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Threshold may change for business licenses in Bellingham

Threshold may change for business licenses in Bellingham

Photo: Saga Communications/Dave Walker


BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Updates are on the way for some business licenses in Bellingham.

The Bellingham City Council is on track to pass an ordinance at their regularly scheduled meeting on Monday night that would change the threshold needed to obtain a general business license.

Under current city law, those licenses are required for any business that makes over $2000 a year.

The Association of Washington Cities helped create a state law in 2017 which requires cities with business license requirements to have an exemption threshold.

Those requirements were updated, and the city of Bellingham has drafted an ordinance that would raise the business license threshold to $4000.

The new regulations, if passed, would take effect on January 1.

Beyond 2026, a new threshold will be determined every 2 years based on data from the Consumer Price Index.

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