Doing Business

Ellensburg business licensing

Since November 30, 2017, all permanent business licensing applications are being processed online. To comply with HB2005, a city is required to partner with a provider to have business licenses issued and renewed. The City’s business licensing partner is Washington State Business Licensing Service (BLS). For more information on City requirements or the BLS system, visit the following City of Ellensburg Business License webpage. If you aren't sure what type of license is needed, you can find that information by using the Business Licensing Wizard on the Department of Revenue Site.

New and renewing businesses who do business or are located in Ellensburg are required to have a business license. 

For more information contact Washington State Business Licensing Service or call 1-360-705-6741

Ellensburg Finance Department/City Clerk  509-925-8614

Food Trucks are required to complete an application and additional information before a business license can be approved. The application packet (PDF) also includes requirements from the Fire Department and Public Health Department. Please contact the City Clerk's office if you would like a hard copy of the application packet sent to you by mail. Vendedor ambulante de comida en español (PDF).

Bazaars and Craft Fairs are governed under City Code Chapter 6.6.4.400 and are required to complete a Special Event form, which lists all vendors participating in the event. 

Unless the vendor has already obtained a city business license pursuant to chapter 6.54 ECC, or is otherwise exempt from such requirement, each vendor participating in a special event shall be required to pay a fee to obtain a license pursuant to this chapter in the amount of $5.00 per day for each for-profit vendor, not to exceed a total of $20.00 for each vendor; provided, however, any bona fide charitable, educational, religious, or nonprofit organization or club is exempt from the licensing fee requirements of this subsection.

  1. Who needs a City business license?
  2. What type of City business license do I need?
  3. How much does a City business license cost?
  4. How do I apply for a business license?
  5. Where do I get more information?
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Ellensburg Solicitor license – includes, unless otherwise herein provided, any person who engages in merchandising any goods, wares, commodities, books, periodicals or services or solicits contributions of goods or monies, by going from house to house, place to place or street to street or by telephone.

Ellensburg Solicitor licenses are applied for through the City Clerk's office, not through the State’s DOR system. To view businesses that have obtained a solicitor license, a current list is provided for the public or contact the City Clerk's office for more information.

Ellensburg temporary business license – includes any person who engages in business for less than 90  consecutive days within any 12-month period selling and delivering  goods, wares and merchandise and who in furtherance of such purpose, hires, leases or occupies any building, structure, parking lot or area, motor vehicle, tent, railroad boxcar, public room in hotels, motels, lodging houses, apartments, shops, or other fixed location for the exhibition and sale of such goods, wares, and merchandise.

Ellensburg temporary business licenses are applied for through the City Clerk's office, not through the State’s DOR system.

Are you inquiring whether a business has a current city business license? You can view the list of businesses with current licenses. This list will be updated quarterly and if you need more information, please contact the City Clerk's office.