13 published records
Business licenses and permits in Clark County, Washington
Clark County, Washington, seat Vancouver, regulates businesses through two county bodies. Clark County Public Health issues food establishment, mobile food, temporary event, caterer, pool and spa, and on-site septic permits under its 2026 fee schedule, effective January 1, 2026. Community Development's Permit Center and Fire Marshal charge building, planning and fire review fees set in Clark County Code Title 6. The county's 'Starting a business' page states: "Anyone conducting any business in Washington must register for a Master Business License and obtain a UBI (Unified Business Identifier) number for tax purposes. A permit might be required for home businesses in unincorporated Clark County and some cities require business licenses." That page links to the state's Business Licensing service and to the business license pages of Battle Ground, Camas, Ridgefield and Vancouver. The county's Permit Center Locations page lists separate offices and contacts for Vancouver, Battle Ground, Camas, La Center, Ridgefield, Washougal and Yacolt, apart from the county Permit Center. A business inside one of those cities also follows that city's own license and permit requirements, which stack on the county records here and are not described on this page. The population figure of 527,269 is the U.S. Census Bureau's 2024 estimate.
What are you opening in Clark County?
- RestaurantsFull-service restaurants carry the densest permit load of any small business: food, fire, occupancy, waste, and usually alcohol.See the full permit list
- Coffee shopsCafés are permitted as food service establishments even where no cooking happens, and the plan review step catches most operators by surprise.See the full permit list
- Retail storesRetail is the lightest common permit load, but the sales tax permit and the certificate of occupancy are non-negotiable in every jurisdiction.See the full permit list
- Salons and barbersPersonal care is licensed at state board level as well as locally, so the shop license and the practitioner licenses are separate obligations.See the full permit list
- Food trucksMobile food is the one category with no certificate of occupancy — but it gains a commissary agreement, and the unit itself is inspected rather than the premises.See the full permit list
- Fitness studiosPrepaid memberships trigger state registration and often a surety bond, which catches operators who budgeted only for the fit-out.See the full permit list
- Childcare centresThe heaviest permit load of any small business: state agency licensing, per-person background checks, and a stricter fire standard than ordinary commercial use.See the full permit list
- Contractors and tradesLicensed at state board level rather than locally, and the only common category with no premises permits at all — the bond is usually the long pole.See the full permit list
- Auto repair shopsOrdinary commercial permitting plus an environmental layer: waste oil, solvents and stormwater are each registered separately.See the full permit list
- Veterinary clinicsA state facility permit, controlled substances registration at both state and federal level, and a medical waste manifest — none of which a general business license covers.See the full permit list
Permits that apply to every type of business in Clark County
| Permit | Issuing agency | Fee | Renews | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial Building Permit, Plan Review and Certificate of Occupancy Feesonly if it applies to you | Clark County Community Development, Permit Center | Commercial permit: $94 issuance plus a fee on total valuation — $150 for $0-$5,000; $250 for $5,000.01-$10,000; $250 for the first $10,000 plus $16.67 per additional $1,000 to $25,000; $500 for the first $25,000 plus $13.00 per additional $1,000 to $50,000; $825 for the first $50,000 plus $8.00 per additional $1,000 to $100,000; $1,225 for the first $100,000 plus $6.00 per additional $1,000 to $500,000; $3,625 for the first $500,000 plus $5.00 per additional $1,000 to $1,000,000; $6,125 for the first $1,000,000 plus $4.00 per additional $1,000 to $5,000,000; $22,125 for the first $5,000,000 plus $2.00 per additional $1,000. Commercial plan review 65% of the permit fee. Business change only certificate of occupancy $98.50; business move-in only $436.50. State Building Code issuance fee $4.50. Inspections outside normal business hours $148 per hour (minimum $296); reinspections and additional plan review $148 per hour. | one-time per permit | 2026-10-06 |
| Fire Marshal Plan Review, Inspection and Operational Permit Inspection Feesonly if it applies to you | Clark County Fire Marshal (Community Development) | Selected rows of Table 6.120.040: site plan review Type II $626, Type I $434; building construction or change in use review $294 for 1-10,000 sq ft plus $145 per additional 10,000 sq ft; fire protection feature review issuance $94; commercial cooking protection review $126 and inspection $188; sprinkler review $236 and inspection $236 per riser; occupancy inspection for Groups B, E, I, M, S or U $205 for the first 10,000 sq ft plus $80 per additional 10,000 sq ft; reinspection $162. Fire and life safety inspection for operational permits: $150 (1-29,999 sq ft), $200 (30,000-69,999), $250 (70,000-99,999) or $300 (100,000 sq ft or more), plus $50 per operational permit. Standby personnel: $50 per hour per person or the actual cost, whichever is greater. | per review or inspection; operational permit inspection fee paid before the operational permit is issued | 2026-10-06 |
Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.
