DOG LICENSING

Effective May 7, 2023 per Ordinance No. 2023-013, the City of Yakima Code Administration handles all dog license applications and renewals.

All new dog license applications and renewals are handled through our Online Portal – www.buildingyakima.com.

View instructions on how to apply or renew your dog license here.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: BUSINESS LICENSE INFORMATION – NEW OR RENEWAL

The City of Yakima requires a license for all businesses, including home-based businesses, located within city limits, or conducting business within city limits. If you are not sure if you will do business within the city limits, contact our office directly before you apply.

Create an account and apply for a new business license by clicking the link “Get or renew a license” at: dor.wa.gov.
If you are new to this process, consider using the Business License Wizard. After answering a few questions, customers will receive custom licensing information and save time with step-by-step assistance to streamline the application process.

How to add a city endorsement to your existing State license.

After you apply for a new business license through the Department of Revenue or add the City of Yakima as an endorsement to your existing State license, your license application will be processed and reviewed by the City of Yakima Planning Division and Code Administration Division. An important piece of the business license review process is verifying that the proposed business use is allowed in the zoning district of the business location.  If you have questions about whether your proposed business is compatible with the current zoning of the property, please visit the City of Yakima’s Planning Division or call  (509) 575-6183.

Current Business License holders: About six weeks before your current license expiration date, the Business Licensing Service will send you a license renewal letter with instructions on how to renew your City of Yakima business license. To avoid penalties, submit and pay fees by the expiration date. Once your renewal has been processed, DOR will mail a new license to the address on your account. UPCOMING CHANGE: Starting in the summer of 2023, Department of Revenue will email business licenses and renewal notices to the email address on the business license account to reduce mail.

How to renew a business license.

My DOR Help – provides detailed information on how to manage your business through the Department of Revenue.

ANNOUNCEMENT: Yakima Conversion to DOR Business Licensing Service in 2020

Effective April 2, 2020, the City of Yakima has partnered with the Washington State Department of Revenue, Business Licensing Service (BLS) for the administration of City business license applications and renewals.

Please Note: If you failed to renew your 2020 general business license with the City of Yakima prior to March 31, 2020 you will have to re-apply with the Department of Revenue Business Licensing Service after April 1, 2020.

Please contact our office if you have any questions regarding these future changes. For more information about this transition please view the newsletter in the following link:

News Release – Business License Changes – March 9, 2020

News Release – Agriculture capital Yakima adds combined licensing solution – April 2, 2020

FAQ’s for Drivers of Transportation Network Company (such as UBER and Lyft)

Regulatory Licenses

There are other license (Regulatory License) requirements within the City of Yakima for specific kinds of businesses (Heating Journeyman, Secondhand Dealers, Pawn Brokers, Taxi Drivers, etc.). Applications for these specialty licenses can be found at the bottom of this page. Contact our office if you have questions regarding these applications.

Below are links to Regulatory License Application Packets specific for the listed business activity:

Amusement Devices, Jukeboxes, Pool Tables, or Billiard Tables – this license is required in order to install, maintain or operate in any business establishment or for the purposes of profit within the city of Yakima any amusement device, pool table or billiard table. “Amusement device” means a coin-operated machine, device or apparatus which is mechanically, electrically or hand operated and which is designed and used for the purpose of playing a game of skill or chance by one or more players solely for the purpose of amusement and/or entertainment of the player or players. The term also includes jukeboxes.

Liquor Live Entertainment – no premises holding a state license for the sale of beer, wine, whiskey, or other intoxicating liquor for consumption upon the premises shall provide or allow live music, dancing or entertainment to be conducted on such premises unless the owner or operator thereof has first secured a liquor live entertainment regulatory license from the City.

Mobile Vendor (goods, merchandise, or food) – “mobile vendor” means a vendor or seller of goods, merchandise, or food from a mobile food preparation vehicle or other motorized conveyance upon the public streets, alleys, public property of the city, or upon private property. Mobile vendors are regulated under YMC 5.57.030. If you are using a non-motorized cart or temporary structure, please fill out the Street Sales application instead.

  • Street Sales – “street vendor” means a vendor selling food or nonalcoholic beverages within a public or private parking lot, pedestrian plaza, sidewalk, or public property using a non-motorized cart or temporary structure. Street sales may also include sales of goods, wares, merchandise or services upon the streets, alleys, or public thoroughfares of the city of Yakima, but shall not include sales from lawfully placed vending machines.
  • ***For Mobile Vendor and Street Sales, approval from the Yakima Health District is required (if selling food or beverages) for the mobile food unit floor plan, commissary kitchen, menu, etc.

Pawnbroker – pursuant to regulations under YMC 5.54

Peddler/Solicitor – door to door sales pursuant to regulations under YMC 5.56

Right of Way Use Permit Application – for private use of the public right of way pursuant to Yakima Municipal Code Chapter 8.20, including but not limited to: long-term residential or business/commercial use of the right of way; sidewalk signs; community crosswalk painting/markings; signs projecting over the right of way; and short-term permits for temporary placement of dumpster(s), container-type storage units, materials for landscaping projects, temporary right of way closure for construction-related projects.

Secondhand Precious Metal Dealer – pursuant to regulations under YMC 5.70

Sidewalk Cafe Regulatory License Application – to operate a sidewalk cafe within the public right-of-way in any commercial or industrial zoning district in city limits of Yakima

Sign Company License – pursuant to regulations under YMC 11.08

Taxi Driver – pursuant to regulations under YMC 5.78