POULSBO — The Poulsbo Licensing Services Offices, which serves nearly 35,000 residents from the North End and beyond, will remain open, according to a press release from the City of Poulsbo.

The Department of Licensing operates the office. Had the office closed, North Enders would have to go to Bremerton for their licensing needs.

“Not only would this closure have caused inconvenience and perhaps even hardship on Poulsbo residents, indeed on all residents of the North Kitsap area, closing the Poulsbo office would also increase wait and service times at the remaining locations,” said Mayor Kathryn Quade.

Other rural communities spared closure of their licensing offices are Walla Walla, Forks, Friday Harbor and Goldendale.

The closure plan came about through the 2009 Legislature’s efforts to consolidate licensing services.

Ten offices, most of them on the west side of the state, will be closed. Staff will be shifted to remaining offices.