Mountlake Terrace is changing fast. Light rail now stops at the edge of Town Center, new apartment buildings are adding customers along 56th Avenue W, and older office and light industrial space on 220th Street SW keeps turning over to new tenants. If you own or are starting a business here, the legal paperwork tends to arrive right when you are busiest.
Martin Kreshon helps Mountlake Terrace business owners form companies, draft and review contracts, negotiate commercial leases, and buy or sell businesses. He works from his office in Shoreline, a short drive south on I-5, and handles matters for clients throughout south Snohomish County.
Doing business in Mountlake Terrace
The city requires a business license for businesses located in Mountlake Terrace and for businesses from elsewhere that do work inside city limits. Home-based businesses need one too. You apply through the Washington State Business Licensing Service run by the Department of Revenue, which adds a Mountlake Terrace city endorsement to your state business license. The city endorsement is a separate requirement from your state UBI number and state registration, and it renews with your state license.
- Fees depend on size: the general license fee is based on the number of full-time equivalent employees, according to DOR’s Mountlake Terrace listing.
- Out-of-town businesses: DOR’s listing shows no city fee for businesses located outside Mountlake Terrace that earn under $12,000 a year in the city, with a fee above that amount. Check the current listing before you rely on it.
- Home businesses: have their own fee category and must follow the home occupation rules in the city’s development code.
- Residential rentals: landlords need a rental license, with a fee based on the number of units.
Building, land use and engineering permits, plus planning and economic development, run through the city’s Community and Economic Development Department. Check with that department before you sign a lease for a restaurant, a medical office or any space that needs a change of use or build-out. The city’s Start and Grow Your Business page lists contacts for licensing and permits.
For networking, the Mountlake Terrace and Brier Chamber of Commerce was launched in 2023 with support from the city and Economic Alliance Snohomish County. Economic Alliance Snohomish County also offers business resources countywide.
How Martin helps Mountlake Terrace businesses
- Forming an LLC or corporation before you sign a lease or hire, so the company, not you personally, is the party to the deal.
- Reviewing commercial leases for ground-floor retail and restaurant space in the new mixed-use buildings around Town Center, where build-out allowances, operating costs and rent start dates matter.
- Office and flex space on 220th Street SW: lease renewals, expansions and subleases for service businesses and light industrial users.
- Drafting and reviewing contracts with customers, vendors and subcontractors, including contractors who work across Snohomish and King counties.
- Operating agreements for co-owned LLCs, and buy-sell agreements that plan for an owner leaving.
- Buying or selling a business, including lease assignments and the transfer of licenses.
- Protecting trade secrets such as customer lists and pricing when employees or contractors move on.
- Closing an LLC properly when a business winds down.
About Mountlake Terrace
Mountlake Terrace sits along I-5 in south Snohomish County, just north of the King County line. The city is building a walkable Town Center along 56th Avenue W near 236th Street SW, where zoning adopted in 2019 allows buildings up to 12 stories. Sound Transit’s Mountlake Terrace light rail station opened in August 2024 on the east side of I-5 at 236th Street SW, with Veterans Memorial Park between the station and the civic campus that houses City Hall. Other commercial areas include 220th Street SW and 244th Street SW (State Route 104).
Parks and places to know
- Ballinger Park: the city’s park on the east shore of Lake Ballinger, with water access, a fishing area, and wetlands on the site of a former golf course.
- Lake Ballinger: a lake of about 100 acres shared with Edmonds, with Mountlake Terrace on its east side.
- Terrace Creek Park: a wooded park of about 60 acres where a trail follows Lyon Creek; some locals call it Candy Cane Park.
- Veterans Memorial Park: the park between the light rail station and the civic campus.
- Evergreen Playfield Complex: the city’s sports field complex.
- Interurban Trail: a walking and cycling route that runs through the city on its way between Seattle and Everett.
Getting to Martin’s Shoreline office
Martin’s office at 17713 15th Ave NE in Shoreline is roughly 10 to 15 minutes from central Mountlake Terrace by car, usually south on I-5 to the NE 175th Street exit, depending on traffic. Light rail also connects Mountlake Terrace station with Shoreline North/185th station, one stop south. Phone and video consultations are available if you would rather not make the trip.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a city business license to operate in Mountlake Terrace?
Yes, in most cases. The city requires a license for businesses located in Mountlake Terrace, including home-based businesses, and for outside businesses that work in the city. You apply through the state Business Licensing Service, which adds a Mountlake Terrace endorsement to your state business license. Businesses based elsewhere that earn little in the city may owe no city fee, so check DOR’s current listing.
Is the city license the same as my state business license?
No. Your state registration and UBI number come first, and the Mountlake Terrace endorsement is added to that state license as a separate requirement with its own fee. Both renew together through the Business Licensing Service. If you open a second location in another city, that city may require its own endorsement too.
Can Martin help with a lease in the new Town Center buildings?
Yes. Martin reviews and negotiates leases for retail, restaurant and office space, including space in new mixed-use buildings. New construction leases often include a tenant improvement allowance, a delivery date and a rent start date tied to permits, so it helps to review those terms before you sign the letter of intent.
Can I run a business from my home in Mountlake Terrace?
Often, yes. Home businesses still need a city business license, and they must follow the home occupation rules in the city’s development code, which address things like customer visits, signs and employees. Contact the city before you start if your business will bring clients or deliveries to your home.
Do I have to meet Martin in person?
No. Martin’s office is in Shoreline, a short drive from Mountlake Terrace, and you are welcome to meet there. Phone and video consultations are available, and many documents can be reviewed and signed electronically, so you can handle most matters without leaving your business.
Talk with Martin about your Mountlake Terrace business
Whether you are signing a lease near the light rail station or forming a new company, Martin can help you understand the documents before you commit.
Direct line: 206-929-0609
Office: 17713 15th Ave NE, Suite 101, Shoreline, WA 98155
You can also read client reviews on Avvo.
See the full list of services Martin Kreshon provides for Washington businesses.
Attorney advertising. This page provides general information, not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Responsible attorney: Martin J. Kreshon III.