Business Licensing & Operations in Thurston County, WA (2026)
3 rules for unincorporated Thurston County, Washington.
Verified from official government sources
Adult Entertainment
Thurston County outlaws body studios and on-premises dating services outright under TCC 10.80.010: no permit or license path exists, unlike the county's separately regulated massage parlors. Operating, advertising or working at one is unlawful, and a violation carries up to a $500 fine and 90 days in jail.
Thurston County Bans Body Studios
Heavy RestrictionsThurston County Code § 10.80.010
It is unlawful for any person to operate, conduct, maintain, participate in or advertise a body studio or on-premises dating service or to knowingly be employed, participate in or conduct any business on the premises of a body studio or on-premises dating service.
Massage Establishments
Thurston County requires a $300-a-year business license for any massage parlor or public bathhouse, plus a separate $50-a-year employee license for every masseur and attendant, under Chapter 6.64. Applicants face fingerprinting, a moral-character background check, and businesses must close between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m.
Thurston County Massage Parlor License
Significant RestrictionsThurston County Code § 6.64.030
It is unlawful to conduct, operate or maintain a massage parlor or public bathhouse unless the establishment, its owner and operator hold valid licenses acquired through the processes hereinafter provided.
Secondhand Dealers
Anyone buying, selling, trading or storing secondhand goods, antiques or junk in unincorporated Thurston County must hold an annual dealer license from the county auditor under Chapter 6.29. The license runs $50 a year for flea market, junk, secondhand and antique dealers, or $10 a year for itinerant dealers, and operating without one is a misdemeanor.
Thurston County Secondhand & Junk Dealer License
Some RestrictionsThurston County Code § 6.29.020
(a) It is unlawful for any person to act as a flea market, itinerant, junk, secondhand or antique dealer in Thurston County, whether personally or by agents or employees, singly or along with some other business or enterprise, without first having obtained a license therefor in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. (b) A person who operates more than one premises subject to the terms ...
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