Vancouver Business Taxes

Tax preparation (show on map)

Municipal government of Vancouver, WA, offering utility billing, permits, parking, and community services.

About

The City of Vancouver is a municipal government serving Vancouver, WA. It provides a wide range of public services including utility billing (water, sewer, stormwater drainage), garbage and recycling collection, urban forestry, parking management (including downtown parking and municipal garages), building permits and inspections, business and special licenses, tax and franchise information, and community development programs.

The city also manages parks, trails, community centers, public art, and cultural services. Governance is led by a Mayor and City Council with departments including City Attorney, Community Development, Economic Prosperity and Housing, Financial and Management Services, Fire, Human Resources, Parks Recreation and Cultural Services, Police, and Public Works.

28.9% utility tax on gross revenues funds city services including police and streets

Online Permit Center and ePlans for streamlined building permits

Nine municipal parking garages and lots including 2,000 waterfront spaces with no time limits

Comprehensive utility rate comparison data available for regional benchmarking

Multilingual website accessibility with translation into 100+ languages

Services

Utility Billing

Billing for water, sewer, stormwater, and garbage/recycling services. Includes utility tax (28.9% on gross revenues) and commercial/industrial rates.

Water billing Sewer and stormwater billing Garbage and recycling billing Utility tax included in rates Bi-monthly or monthly billing for commercial accounts

Parking Services

Downtown parking, parking tickets, permits, reservations, and accessible/disabled parking. Manages nine municipal parking garages and lots.

Downtown parking Pay or appeal parking tickets Parking portal Parking permits Parking reservations Accessible/disabled parking 2,000 waterfront garage spaces with no time limits

Building Permits, Licenses and Inspections

Online permit center, ePlans, residential and commercial building permits, business and special licenses, and inspections.

Online Permit Center ePlans Residential building permits Commercial building permits Business and special licenses Inspections

Tax and Franchise Information

City taxes including Admissions Tax, B&O tax, Cable Television franchise fee, Gambling tax, Lodging Tax, Sales and Use Tax, and utility taxes.

Admissions Tax Business & Occupation (B&O) tax Cable Television franchise fee Gambling tax Bingo, Raffles and Amusement Games tax Punchboards & Pull-tabs tax Telephone Business for Hire license and tax Natural Gas Companies license and tax Water-Sewer Department Gross Receipts Tax Electricity Tax Sales and Use Tax Lodging Tax

Economic Development

Programs and resources to support local businesses, including initiatives for Fourth Plain entrepreneurs and small business growth.

Business support programs Fourth Plain entrepreneur resources Small business assistance Economic Prosperity and Housing initiatives

Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services

Community centers, parks, trails, community gardens, public art, cultural events, and volunteer programs.

Firstenburg Community Center Marshall/Luepke Community Center Water Resources Education Center Community gardens Public Art Map Recreation activities Volunteer programs Cultural events and festivals

Credentials & Certifications

Vancouver Municipal Code (VMC)

Frequently Asked Questions

What city taxes are required for businesses in Vancouver? +

Businesses may be subject to Admissions Tax, Business & Occupation (B&O) tax, Cable Television franchise fee, Gambling tax, Bingo/Raffles/Amusement Games tax, Punchboards & Pull-tabs tax, Telephone Business for Hire license and tax, Natural Gas Companies license and tax, Water-Sewer Department Gross Receipts Tax, Electricity Tax, Sales and Use Tax, and Lodging Tax. See the Vancouver Municipal Code for complete details.

What is the utility tax rate for City of Vancouver utilities? +

The total City utility tax on gross water, wastewater, and stormwater utilities is 28.9%. This tax is included in monthly utility charges and is not itemized on the bill.

How much does a typical single-family utility bill cost in Vancouver? +

A typical single-family residential customer using 8 ccf per month pays $116.58 per month (as of 2026), which includes a 28.9% utility tax. Without the utility tax, the charge would be $82.88.

Can businesses use water from public fire hydrants? +

Yes, but only with an authorized hydrant meter and permit. Unauthorized use results in a minimum fee of $250 per Vancouver Municipal Code 22.02.070.

What parking services does the City of Vancouver offer? +

The city manages downtown parking, parking tickets (pay or appeal), parking permits, parking reservations, accessible/disabled parking, and nine municipal parking garages and lots including 2,000 waterfront garage spaces with no time limits.

How do I get a building permit in Vancouver? +

Use the Online Permit Center or ePlans to submit applications for residential or commercial building permits. The city also offers inspections as part of the permit process.

What departments are available in the City of Vancouver? +

Departments include City Attorney's Office, Community Development, Economic Prosperity and Housing, Financial and Management Services, Vancouver Fire Department, Human Resources, Parks Recreation and Cultural Services, Vancouver Police Department, and Public Works.

What is the B&O tax rate for businesses in Vancouver? +

The Business & Occupation (B&O) tax applies to retail businesses and is effective January 1, 2026. Deviations from the AWC Model Ordinance are available on the city website.