The provisions of this title shall be deemed an exercise of the authority and power of the city of Centralia to license, for the purposes of regulation or revenue, all and every kind of business and business-like activities authorized by law and transacted or carried out within the corporate limits of the city or as defined in this title.
(Ord. 2406 § 1 (part), 2018; Ord. 2568, 9/9/2025)
A. 
The term "engaging in business" means commencing, conducting, or continuing in business, and also the exercise of corporate or franchise powers, as well as liquidating a business when the liquidators thereof hold themselves out to the public as conducting such business.
B. 
This section sets forth examples of activities that constitute engaging in business in the city, and establishes safe harbors for certain types of those activities so that a person who meets the criteria may engage in de minimis business activities in the city without having to pay a business license fee. The activities listed in this section are illustrative only and are not intended to narrow the definition of "engaging in business" in subsection (A) of this section. If any activity is not listed, whether it constitutes engaging in business in the city shall be determined by considering all the facts and circumstances and applicable law.
C. 
Without being all-inclusive, any one of the following activities conducted within the city by a person, or its employee, agent, representative, independent contractor, broker or another acting on its behalf, constitutes engaging in business and requires a person to register and obtain a business license:
1. 
Owning, renting, leasing, using or maintaining an office, place of business or other establishment in the city.
2. 
Soliciting sales.
3. 
Making repairs or providing maintenance or service to real or tangible personal property, including warranty work and property maintenance.
4. 
Providing technical assistance or service including quality control, product inspections, warranty work or similar service on or in connection with tangible personal property sold by the person or on its behalf.
5. 
Installing, constructing or supervising installation or construction of real or tangible personal property.
6. 
Soliciting, negotiating or approving franchise, license or other similar agreements.
7. 
Collecting current or delinquent accounts.
8. 
Picking up and transporting tangible personal property, solid waste, construction debris or excavated materials.
9. 
Providing disinfecting and pest control services, employment and labor pool services, home nursing care, janitorial services, appraising, landscape architectural services, security system services, surveying and real estate services including the listing of homes and managing real property.
10. 
Rendering professional services such as those provided by accountants, architects, attorneys, auctioneers, consultants, engineers, professional athletes, barbers, baseball clubs and other sports organizations, chemists, consultants, psychologists, court reporters, dentists, doctors, detectives, laboratory operators, teachers, veterinarians.
11. 
Meeting with customers or potential customers, even when no sales or orders are solicited at the meeting.
12. 
Training or recruiting agents, representatives, independent contractors, brokers or others, domiciled or operating on the job in the city, acting on its behalf or for customers or potential customers.
13. 
Investigating, resolving or otherwise assisting in resolving customer complaints.
14. 
In-store or manipulating products or goods, sold to and owned by a customer, regardless of where sale and delivery of the goods took place.
15. 
Delivering goods in vehicles owned, rented, leased, used or maintained by the person or another acting on its behalf.
D. 
If a person or its employee, agent, representative, independent contractor, broker or another acting on the person's behalf engages in no other activities in or with the city but the following, it need not register and obtain a business license:
1. 
Meeting with suppliers of goods and services as a customer.
2. 
Meeting with government representatives in their official capacity, other than those performing contracting or purchasing functions.
3. 
Attending meetings, such as board meetings, retreats, seminars and conferences or other meetings wherein the person does not provide training in connection with tangible personal property sold by the person or on its behalf. This provision does not apply to any board of directors member or attendee engaging in business such as a member of a board of directors who attends a board meeting.
4. 
Renting tangible or intangible property as a customer when the property is not used in the city.
5. 
Attending but not participating in a "trade show" or "multiple vendor events." Persons participating at a trade show shall review the city's trade show or multiple vendor event ordinances.
6. 
Conducting advertising through the mail.
7. 
Soliciting sales by phone from a location outside the city.
E. 
A seller located outside the city merely delivering goods into the city by means of common carrier is not required to register and obtain a business license; provided, that it engages in no other business activities in the city. Such activities do not include those in subsection (D) of this section.
The city expressly intends that engaging in business include any activity sufficient to establish nexus for purposes of applying the license fee under the law and Constitutions of the United States and the state of Washington. Nexus is presumed to continue as long as the taxpayer benefits from the activity that constituted the original nexus generating contact or subsequent contacts.
(Ord. 2412 § 1 (part), 2018)
A. 
Within the city, it is unlawful for any person, company, association, corporation or copartnership, excepting as an employee, to engage in any kind of business, trade or profession authorized by law, without first obtaining a license as provided for by this chapter.
B. 
The person to whom such license is issued shall, at all times, prominently display the license in a conspicuous place at the location of such business.
(Ord. 2406 § 1 (part), 2018)
A. 
Application for all general business licenses shall be made to the Washington State Business Licensing Service (BLS). Licenses shall expire on the date established by the Washington State BLS and must be renewed on or before that date each year. The term and license fee may be prorated in order to synchronize the expiration of the city license with the established expiration date of the state business license as maintained by the Washington State BLS. Applications must be accompanied by the business license fee, the total fees due for all other licenses or permits requested on the application, and the handling fee required by the Washington State BLS.
B. 
Prior to the issuance of all licenses authorized by this chapter, applications shall be submitted to the City for review. The initial application review will be completed within 15 working days from the day the city clerk receives the application and associated information from the Washington State BLS. After initial review, the license will either be approved, denied, or returned to the applicant if further information is needed or additional requirements need to be met.
C. 
