Doing Business in Kent

Kent has a strong entrepreneurial spirit, from agriculture to heavy manufacturing.  The region has attracted nationally recognized companies as well as nurtured small neighborhood based businesses.  Kent boasts a pro-business attitude and maintains a strong competitive advantage over neighboring communities.  Kent's newly restructured Economic and Community Development Department has implemented a business-friendly permit process, not only to attract new businesses, but to ensure the continued success of our existing businesses.  The new process is predictable and flexible, allowing permits, licenses, and inspections to be timely and efficient. 

Taxes/Licenses/Permits

To attract new business and ensure the continued success of existing businesses, the City of Kent has completely restructured its permitting process.  A new Economic and Community Development Department oversees all aspects of permitting. Our permit and review fees, as well as our utility rates are competitive amongst our peer cities.  Our Permit Center is open to the public and located on the 1st Floor of the Centennial building at 400 West Gowe St.

Business License If you engage in business activity within the City of Kent limits, a business license is required. The operation of two or more businesses at one location requires a separate license for each business. You can apply for a business license at the Customer Service counter located at 400 West Gowe Street, Suite 122 during regular business hours (Monday - Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.)	Utility Services The City of Kent operates the utilities of water, sewer, and storm drainage. However, not all of Kent is served by the Kent Water Utility. Other non-city owned utilities include Puget Sound Energy for electricity and gas, and Qwest for local telephone service. Garbage services are provided through Allied Waste.
City Taxes City taxes are administered by the Finance Department Audit Division located in the Centennial Building [400 West Gowe Street, Suite 406].  The Audit Division can be contacted by e-mail at Finance@KentWA.gov or phone at 253-856-6266.  If you are looking for information about the City of Kent taxes, including the new Business and Occupation (B&O) tax, this is the place.	Transportation If you are looking for information about getting to and from Kent, or information about Commute Trip Reduction incentive programs, or for information regarding Transportation infrastructure projects, this is the place.
Doing business with Kent The City of Kent provides this Procurement site for use by vendors to review and download information about bids, RFPs, and other procurement requests. This website does not contain all City of Kent procurement requests, bids, or RFPs, and is not the exclusive source for obtaining this information. You may contact departments individually to see if they have any procurement requests currently open.