What do these permits involve in Clark County?
Commercial Building Permit, Plan Review and Certificate of Occupancy Fees
Clark County Community Development's Permit Center issues building permits under the fees in Clark County Code Table 6.140.030-1, which as published lists Section 2 of Ordinance 2018-10-02 as its last amendment. A commercial permit carries a $94 issuance fee plus a fee on the project's total valuation, from $150 for work up to $5,000 to $22,125 plus $2.00 per $1,000 over $5,000,000, and commercial plan review adds 65% of the permit fee. A business that changes occupancy without construction pays $98.50 for a business-change-only certificate of occupancy, or $436.50 for a business move-in only. Mechanical and plumbing permits each carry their own $94 issuance fee plus item fees in the same table; for example, plumbing fixtures cost $192 for up to five and $35 for each additional fixture. The Permit Center page states that 'Clark County does not issue electrical permits' and sends applicants to the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries. The county's Permit Center Locations page lists separate offices for Vancouver (building and zoning, 360.487.7833), Battle Ground, Camas, La Center, Ridgefield, Washougal and Yacolt, apart from the county Permit Center; a business inside one of those cities contacts that city's office about building permits. Permit Center: 564.397.4078, appointment required for in-person service.
Fire Marshal Plan Review, Inspection and Operational Permit Inspection Fees
The Clark County Fire Marshal charges the review and inspection fees in Clark County Code Table 6.120.040, which as published lists Section 3 of Ordinance 2025-07-01 as its last amendment. A business building or changing the use of a space pays $294 for fire review of the first 10,000 square feet plus $145 for each additional 10,000, and an occupancy inspection of $205 for the first 10,000 square feet of a business, educational, institutional, mercantile, storage or utility occupancy plus $80 per additional 10,000; assembly occupancies are priced separately, at $180 to $236 depending on the assembly group. A restaurant hood suppression system costs $126 to review and $188 to inspect. Where the fire code requires an operational permit, section 12 of the table charges a fire and life safety inspection fee of $150 to $300 by floor area plus $50 per operational permit, which must be paid before the permit is issued; past-due invoices accrue 12% annual interest. Clark County Code 6.120.020 sets standby personnel at 'fifty dollars ($50) per hour, per person, or the actual costs of providing the personnel, whichever is greater.' The county's Permit Center Locations page directs Ridgefield fire permits to Clark County Fire and Rescue, 911 N. 65th Avenue, Ridgefield (360.887.4609).
Sources
Every figure in the table above was read from one of these government pages on the date shown.
- Clark County Code 6.140.030, Table 6.140.030-1 Building Fees (last amended by Sec. 2 of Ord. 2018-10-02)Clark County (Code Publishing Company) · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-06
- Permit Center Locations and Agency Contacts (web page revised 6.8.26)Clark County Community Development · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-06
- Permit CenterClark County Community Development · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-06
- Clark County Code 6.120.040, Table 6.120.040 Fire Marshal Review and Inspection Fees (last amended by Sec. 3 of Ord. 2025-07-01)Clark County (Code Publishing Company) · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-06
- Clark County Code 6.120.020, Standby personnel (Sec. 30 of Ord. 1997-12-46)Clark County (Code Publishing Company) · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-06
Who issues business permits in Clark County?
Permitting in Clark County is split across 3 agencies we hold records for, with tax registration handled at state level. No single office issues everything, which is why an opening usually means filing in several places rather than one.
Clark County issuing agencies
- Clark County Public Health, Environmental Public HealthFood establishment, mobile unit, temporary event, multiple event and caterer permits and food plan review · In-person food worker card testing · Pool and spa plan review and facility permits · On-site septic system permits and annual operating permits (Clark County Code chapter 24.17)9 permits
- Clark County Community Development, Permit CenterBuilding, mechanical and plumbing permits priced in Clark County Code Table 6.140.030-1 · Planning reviews priced in Clark County Code Table 6.110A.010, including home business and sign reviews3 permits
- Clark County Fire Marshal (Community Development)Fire plan review and inspection fees in Clark County Code Table 6.120.040 · Fire and life safety inspections for operational permits; standby personnel under Clark County Code 6.120.0201 permit
Other Washington jurisdictions we cover
Commercial Compliance Hub publishes information, not legal advice. Requirements change — confirm anything you rely on with the issuing agency before you file.