Business

Additional Information

Additional information on "Special Events" ( ‹‹‹ go back to "New Applications" page )

If you are organizing a special event in the City of Vancouver, you will be required to complete and submit a special event application or proposal form with payment of the appropriate fee. Special events include either a circus, rodeo, horse racing, automobile or motorcycle racing, concert, lecture, musical, theatrical performance, boxing, wrestling, game, show, tradeshow or contest.

If the event will be held at BC Place, Rogers Arena, Pacific National Exhibition or the Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre, you will be required to complete the Special Event Application Form (91kb). It is the responsibility of the Event Organizer and not of the individual vendors to obtain the business license. A licence must be obtained before the event is held, and an application should be made as far in advance as possible.

If the event will be taking place on private property, you will be required to complete the Special Event Activity Proposal - Private Property Form (124kb).

If the event will be held on City street, public property or private property with anticipated impact to residents or businesses, please contact the Film and Special Events Office.

If you are organizing professional athletic events such as boxing, kickboxing or wrestling, you will be required to provide an approval letter from the Vancouver Athletic Commission prior to the issuance of your business licence. For more information, please visit the Vancouver Athletic Commission site.

If you are planning to organize, advertise and sell tickets for the event, you will be required to complete and submit a General Business Licence Application Form (109kb) for an Event Promoter with payment of the appropriate fee.

Additional information on "Late Night Dance Events" ( ‹‹‹ go back to "New Applications" page )

If you will be holding a late night dance event in Vancouver, you will be required to complete and submit a Late Night Dance Event Business Licence Application Form (39kb) with payment of the appropriate fee.

All applications will be reviewed by the Late Night Dance Event Committee. This committee is responsible for approving special events in Vancouver and is staffed by members of the following areas: Licences & Inspections Division, Planning Department, Vancouver Police Department and the Vancouver Fire and Rescue Service. At all times during the approval process, public safety will be paramount. All areas of the Late Night Dance Event Committee must concur for approval.

The conditions of holding a late night dance events are as follows:

• Event must be liquor free
• A minimum eight weeks notice must be given to the Late Night Dance Event Committee prior to an event. There will be NO exceptions. The Late Night Dance Event Committee will review applications quarterly as follows:
  • End of March: for events in July/August/September
  • End of June: for events in October/November/December
  • End of September: for events in January/February/March
  • End of December: for events in April/May/June
    In order to be considered, applications must be received by the 15th day of the review month (i.e., March 15th, June 15th, September 15th, December 15th)
• The Committee may limit the number of events on any given night
• Late Night Dance Events cannot occur within 28 days of each other - events must occur 28 days apart
• Promoters or staff that will have contact with minors will be subject to a criminal record check
• Acceptable applications will be followed by a Late Night Dance Event Committee meeting with the applicant in attendance

Additional information on "Rental Properties" ( ‹‹‹ go back to "New Applications" page )

If you own a residential property with the intent of renting or leasing it for rental income, you will be required to obtain a business licence even if the property is being managed by a property management company. You will be required to complete and submit a Rental Property Business Licence Application Form (66kb) with payment of the appropriate fee. A rental property includes an apartment house, duplex, laneway house, multiple dwelling, one family dwelling, pre-1956 dwelling, residential/commercial building and secondary suite. A secondary suite must meet all requirements of the Secondary Suites Program prior to the licence issuance.

A homestay or a maximum of two boarders or renters are permitted in a residence without requiring a business licence. If there will be more than two boarders or renters, you will be required to complete and submit a General Business Licence Application Form (109kb) with payment of the appropriate fee for a Rooming House.

Additional information on "Soliciting for Charity" ( ‹‹‹ go back to "New Applications" page )

Non-profit and charitable organizations raising money for a charitable cause in the City of Vancouver require a “Soliciting for Charity” licence. This licence is not required for fund-raising efforts by church organizations, religious denominations or other bona fide societies where donations are sought solely from members of those organizations or societies. The licence is issued for the term of the soliciting activity and will expire no later than December 31st of the current calendar year. The cost of the licence is $10.00.

Additional business licences (109kb) will be required if you will be occupying commercial space in Vancouver (Community Association) and/or if a professional fund raiser is used (Fund Raiser).

New Applications
First time applicants and organizations wishing to change the nature of their campaign or charitable purpose are required to:

• Complete a Soliciting for Charity application form (50kb)
• Provide proof that the organization or society is incorporated and in good standing under the Society Act or registered as a charitable society or organization under the Income Tax Act (i.e., Community Association under the License By-Law)
• Provide proof that the organization is raising funds for a charitable purpose
• If applicant is raising money on behalf of a community association, provide letter of authorization from the organization on behalf of which the fund raising is taking place

Renewals
Applicants renewing their Soliciting for Charity licence must complete a Soliciting for Charity application form (50kb) for every fund raising campaign.

Conditions may be applied to the nature, location and duration of the campaign. Applications for Soliciting for Charity on city streets may be referred to City Council for approval.

Additional information on “Temporary Filming” ( ‹‹‹ go back to "New Applications" page )

If you are a production company from out of town but will be filming temporarily in Vancouver, you will be required to complete and submit a Temporary Filming Business Licence Application Form (53kb) with payment of the appropriate fee ($88.00). This licence will permit you to take out electrical permits for filming. Each production will require a separate business licence and you must provide the production/project name, filming location(s) and filming start and end dates on your application. If at a later date, you wish to extend the filming dates beyond the end date as indicated on your issued licence, you will be required to apply for another business licence.

If you are a production company that is physically located in Vancouver, you will be required to complete and submit a General Business Licence Application Form (109kb) with payment of the appropriate fee ($50 new application fee plus $126.00 for the licence fee) for a Film Production Office. This is an annual business licence which will expire on December 31st of each year with no limit as to the number of productions filmed.

[top]