Business License Index

Important notice from Business Licensing Service:

BLS licensing systems will unavailable May 18 through May 20

The Business Licensing Service (BLS) will be moving all online licensing systems from the Department of Licensing to the Department of Revenue May 18 through 20.  Online systems will be taken down at 7:30 a.m. on Friday, May 18 and brought back up on Monday, May 21.

It’s important that business owner’s applying for a business license finish any partially completed applications or renewals before May 18, as the information will be deleted during the move and the applicant will have to start over.  Reports that normally generate on Fridays or Saturdays will arrive a day later than usual.

Business owners can still submit paper applications or renewals during this timeframe.This outage only affects online applications and renewals.  Paper applications and renewals will be processed without interruption.  We encourage online processing.  The online licensing systems will be down for a very short time period.  It is still quicker to wait until the online licensing systems are back up, than to mail it into the Business Licensing Service.

If you conduct any business at all within the Longview city limits, you must obtain a city business license.  Even if your business office is located elsewhere and you only do business occasionally in Longview, you still need a city business license. An application form for a city business license may be obtained by completing the Master Business License Application online. If you are renewing a business license, an online renewal process is also available. 

Non-Profit Organizations:

Contact Us Location: City Hall - Finance Dept. 1525 Broadway Phone: 360.442.5000 Fax: 360.442.5951

Most non-profit organizations are exempt from paying City B&O taxes.  They do, however, still need to obtain a City Business License, even for a temporary, one day  event.

To be eligible for tax exempt status, you must submit a letter or form from the Internal Revenue Service indicating your non-profit status with the federal government.