Applying online is easy and takes less than 10 minutes. Before you start, review the fees and what to have ready.
Do you operate a short-term rental?
Effective September 1, 2018, all short-term rental operators in Vancouver must have a business licence and include their licence number in all online listings and advertising, or they may be subject to fines up to $1,000 per offence.
Fees and how to pay
Businesses, societies, and commercial operations are ineligible to operate a short-term rental and should not apply for a short-term rental business licence.
Application fee for new business licence
- $58
- Non-refundable fee
Licence fee
- $51
- Annual fee
- Licence expires each year on December 31
- Fee is prorated in your first year based on when you start business
For the official fees, refer to the Business Licence Fees in Schedules A and B of the License Bylaw 
(380 KB).
How to pay
Credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express)
What to have ready
- Your contact information
- Credit card
Unable to apply online?
Apply in-person at the Development and Building Services Centre using the address below.
Contact us about business licences
Location and mailing address
Development and Building Services Centre
Ground floor
515 West 10th Avenue
Vancouver, BC V5Z 4A8
Phone
3-1-1
(604-873-7000 outside Vancouver)
Hours
Monday, Wednesday, Friday
8:30am to 4:30pm
Tuesday, Thursday
8:30am to 4:00pm
See when your queue number is called
Free 2-hour parking
West 10th Ave parking lot,
between Cambie and Yukon
