8 hours ago
Yakima city staff are proposing changes to the cityâs business license fees, including removing an exemption for some nonprofits.
Currently, businesses are charged for their licenses on a sliding scale based on the number of full-time equivalent employees. Businesses with one to two full-time employees pay $49.90; those with three to five employees pay $85.80; businesses with six to nine employees pay $150; and the scale continues up to $1,285.20 for businesses with 81 or more full-time employees.
Nonprofits and businesses earning less than $12,000 annually are exempt from these fees.
Under the proposed model, businesses with one to two employees would pay a baseline fee of $45 for a business license. Each additional full-time employee would add $15 to the cost. Religious organizations and businesses with revenues under $12,000 would remain exempt, but non-religious nonprofits would be charged according to this scale.
While many cities exempt nonprofits from business license fees, Assistant City Manager Gary Ballew informed City Council members during a Tuesday presentation that some cities, such as Spokane and Tacoma, do not.
Depending on employee count, businesses could pay more or less than their current fees under the new proposal. Any additional revenue generated from these licensing fees would be allocated to a city economic development fund to support business growth initiatives.
The city is also reviewing its regulatory business license requirements, which apply to specialty businesses requiring additional oversight, such as live entertainment venues, massage parlors, or fireworks stands.
Supervising Code Inspector Julia Rosales said city staff aim to revisit and consolidate regulatory business license requirements with more comprehensive changes in the future, but are currently proposing several smaller adjustments.
Various license typesâincluding dance halls, taxis for hire, and street vendorsâwould shift to a flat rate of $45 per application, re-application, and renewal. This includes some license types that previously had no fees.
For other businesses, such as pawn brokers, precious metals dealers, junk dealers, and second-hand dealers, regulations would remain, but licensing fees would be eliminated.
Staff also proposed removing the license requirements for transportation network companies, amusement devices, sign companies, curb number painting, and side sewer installers.
City council members are expected to vote on these changes in a master fee schedule ordinance at an upcoming meeting. A full presentation on the proposed changes can be found online.
