Fife | Washington Department of Revenue

Requirements and fees

General business license

Variable

The city of Fife requires a license for all businesses located within city limits, or conducting business within city limits. If you are not sure if you will do business within the city limits, contact the city directly before you apply.

If you will have more than one business located on a single property, you must complete a separate application for each business.

License fee is determined by number of employees who work within the city limits of Fife or the number of rental units.

Method for calculatingFTEs

If you have reported employment to the State Employment Security Department, use the employee count from your most recent Unemployment Compensation Quarterly Report. A copy of the report may be required by the city of Fife for verification.
If you have not reported employment, estimate the maximum number of employees to be employed, this includes the owner(s), at any one time at this location during the next 12 months. Convert part-time personnel to full-time equivalents by adding total weekly hours worked; divide by 40, round up fractions.

Origination fee:

Total number of employees	License fee
0 through 2	$52.30
3 through 5	$104.60
6 through 12	$209.20
13 through 25	$313.80
26 through 50	$523.00
51 or more	$784.50

Renewal fee:

Total number of employees	License fee
0 through 2	$52.30
3 through 5	$104.60
6 through 12	$209.20
13 through 25	$313.80
26 through 50	$523.00
51 or more	$784.50

Rental unit determination

Landlords that offer four or more residential rental units in the city limits are considered rental property businesses, regardless if vacant. When a landlord registers for a business license only the rental business office location is required to be licensed. The number of rental units is counted city-wide.

Qualified rental units include:

Apartments
Houses
Mobile homes

Examples of rentals that do not qualify are:

Hotels/motels
Short term rentals
Storage units

Origination fee:

Total number of rental units	License fee
0 through 3	See employee table above
4 or more	$52.30

Renewal fee:

Total number of rental units	License fee
0 through 3	See employee table above
4 or more	$52.30

Nonprofit businesses

If you are a nonprofit business, you may be exempt from city fees. To qualify you must submit a copy of your business’ IRS 501(c)3 certificate with your application.

Origination fee: $0

Renewal fee: $0

Home businesses

Variable

If your business is in a residence within the city, you must comply with Fife Municipal Code 19.68.050. For more information on home occupation requirements, contact the city directly.

License fee is determined by number of employees who work within the city limits of Fife or the number of rental units.

Method for calculating FTEs:

If you have reported employment to the State Employment Security Department, use the employee count from your most recent Unemployment Compensation Quarterly Report. A copy of the report may be required by the City of Fife for verification.
If you have not reported employment, estimate the maximum number of employees to be employed, this includes the owner(s), at any one time at this location during the next 12 months. Convert part-time personnel to full-time equivalents by adding total weekly hours worked; divide by 40, round up fractions.

Origination fee:

Total number of employees	License fee
0 through 2	$52.30
3 through 5	$104.60
6 through 12	$209.20
13 through 25	$313.80
26 through 50	$523.00
51 or more	$784.50

Renewal fee:

Total Number of Employees	License Fee
0 through 2	$52.30
3 through 5	$104.60
6 through 12	$209.20
13 through 25	$313.80
26 through 50	$523.00
51 or more	$784.50

Rental unit determination:

Qualified rental units include:
- Apartments.
- Houses.
- Mobile homes.
Examples of rentals that do NOT qualify are:
- Hotels/motels.
- Short term rentals.
- Storage units.

Origination fee:

Rental fee calculation

Total number of rental units	License fee
0 through 3	See employee table above
4 or more	$52.30

Renewal fee:

Rental fee calculation

Total number of rental units	License fee
0 through 3	See employee table above
4 or more	$52.30

Non-resident businesses

Variable

If your business is physically located outside city limits, but conducts business within city limits, your license fee is determined by gross annual income earned within this city’s limits: