What permits do you need to open a retail store in King County?

Pet Shop / Pet Food Retail / Poultry Retail Operating Permit

A store selling live animals needs a Public Health pet shop permit: $506 a year for a standard pet shop or $281 for an aquarium-only shop; a poultry retailer pays $394. A 'pet food retail business' under Board of Health Code §8.03.040.N is defined broadly and pays $281: it covers a retail establishment selling either (1) pet foods or treats requiring refrigeration or freezing to prevent spoilage, or (2) uncooked or partially cooked animal-derived pet foods or treats not requiring refrigeration or freezing — both categories need the permit, not just the uncooked-food category. Selling only canned or other fully cooked pet food and treats needs no permit under §8.03.340.F, and a holder of a Public Health food establishment permit under Title 5 needs no separate pet-food permit. Each location needs its own permit, and KCC 11.04.070 requires every pet shop to report monthly to the county animal-control manager the pets it gives away or sells. Ordinary retail with no animal or raw or refrigerated pet-food sales needs no Public Health permit.

Fire Code Operational Permit (annual, unincorporated King County)

King County Code Title 17 adopts the 2018 International Fire Code, though the County's own current program materials describe it as the 2021 edition — the two published statements disagree, and either edition's operational-permit requirement is what applies; ask King County Permits, (206) 296-6600, which items a specific business needs. Operational-permit inspection and fee collection in unincorporated King County is delegated by interlocal agreement to South King Fire within that district's service area only, not to fire districts generally: the interlocal agreement's own terms name South King Fire and cap its fee schedule at the County's own. Outside South King Fire's service area, ask King County Permits directly. The County's 2026 fee is $171 per code item for an initial permit and $114 per item at renewal, plus $419 per building per site visit for a building occupancy inspection. This is the 2026 fee schedule; King County Code sets lower fees ($150/$100 per item; $367 for the building occupancy inspection) effective January 1, 2027, unless the Council adopts a new fee ordinance first (one was due to the Council by October 1, 2026). Confirm the current fee after January 2027.

Secondhand Dealer's License

In unincorporated King County a business that buys, sells, trades or takes on consignment secondhand goods — antique and consignment shops, and repair garages dealing in used or remanufactured items including used tires and parts — needs a $40-a-year secondhand dealer's license, payable December 31 for the following year and prorated quarterly if issued mid-year. Used motor vehicles and boats are excluded from the definition, as is anything already covered by the junk-shop license. Applications are reviewed by the King County Sheriff's Office and by Permitting for fire, building and zoning compliance. This Title 6 fee is fixed in the code and is not affected by the Local Services fee schedule that expires January 1, 2027.

Pawnbroker's License

A pawnshop in unincorporated King County needs a $500-a-year pawnbroker's license, payable December 31 for the following year and prorated quarterly if issued mid-year, with Sheriff's Office record-keeping and reporting requirements. This Title 6 fee is fixed in the code and is not affected by the Local Services fee schedule that expires January 1, 2027.

Retail Cannabis Business License

A retail cannabis store in unincorporated King County needs a County business license — $1,000 a year, or $500 with a current Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board medical cannabis endorsement — in addition to its state Liquor and Cannabis Board license. The license's term is set by KCC §6.70.060: it 'expires one year from the date the business license is issued,' not on a fixed calendar date such as January 1, and a renewal application must be submitted to the Director at least 30 days before that one-year expiration date. Cannabis retail is barred as a home occupation in both the R/UR/NB/CB/RB zones and the A/F/RA zones. This Title 6 fee is fixed in the code and is not affected by the Local Services fee schedule that expires January 1, 2027.

Shared with other businesses in King County

• Commercial Kennel / Pet Daycare Operating Permit — Public Health – Seattle & King County, Environmental Health Services (pet business, water recreation, on-site sewage, and plumbing & gas piping programs), $506 a year per location (2026), commercial kennel or pet daycare facility, annual (expiry date set by the Director). Also required for veterinary clinics; what it involves is set out on the veterinary clinics page.
• Conditional Use Permit — King County Department of Local Services, Permitting Division, $6,487–$18,106 per application by category: residential or home industry $6,487; commercial $13,266; industrial, institutional or other $18,106 (2026), one-time. Also required for restaurants, childcare centres, fitness studios, auto repair shops, veterinary clinics and salons and barbers; what it involves is set out on the fitness studios page.
• Home Occupation — Allowed Under Zoning Standards (King County) — King County Department of Local Services, Permitting Division, No fee, not applicable. Also required for salons and barbers, contractors and trades, fitness studios and childcare centres; what it involves is set out on the contractors and trades page.
• Zoning Variance — King County Department of Local Services, Permitting Division, $13,266 per variance review (2026); extension of approval $483, one-time. Also required for restaurants, childcare centres, fitness studios, auto repair shops, veterinary clinics and salons and barbers; what it involves is set out on the auto repair shops page.