Following the City Council’s adoption of an Ordinance in 2013 creating an annual Business Registration program for businesses located in Kenmore, the registration process is now underway.

Kenmore is partnering with the State Department of Revenue’s Business Licensing Service (BLS) to administer the program, providing convenient, online registration and renewal services. The BLS partnership combines the local business application with more than 50 Washington cities and more than 300 different state agency registrations. The service helps businesses renew applicable local and state registrations into one annual payment.

“Kenmore is at the midpoint of Seattle and Eastside communities and is home to both longtime and emerging businesses. This new registration will provide a huge improvement in our ability to connect with and serve our business community,” said Rob Karlinsey, Kenmore city manager. “As our City Council deliberated on the ordinance creating the business registration program, they insisted that it be convenient and business-friendly.”

The local business registration will also include businesses’ emergency contact information that will be helpful for public safety agencies.  Revenue from the City fee will be poured back into helping Kenmore businesses, including establishing a local business directory, support for the Kenmore Business Alliance, and other economic development initiatives.

Only businesses located in Kenmore city limits are now required to register. Kenmore businesses with existing State tax registrations will receive a letter in April asking them to confirm they are inside the city. After sending their reply and the Kenmore registration fee, each will be issued an updated state business license listing the Kenmore registration. Businesses that register will have the option of being listed in a new online Kenmore Business Directory.

Businesses should respond by May 31. Those that do not respond, along with all new businesses starting up or locating in Kenmore, will need to complete a new application at www. business.wa.gov/BLS. Information on the program, including exemptions and fees, is also available at that website or at the City of Kenmore website,www.kenmorewa.gov.

Kenmore joins seven King County cities, including Bellevue and Shoreline, who have local registrations or licenses processed and distributed by BLS. Prior to the creation of the local Business Registration Program, Kenmore was one of only five cities of the 58 total cities in King and Snohomish Counties without a general business registration or license program.