manager and adult entertainer who works there, issued under SCC Chapter 6.25. Studios must close between 2:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m., bar anyone under 18, and prohibit alcohol or controlled substances on the premises. The Sheriff's Office and licensing authority jointly investigate every applicant before a license issues.
Adult Entertainment Dance Studio License
Significant RestrictionsSCC 6.25.110(4)-(7)
(4) No adult entertainment dance studio licensee shall employ as a manager or adult entertainer a person under the age of 18 years or a person not licensed pursuant to this chapter. (5) No person under the age of 18 years shall be admitted to an adult entertainment dance studio. (6) An adult entertainment dance studio shall be closed between 2:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. (7) No adult entertainment da...
Massage Establishments
Every massage parlor in unincorporated Snohomish County needs a license under SCC 6.07.020, subject to health authority inspection and sheriff fingerprinting before it issues. Parlors must close between 2:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m., cannot serve alcohol or controlled substances, and individually licensed massage therapists working under state law are exempt.
Massage Parlor License Rules
Significant RestrictionsSCC 6.07.020; SCC 6.07.010(6)
It shall be unlawful to conduct, operate, or maintain a massage parlor without a license as provided in this chapter. ... The provisions in this chapter do not apply to: ... (6) Licensed massage therapists as defined in SCC 6.01.010(40).
Secondhand Dealers
Buying and reselling used goods for a living in unincorporated Snohomish County requires a secondhand dealer license under SCC 6.19.010, priced at $250.00 a year, unless you qualify as an intermittent seller, antique dealer, consignment operator, or used book dealer under SCC 6.19.005(6). Licensed dealers must log every transaction and hold goods 30 days before resale.
Secondhand Dealer License Rules
Significant RestrictionsSCC 6.19.005(6); SCC 6.19.010(1)
"Secondhand dealer" means any person engaged in whole or in part in the business of purchasing, selling, trading, or bartering secondhand personal property, including metal, junk, or melted metals; PROVIDED, That the term shall not apply to any person who: (a) Is an intermittent seller of personal property, an antique dealer, a consignment store owner or a used book dealer as defined by this ch...
Pawnbrokers
Every pawnbroker operating in unincorporated Snohomish County needs a license under SCC 6.19.010, costs $300.00 a year, and requires sheriff fingerprinting and a background investigation before issuance. Pawnbrokers must record every transaction in detail, report daily to the sheriff, and hold pledged goods at least 30 days before releasing them.
Pawnbroker License Rules
Significant RestrictionsSCC 6.19.005(5); SCC 6.19.010(1)
"Pawnbroker" means any person engaged in whole or in part in the business of loaning money upon the taking or receiving of personal property as security for the repayment of such loans or any person who shall keep any store, shop, room or place where such goods are so taken or received. ... It is unlawful for any person to engage in a business as a pawnbroker or secondhand dealer without first ...
Auto Repair on Residential Property
Snohomish County bars automobile, truck and heavy equipment repair as a home occupation. SCC 30.28.050(3)(g) prohibits fueling, maintenance, repair, auto-body work or painting for home occupations run from an accessory building or garage, and (4)(o) extends the same ban to rural and resource-based home occupations, with a narrow carve-out for repairing vehicles used in that specific business.
Home-Based Auto Repair Banned in Snohomish County
Heavy RestrictionsSCC 30.28.050(3)(g); SCC 30.28.050(4)(o)
(3)(g) The following activities, including any similar activities, are prohibited as home occupations: minor or major automobile, truck or heavy equipment fueling, maintenance or repair; auto-body work or painting; parking or storage of heavy equipment; and any Group H occupancies as defined in the building code except for woodworking and spray finishing in conjunction with woodworking activiti...
Towing Companies
Snohomish County does not run an open towing market for abandoned-vehicle work: SCC 10.36.140 lets the Sheriff appoint towing companies to remove and dispose of abandoned vehicles and hulks, conditioned on the operator's own state appointment under RCW 46.52.108. The Sheriff can cancel that appointment for noncompliance, appealable to the county council.
Sheriff Appoints Tow Operators in Snohomish County
Significant RestrictionsSCC 10.36.140
10.36.140 Appointment of tow truck operator. The sheriff may appoint any towing truck operator engaged in removing and storing abandoned motor vehicles for the purpose of disposing of abandoned vehicles and abandoned automobile hulks. Such appointment shall be contingent upon the towing truck operator receiving an appointment by the Department of Motor Vehicles and complying with the provisions...
Business Licensing & Operations by City in Snohomish County
4 cities in Snohomish County have their own business licensing & operations rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
5 verified rules • Adult Entertainment, Auto Repair on Residential Property
5 verified rules • Adult Entertainment, Pawnbrokers
2 verified rules • Adult Entertainment, Towing Companies
6 verified rules • Adult Entertainment, Auto Repair on Residential Property
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