December 2022 Update

Local partnership planning is complete

In 1997, Washington state’s combined licensing solution expanded to include cities’ licensing for the first time in the program now known as the Business Licensing Service (BLS). 

Businesses saved steps at application and renewal. City costs decreased while compliance increased. The service to local governments continued to grow.

In 2017, lawmakers unanimously passed a measure to improve municipal business licensing. BLS worked with all eligible cities and towns to ensure they could meet lawmakers' combined licensing deadlines. In December, the city of Wapato in the Yakima Valley is the final city scheduled to partner. BLS has completed more than 150 local licensing partnerships over six years. 

Now more than 200 cities are connected – from the Canadian Border to the Lower Columbia and from the Pacific Ocean to the Idaho state line.

The system simplifies licensing for businesses of all sizes whether they work in one location or many.  As always, thank you for your partnership.

BLS fee reductions set for 2023

BLS fees will decrease on January 1, 2023, due to a rule change approved this fall.

Businesses filing a business license application, as well as existing businesses that have any active renewable license endorsements, will see the business license application and annual renewal handling fees decrease. 

Business License Application Fees
Handling Fee Type	2022 fee	2023 fee
Initial application	$90	$50
Additional location	$0	$0
Any other purpose	$19	$10
Renewal*	$10	$5
*charged annually to renew all BLS-issued license endorsements at a single physical location

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Update your online contact information for BLS customer support

Reminder: Help your businesses get licensing customer service quickly and conveniently. Check your web pages and online forms to be sure that links and phone numbers direct your customers to BLS experts. Revenue no longer has toll-free 800 numbers.

• BLS customer service: 360-705-6741.

• BLS online chat: dor.wa.gov/contact.

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System maintenance is scheduled for December 10

My DOR and licensing services will be unavailable during planned system maintenance on the second weekend of December.

System maintenance takes place: 

8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Saturday, December 10, 2022.

BLS partners will not be able to access ATLAS and licensing customers will not be able to manage their accounts via My DOR during this maintenance.

Details will be posted at dor.wa.gov before and during the maintenance.