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Pierce County adopts updated business license fee schedule, raising rates for most categories
Summary
The Pierce County Board of Commissioners adopted Ordinance No. 2026.05.12, raising business and alcohol license fees and adding a $300 special event letter fee; the ordinance takes effect upon adoption and applies to applications after that date.
The Pierce County Board of Commissioners on May 12 adopted Ordinance No. 2026.05.12, revising Chapter 8 of the county code to raise business license fees, alcohol license fees and administrative charges.
Under the new schedule approved by the board, base business license fees increase to $250 for businesses with 0–4 employees (up from $150), $400 for 5–9 employees (up from $250) and $850 for businesses with 10 or more employees (up from $450). Alcohol license fees and beer-and-wine license fees were also raised; for example, pouring alcohol licenses increase from $1,550 to $2,400 and pouring beer-and-wine licenses increase from $850 to $1,250. The ordinance also establishes a $300 special event letter fee where previously no charge existed and increases certain administrative fees, including renewal and late penalties.
Commissioner David Lowman moved to approve the amendment to the 1995 Occupation Tax Ordinance; Commissioner Troy Mattox seconded and the motion carried.
The ordinance states the changes will be incorporated into Chapter 8 and applies to applications submitted on or after the ordinance's effective date; the board's text identified the effective date as adoption.
Why it matters: County officials said the fee increases respond to a determination that the previous schedule “no longer adequately offsets the administrative and regulatory costs associated with the issuance, renewal, and enforcement of business licenses and alcohol-related licenses,” language included in the ordinance. The change will increase revenue from licensing activity and shift a higher share of administrative costs to license holders.
What remains unspecified: The transcript and ordinance language adopted at the meeting do not list projected revenue from the change or a phased implementation for existing license holders. The ordinance includes a severability clause and a repeal of conflicting ordinances.
Next steps: The ordinance took effect upon adoption; county staff will incorporate the new fee schedule into Chapter 8 and apply it to new applications after the effective date.
