Apply for a business licence

All businesses in Vancouver require a licence to operate. This makes sure every business location is safe and follows land-use requirements.

Business owners are required to get a business licence but not employees.

Steps to applying for a business licence

Track your application

Applied online? Log in to track your application

Manage your licence

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

Steps to applying for a business licence

Step 1: Follow the specific steps for your type of business
Type of businesses

Choose the type of business you're applying for to get specific steps on how to apply:
Some types of business aren't allowed in Vancouver, generally to protect human and animal rights. Review the Business Prohibition By-law (40 KB).

Other types of business

For all other types of commercial, industrial, home-based, and out-of-town businesses – as well as non-profit organizations and societies, continue with the steps on this page.

Commercial and industrial business

A commercial and industrial business is a business based within a building located in a commercial or industrial area of the City of Vancouver, as defined in our Zoning and Development By-law.

Home-based business

A home-based business is a business based in a dwelling located in a residential area in the City of Vancouver, as defined in our Zoning and Development By-law.

Out-of-town business

An out-of-town business is a business being carried on in the City of Vancouver, but with the business office located outside of Vancouver.
Step 2: Check if your business is allowed at your proposed location
A. Check the proposed location of your business

Before you lease or buy space for your business, check the proposed location with our Development and Building Services Centre.

Our Zoning and Development By-law and Building By-law set out land use and life safety requirements for where businesses are located and how businesses use a space.

B. Proposed location reviewed

Our Services Centre staff will review your proposed location based on our requirements. The location may be:
- Approved
- Require alterations that need a permit
- Require an inspection
- Not be approved
Step 3: Gather required documents
Documents to include in your application

Photo ID
- Business owner's current, government-issued photo ID
- If you apply on behalf of the owner:
  - Letter of authorization from the owner (download a Letter of Authorization Template (87 KB))
  - Your current government-issued photo ID
Registration documents for incorporated businesses
- If the business is incorporated in BC, but not registered with BC Corporate Registry:
  - BC Certificate of Incorporation
  - Notice of Articles that lists all current owners and directors
- If the business is incorporated outside of BC:
  - BC Statement of Registration (as an Extraprovincial Company)
  - Government-issued document that lists all current owners and directors
A federal certificate of incorporation issued by Industry Canada won't be accepted.
Step 4: Fill out the application form
Apply only once for each business to avoid delays.

Commercial, industrial, and out-of-town business

Apply online
Apply online and track your application progress or fill out the Application Form (242 KB) and mail the form and required documents to our mailing address.

If your business will have a cryptocurrency ATM, you need to declare on the application form that the ATM complies with FINTRAC regulations to protect customers against fraud.

Home-based business

Long-term rental

Non-profit organizations and societies

Fill out the Application Form (242 KB) and send the form and required documents:
- Through our contact us form, or
- To our mailing address
Step 5: Application reviewed
The time to process your application depends on:
- The time of year – we are busiest in fall and winter
- The reviews and approvals that your type of business needs, such as:
  - Building and zoning: Our Development and Building Services Centre staff will review your proposed business location based on land use and life safety requirements. The location may be approved, require alterations that need a permit, require an inspection, or not approved.
  - Health: Vancouver Coastal Health will inspect and review food-related businesses.
  - Police: We may require you to get a police information check (PIC) from the Vancouver Police .
  - Provincial certificate: We may require you to provide a copy of your qualification from an industry association.
We will contact you during our review if we need additional information and documents, and to update you about next steps.
Step 6: Pay fees
After we review your application, we will send you a bill to pay your fees.
- One-time application fee: $74 (non-refundable)
- Annual licence fee: The amount depends on the business type. To view the licence fees, review Schedule A of the Licence By-law (380 KB). The annual licence fee for the first year will be pro-rated based on the business start date.
Pay your bill

There are no taxes charged on fees. The bill includes your business licence account number and ways to pay.
Step 7: Business licenced issued

After we receive your payment, we will issue your business licence.

Late payments are charged a late payment fee of $45 or 10% of the licence fee, whichever amount is greater.

Yearly renewal

We will send you a reminder notice in November or December with information about how to renew. Set your own reminder to avoid a late payment fee.

Remember to renew it each year by December 31 for the following year. Your business licence is valid until December 31.

You will need to pay the annual licence fee by December 31 to renew your business licence for the following year.