Business Licenses are required under Auburn City Code (ACC) and all rules and requirements may be found online as outlined within Sections ACC 5.10.010 - 5.84.070. The purpose of the license is to identify, authorize, track and report various commerce enterprises operating lawfully within the City of Auburn and to provide emergency contact information to emergency personnel.

ACC 5.10.020 requires that any person desiring to establish or conduct any business enterprise as defined in within the corporate limits of the city, shall first apply for a business license. Information collected is used exclusively by the City of Auburn; and is collected for many City Departments and for a variety of functions. The application for Business License form requires:

• the business name
• mailing address
• telephone number
• email address
• nature of the business activity
• location where the business will be conducted
• number of employees
• Name of contact person
• Universal Business Identifier (UBI) (state business identification number)
• An IRS letter testifying to nonprofit status (if applicable) or the copy of the application to the IRS.
  Please note; the list above may not be all inclusive; and incomplete forms will not be accepted.

The Business License Program is managed through our Community Development Services Department. For your convenience, there are several ways of obtaining your City Business License:

• Applications are accepted and processed by mail. Applications are available on-line through our Permits & Licenses page. The City does not currently have an online electronic application.  Once your application is filled out it can be emailed to [email protected] for processing.  Applications are processed directly with the City of Auburn Department of Community Development.
• Applications may also be faxed to 253-804-3114.

For questions, please contact the Customer Service Center at 253-804-5011. Please note that incomplete applications will not be accepted.

There different types of business licenses and applications in Auburn which are available on the Forms page:

• General Business License application
• Rental Housing Business application - Crime Free Rental Housing Landlord Training is available. For more information or to register, please visit www.auburnwa.gov/ManagerTraining
• Home Occupation application
• Certain Specialty Licenses as outlined by City Code, Section ACC 5.20.

• Prior to making application for a City Business License, you are required to obtain a Unified Business Identifier (UBI) number from the State Department of Licensing. Information regarding the UBI may be found at the State of Washington - Business Licensing Service page.
• Application of a General Business License requires an inspection of the premises prior to approval of the Business License. The purpose of the inspection is to verify health, life, safety and use issues located on site prior to license approval, or significant investment on the part of our clients.
• Businesses that serve or prepare food where Fats, Oils or Grease may be introduced to the sanitary sewer system must also complete a FOG Control Plan as part of the business license application process. These businesses include, but are not limited to, restaurants, cafes, lunch counters, cafeterias, bars, clubs and hotel, hospital, factory or school kitchens. Program forms, procedural questions, requirements, or advice as to whether your business requires a plan, may be found on the Fats, Oils & Grease page.
• Home Occupancy businesses require a completed Supplemental Application form, which must accompany the General Business License application at submittal.
• Certain specialty businesses requiring special endorsement such as Pawn Brokers, Cabarets, Carnivals, etc. are required to complete a Supplemental Application form, which must accompany the General Business License application at submittal. Please see Municipal Code Section, ACC 5.20 for a comprehensive list of Specialty Businesses.
• The Industrial Stormwater General Permit is a statewide permit that applies to facilities conducting industrial activities that discharge stormwater to a surface water body or to a storm sewer system that drains to a surface water body. For additional information on the permit and to find out if your facility needs permit coverage, please visit the Department of Ecology website.