Applications may be denied upon findings that granting said application would be detrimental to the public peace, health, or welfare or that the proposed business and location would be in violation of building, zoning, or fire codes or any other federal, state, or local laws and regulations. Whenever any such license is denied, the applicant may, within 15 days from the date of denial, file a written notice of appeal to the city. Appeals shall be heard by a Hearing Examiner, whose decision shall be conclusive and not subject to review.
(Ord. 2406 § 1 (part), 2018; Ord. 2568, 9/9/2025)
A. 
Standard Business License. "Standard business" means all activities, occupations, trades, pursuits, professions, and matters located or engaged within the corporate limits of the city, or anywhere else within the city's jurisdiction, with the object of gain, benefit, advantage, or profit to the person, business enterprise, organization, or any other person, directly or indirectly.
1. 
A standard business that operates from more than one location in the city shall be required to get a separate standard license for each location.
2. 
If more than one separate standard business is conducted on a single premises within the city, a separate standard license shall be required for each standard business.
B. 
Solicitor's License. "Solicitor" means any person who engages in merchandising any goods, wares, commodities, books, periodicals, or services by going from house to house, place to place, or street to street. Solicitor businesses shall apply for a license directly with the city clerk.
C. 
Performances, Carnivals and Circuses. All performances, carnivals, shows, or circuses, or activities ordinarily classified as such, whether engaged upon public streets or property or upon other property within the city, shall apply for a license directly with the city clerk.
D. 
All license and registration fees shall be fixed in the master fee schedule and shall be payable in advance to the Washington State BLS or city clerk.
(Ord. 2406 § 1 (part), 2018; Ord. 2568, 9/9/2025)
If an existing licensee desires to change the location of the business, trade or profession from the location designated on the business license, application must be made to the Washington State BLS prior to the change in location and it shall be submitted for review.
(Ord. 2406 § 1 (part), 2018)
A. 
The following activities shall be exempt from registering and paying the license fees set forth in this chapter:
1. 
All federal, state, county, city, or other public governmental activities, whether the same are conducted in a governmental or proprietary capacity;
2. 
All garage sales so long as no more than two sales are conducted each year for a total of not more than eight days in such year; and
3. 
All business conducted by individuals under 18 years of age.
B. 
The City Manager or their designee shall have the authority to grant exemptions from the general licensing requirements to activities similar to the ones listed above, on a case-by-case basis.
C. 
The exemption provided in this section shall not apply to regulatory license requirements or fees or to activities that require a specialized permit.
(Ord. 2406 § 1 (part), 2018; Ord. 2412 § 1 (part), 2018; Ord. 2568, 9/9/2025)
A. 
The following organizations and activities shall be required to submit a business license application and be registered with the City but shall be exempt from paying the license fees set forth in this chapter:
1. 
All bona fide religious organizations; and
2. 
Persons, sales, or services arising out of farmers’ markets located within the corporate limits of the City or any other community event determined by the City Manager to be exempt from the requirements of this chapter.
B. 
The City Manager or their designee shall have the authority to grant exemptions from the license fee requirements to activities similar to the ones listed above, on a case-by-case basis.
C. 
The exemption provided in this section shall not apply to regulatory license requirements or fees or to activities that require a specialized permit.
(Ord. 2568, 9/9/2025)
A. 
Any person or business (1) whose annual value of products, gross proceeds of sales, or gross income of the business in the City is equal to or less than the threshold amount specified in this section and (2) who does not maintain a place of business within the City limits shall be exempt from the license fee required by this chapter. The person or business shall still be required to submit a business license application and be registered with the City.
B. 
Beginning January 1, 2026, the threshold amount shall be $4,000. This amount shall be adjusted every four years by an amount equal to the increase in the Consumer Price Index for West Urban, All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), as published by the United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics or successor agency.
1. 
To calculate the adjustment, the prior threshold rate shall be multiplied by one plus the cumulative four-year CPI-U increase, using each 12-month period ending on June 30th of each prior year, and rounded to the nearest $100.
2. 
If any of the annual CPI-U increases are more than 5%, a 5% increase shall be used in computing the annual basis.
3. 
If the annual CPI-U decreased during any 12-month period, a 0% increase shall be used in computing the annual basis.
C. 
The exemption provided in this section shall not apply to regulatory license requirements or activities that require a specialized permit.
(Ord. 2568, 9/9/2025)
A. 
Any license issued under the provisions of this chapter may be revoked by the city for any reason if the further operation thereof would be detrimental to public peace, health, or welfare or would violate any federal, state or local law or regulation. The city shall provide 14 days’ notice to the license holder of the intention to revoke such license.
B. 
Where deemed necessary to prevent further detriment to public peace, health, or welfare or violation of any federal, state, or local law or regulation, the city may immediately revoke any license issued under the provisions of this chapter and prohibit any further activities.
C. 
Whenever any such license is revoked, the licensee may, within 15 days from the date of action, file a written notice of appeal to the city. Appeals shall be heard by a Hearing Examiner, whose decision shall be conclusive and not subject to review.
(Ord. 2406 § 1 (part), 2018; Ord. 2568, 9/9/2025)
Any person, firm or corporation failing, neglecting or refusing to comply timely with this title is guilty of a misdemeanor. Each day of continued violation constitutes a separate violation of this chapter.
(Ord. 2406 § 1 (part), 2018)
In addition to the above and foregoing and not in any way a limitation thereof, the city may institute civil court action to compel compliance with the terms of this title.
(Ord. 2406 § 1 (part), 2018)