(Be sure to read below for new information about your business license procedure)

Spokane Valley Municipal Code Title 5.05 requires every person engaged in business or continuing business during the calendar year, to annually register with the City.  The annual fee to register a business is $13.00 for a General License, and $3.00 for a non-profit license.  Those exempt from adhering to the business registration requirement include: 

• Persons who deliver newspapers and periodicals
• Persons who solicit orders from retail establishments via the telephone, internet or mail for the delivery and sale of goods, wares and merchandise unless the person’s place of business is located within the City
• Minors engaged in babysitting
• The casual sale of items of personal property where the person conducting such sale is not regularly engaged in the business of selling items of personal property (for example, garage sales, service agency bake sales)
• Sales by farmers or gardners of their own farm products raised and grown exclusively upon lands owned or occupied by them
• Providers of internet or wireless phone services where the provider operates from premises located outside the City and the only event occurring within the City is receipt of such goods and services; and
• Temporary craft booths and food booths lasting ten (10) days or less in any one location.

IMPORTANT NOTIFICATION TO SPOKANE VALLEY BUSINESSES

The City of Spokane Valley City Council has authorized a partnership with the Washington State Department of Licensing that will simplify the City’s business licensing process through the combined licensing program of the Master License Service (MLS). Through the Master License Service, new business applicants can apply for their City license and most of their state licenses all at the same time using just one application form.  When needed, businesses can renew many of their licenses at the same time with just a single renewal for each business location, and many businesses will be eligible to renew over the Internet.

WHAT WILL BE DIFFERENT?
Your City of Spokane Valley business license renewal notice will be sent from the Master License Service (MLS).  Submit the renewal with the appropriate fees to MLS (or renew over the Internet at www.dol.wa.gov/bpd/cr.htm  

PRORATED
Because MLS uses a common expiration date for all your business licenses on the MLS record, some Spokane Valley businesses will find that their first MLS renewal is prorated to change the expiration date.  After that, you will receive only one, combined annual renewal for your City license, and any state licenses you may have will be all be handled by MLS.

STEPS TO RENEW YOUR CITY BUSINESS LICENSE

• The Department of Licensing will send you a license renewal notice.  It will show your City of Spokane Valley business license fees.
• Make any needed corrections on the renewal notice, including the owner names, addresses, and the Unified Business Identifier (UBI) number.
• Submit the renewal with the appropriate fees to MLS (not to the City of Spokane Valley). .
• After the renewal is processed, you will receive a “Licenses and Registrations” document which displays your City of Spokane Valley business license along with the other business registrations and licenses you have for your business, that are also handled through MLS.
• Your next renewal notice should arrive about six weeks before your expiration date.
• Many businesses will be eligible to file their renewal over the Internet.  If your business is eligible, instructions will be printed on the renewal notice.

RENEW ON TIME!
The Master License Service charges a late renewal penalty fee of 50% of the amount of the combined licensing fees due for a business location, up to $150 maximum.  In order to avoid being charged this penalty fee, it is important that you submit your renewal application before the current license expiration date.

FEES:
The City of Spokane Valley will charge a $13.00 annual fee for a General Business License, and a $3.00 annual fee for a Non-profit Business License.  To cover license processing costs for the services it provides to the City, MLS charges a $9.00 handling fee for each renewal that covers a period of twelve (12) months or more.