Frequently Asked Questions

Battle Ground partners with the Washington State Department of Revenue, Business Licensing Service (BLS), for the administration of its city business licenses.

Home Occupation Business and Specialty Business Licenses
Some occupations such as home occupation, peddlers, and mobile food businesses require a supplemental license in addition to holding a city business license through the Washington State Department of Revenue. Visit the city’s specialty licenses page and BGMC Title 5 for more information on how to obtain a supplementary license.

If you are a renter, you will also need to seek the approval of the homeowner or management company to conduct your business. 

For conducting business within city limits: 

• If you live within city limits, you will need to apply for a Home Occupation Business License. 
• If you are a business located outside of city limits, please apply for an endorsement for work within city limits. 
• If you have a physical location within city limits, please apply for a general business license. 

To determine if you are within City limits, check the jurisdiction at the Clark County GIS, Property Information Center to determine whose jurisdiction the property falls under. 

Obtaining a City of Battle Ground business license is a 3-step process:

Step 1 - Application: 

• Apply online and pay associated fees via credit or debit card or electronic check from your bank account.
• You can contact either BLS at:
  Email: bls@dor.wa.gov
  Phone: 360-705-6741
  Website 
• Or you can contact the Vancouver Department of Revenue at:
  8008 NE Fourth Plain Blvd #320
  Vancouver, WA 98662
  (360) 256-2060

Step 2 - City review and license activation: 

• Upon successful completion of an application and associated payment, BLS will notify the City that the application information is available for review with respect to City regulations. 
• Unless issues arise during the review, the City will typically activate a license within a week of BLS notification. (If issues arise, the applicant will be contacted).

Step 3 - Issuance of business license: 

• Upon the City’s activation of a business license, BLS will mail to the business a Washington State Business license that has the applicable category of city license printed within the "City Endorsement" section of the state license, along with an expiration date. 
• There are three possible categories of city license issued for Battle Ground, see descriptions below.
  • Battle Ground Business - Applies to a for-profit business.
  • Battle Ground Home Occupation - Applies to a for-profit business that is located in the city at residential-zoned property.
  • Battle Ground Nonprofit Business - Applies to business that is qualified for one or more of the nonprofit exemption criteria.

Note: A business’s state-issued Unified Business Identifier (UBI) number is used to reference its city business license account. 

The City of Battle Ground requires a business to hold a City business license if it is either:
1. Physically Located within City limits
2. Entering City limits to conduct business

You can find the jurisdiction at the Clark County GIS, Property Information Center to determine whose jurisdiction the property falls under.

A City business license is active until the expiration date shown on the state license.

BLS facilitates annual renewal by sending a notice to each active city business licensee approximately six weeks prior to the applicable expiration date. The notice includes instructions for completion of the renewal process prior to the expiration date. Once deemed complete, BLS issues an updated state license showing the applicable city endorsement category and new expiration date.

If you have additional questions contact:

Washington State BLS: 
Email: bls@dor.wa.gov 
Phone: 360-705-6741
Website 

Updates to the business name, governing people, and/or address(es) should be made online or reported via e-mail.