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Business licences

Processing of applications

Access to the Business Licence Office is by appointment only. Walk-in service and drop-in appointments are not available.

To help process your applications faster, we have moved to a digital approach for applications, enquiries, and payments.

  • Submit and renew your business licence online
  • Contact us online for customer enquiries

 We will contact you with questions or next steps once we have processed your request.

Get support for your local business

Any organization doing business in or from Vancouver must have a business licence.

Apply for and manage your business licence. Explore the types of businesses that require a business licence.

Find issued business licences in our Open Data Portal.

We're modernizing business licensing

Effective May 6, 2024: We are streamlining over 500 different licensing types to under 100. 

No action is required for businesses with existing licensing.

Your business licence will be:

  • Automatically transferred into the new licence type
  • Reflected on the 2025 licence

Find your existing business category and its corresponding new category on this list (240 KB)

Learn more about this change (496 KB)

Get a business licence

Find out how to apply for a business licence, additional requirements, and other approvals you might need.

Renew your licence

Your business licence expires on December 31 every year. Renew your business licence online, in person, or by mail.

Pay business licence fee

Pay the fee for a new business licence. You will need your account number to pay.

Manage your business licence account

Update your business licence account information, transfer your licence, get a copy of your licence, and close your account.

Types of businesses

Information about the types of business licences you can apply for in Vancouver.

Starting or expanding a small business

Key resources to to help you start or expand your business in Vancouver.

Operating a small business

Key resources to run your business smoothly and sustainably.

Contact the Licence Office

Contact us online

Location:
Appointment required
Development and Building Services Centre
Ground Floor
515 West 10th Avenue

Mailing address:
Revenue Services
PO Box 7878
Vancouver, BC V6B 4E2