Business Licenses

All businesses and persons doing business within the City of St. Helens need to obtain a business license each year.

The St. Helens business license applies to home occupations, rental properties, non-profits performing business -like activities on an ongoing basis, temporary business and business solicitors. Churches and certain non-profit endeavors can obtain an "exemption certificate" and are exempt from paying the fee, while still submitting emergency contact information to the City. The fee for a business license is due with the application.

Businesses are responsible for knowing and meeting all codes, regulations and laws that pertain to them. A business license is not a statement or waiver that these codes, regulations and laws have been met. It is possible that a business may have a valid city business license but may be unable to operate because it has failed to meet other requirements. For more specific information regarding whether or not certain activities are subject to the annual business license, please refer to the City Code.

Fee Schedule for Business Licenses:

Residential Business License

00-09.99 FTE ~ $65
10-24.99 FTE ~ $85
25-49.99 FTE ~ $105
50-99.99 FTE ~ $125
100+ FTE~ $145

Non-Resident Business License: $150
Residential Rentals: $20 per unit
Commercial Rentals: $50 per unit
Non-Resident Temporary License: $75 (valid for 6 months)
Late Renewal Fee: $50 (after 60 days)
Appeals Processing Fee: $150
OLCC New Application: $100
OLCC Change Fee: $75
OLCC Renewal Fee: $35
Sidewalk Vendor Application Fee: $65
Sidewalk Vendor Permit Fee: $65

Employees

The fees for a business license are based on the number of employees. The number of hours employees work becomes important. Employees normally working 32+ per week throughout the year are considered full-time and are counted as one full-time equivalent; (1.0 FTE). Employees working less than that are counted as one-half of a full-time equivalent; (0.50 FTE). The business license fee is based on the number of FTEs counted when the application is submitted.

As an example, a restaurant may have an owner and two people who work 40 hours per week, plus seven people who trade-off working three hours in the afternoons and weekends. This business would have a total of 6.5 FTEs for purposes of calculating the fee. (3.0 full time and 3.5 part-time)

Contractor Information

Primary contractors doing business in St. Helens are responsible for getting a Business License prior to the start of work. A copy of your Construction or Landscape Contractors Board (CCB or LCB) license is required to complete the processing of your license. Contractors with headquarters that are located outside of the City limits are only responsible to license the number of employees that will be working within the City limits.

Rental Properties

Renting property is considered a business and, therefore, a business license is required. Some exceptions are made. A commercial building containing two businesses where the owner of the building has one of the businesses and rents out space to a second business is not considered a commercial building rental and, therefore, does not have to obtain a business license for the rental, but does need one for the business itself. If a commercial building contains 2 or more businesses who lease space from the building owner, the building owner needs a business license for the commercial rental.

For residential rentals, an owner-occupied home where rooms are rented out is not considered a business and does not have to obtain a business license. Renting, 1 or 2 single family residences or duplex does not require a business license. However, a person renting 3 or more residential properties does need a business license.

Secondhand Dealers

Those businesses engaged in the selling of second hand goods must obtain a Dealer’s Permit, because these types of businesses can present a risk of being used as a means of concealing theft of property. This permit is in addition to the business license. For more specific information, please refer to City Code.

Solicitors

Those who solicit another person to purchase or trade any product must obtain a business license. In general, door-to-door sales people must obtain a business license. Those who go door-to-door requesting political/religious donations/opinions are exempt. For more specific information, please refer to City Code.

Community Events

Community Events do not have to obtain a business license, however they may be subject to other permits and licenses. Community Events are events which provide an overall community benefit, are sponsored by a social or service organization, and are open to the public. For more specific information, please refer to City Code.

Exemptions

Certain activities, businesses and organizations will need to obtain an “exemption certificate” and submit the location, purpose and contact information for that activity, business or organization, but will not have to pay a fee. Those exempt activities, businesses and organizations are:

Churches
Governmental agencies
Publicly funded schools
Civic leagues/organizations which operate exclusively for promoting social welfare
Independent contractors who work in a building where the owner has obtained a business license covering those in the building who do a similar business, under the same name as the business on the license;
Community events;
Producers of farm goods sold by themselves or family members.

Some activities or businesses do not have to obtain a business license or an exemption certificate. Those exempt from both are: