Get a business licence

• General Business Licence PDF file (208 KB)
  For commercial, industrial, home-based, and out-of-town businesses.
• Rental Property Business Licences
  For renting out an apartment, duplex, multiple dwelling, one-family dwelling, pre-1956 dwelling, residential/commercial building, or secondary suite for short- and long-term periods.
• Soliciting for Charity Business Licence PDF file (41.81 KB)
  For societies wanting to solicit money for charity by phone, mail, or door-to-door.

Dance application forms

• Late Night Dance Licence PDF file (80 KB)
  For a dance or music event that occurs between 2am and 6am, but does not include an event taking place in a private residence.
• Teenage Dance Licence PDF file (54.04 KB)
  To host a graduation dance (no fees required).

Special events/filming

• Special Event Business Licence PDF file (136.22 KB)
  An exhibition, show, concert or sporting event to be held at BC Place, Rogers Arena, the Pacific National Exhibition, or the Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre.
• Special Event on Private Property Business Licence PDF file (265.36 KB)
  For an event that will take place on private property. If alcohol is being sold or served, a Special Occasion Licence from the Liquor Control & Licensing Branch is required (contact any Provincial Government liquor store).
• Electrical Work for Temporary Filming Business Licence PDF file (107 KB)
  For filming companies that want to hire an electrical contractor to do electrical work at the film location.

Vehicles for hire

• Limousine, taxi, or ride-hailing licence PDF file  (185 KB)
  If you want to operate a taxi, limousine or ride-hailing company to transport people or property in the City of Vancouver, complete this licence application.
• Vehicle for hire licence PDF file  (136.30 KB)
  If you want to operate a vehicle that others hire to transport people or property in the City of Vancouver, complete a vehicles for hire licence application.
• Vehicle for hire home-based office licence PDF file (44.89 KB)
  If your vehicle for hire office operates from your Vancouver home, complete the vehicle for hire home-based licence application.

You must include the following documents with your business licence application as a business owner, representative applying for the licence, or as a limited or incorporated busines. 

You might require other approvals before your business licence is approved:

Building and zoning approval

Before you purchase or sign a lease for your business location, check with the Development and Building Services Centre first to make sure that you will be able to conduct your type of business in those premises.

There are different requirements under the Zoning & Development Bylaw and the Building Bylaw for different uses. Each space in a building has its own specified approved use and sometimes the use of that space cannot be changed without an approval or a permit, or both.

Staff at the Development and Building Services Centre will review your proposed business location. Depending on the zoning, your business may or may not be permitted. Or your business may only be permitted after a development permit is obtained. A building permit or a special inspection may also be required.

Contact the Development and Building Services Centre about building and zoning at 604-873-7611.

Licence approvals

Before your business licence is issued, you may require other approvals from the Police, Fire, or Health Departments.

• Environmental Health: Any food-related businesses must have an inspection completed and approved by Vancouver Coastal Health.
• Fire: Some business licence categories will require certificates from the Vancouver Fire Department.
• Police: If police approval is required, you will need to go directly to the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) located at 2120 Cambie Street to apply for a Police Information Check (PIC). For more information on the VPD’s location, hours of operation, fees, how to apply and how long it will take, please visit the VPD’s website. For more information on business licence applications that may need police approval, please contact the Development and Building Services Centre.
• Province of BC: Some business licence categories will require certificates from the Province of BC.

Engineering approval

Businesses must have waste disposal set up for garbage, recycling, and green waste.

• Find a waste hauler
• Apply for a permit to have a dumpster on City property

All licences will expire each year on December 31. The annual fee in the first year will be pro-rated based on the business start date.

Business license fees are non-taxable.

How to pay

Pay for your business licence by:

• Cash
• Cheque or money order (made payable to the City of Vancouver)
• Debit card
• Credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express)

​ Credit card cheques are not accepted.

See when your queue number is called

Parking

• Free 2-hour parking
• West 10th Ave parking lot, between Cambie and Yukon

If all requirements and approval have been met, this is when you can expect to have your business licence issued:

 If you do not apply in person, we will send you an invoice for the licence fee. Your business licence will be processed after we receive payment for the licence fees.