---
title: "Armstrong business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply"
question: "Do I need a business licence in Armstrong, and how do I get one?"
place: Armstrong, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/armstrong
category: Starting and running a business
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of Armstrong
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/armstrong/business-licence/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/armstrong/business-licence.json"
---

# Armstrong business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply

**Question:** Do I need a business licence in Armstrong, and how do I get one?

**Short answer:** Yes. Under Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw 1845, every business in the City of Armstrong needs a City business licence, with a separate licence for each premises. Submit the Business Licence Application and fees to City Hall. Agricultural producers not involved in retail sales are exempt.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Armstrong, https://www.cityofarmstrong.bc.ca)  
**Cost:** New licence: $110 application fee (one time), $88 inspection fee, then $35 a year ($17.50 if the business starts after July 31). Renewals also pay a fire inspection fee of $50 (basic) or $225 (complex).  
**How long:** Licences run January 1 to December 31. The City's page and bylaw give no processing time.  
**Where:**
- In person: Armstrong City Hall, 3535 Bridge Street, Armstrong, BC V0E 1B0
- Phone: City Hall, 250-546-3023
- Email: City Hall, info@cityofarmstrong.bc.ca

## Key facts

- **Who needs one:** Every business entity that owns or operates a business in the City, with a separate licence for each premises. Exempt: agricultural producers not involved in retail sales. No licence for a delivery service that only unloads goods, or a passenger vehicle that only discharges passengers in the City.
  - Source: [Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 1845, 2019, s. 3, 4, 30(d), 30(f)](https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/126621)
  - Official wording: "Every business entity who owns or operates any business within the City will apply for," … "Agricultural producers not involved in retail sales are not required to obtain a business" … "no license is required for a delivery service that only unloads goods in the City."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fee:** New licence: $110 application (one-time), $88 inspection, then $35 a year; $17.50 if the business starts after July 31. Renewals also pay a fire inspection fee: $50 (basic) or $225 (complex). Special event $22 a day.
  - Source: [Rates, Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1916, 2023 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw 1947, 2026), Schedule 4 (Bylaw 1947, 2026)](https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/172744)
  - Official wording: "Application Fee (one-time for new applications) $ 110.00" … "Inspection Fee (new applications) $ 88.00" … "Annual Licence Fee $ 35.00" … "Prorated Licence Fee (new application after July 31) $ 17.50" … "Basic business – up to 30 minutes $ 50.00" … "Complex business – greater than 30 minutes $ 225.00" … "Special Event (per day) $ 22.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to apply:** Submit the completed Business Licence Application form and fees to City Hall. The application may be referred to Interior Health and to City departments for inspection and approval. The City recommends confirming zoning before leasing or buying property.
  - Source: [Business Licensing, Business licensing page](https://www.cityofarmstrong.bc.ca/business-licensing/)
  - Official wording: "To apply, submit a completed application form and applicable fees to City Hall." … "If you are opening a new business, it is recommended that you confirm zoning compliance before leasing or purchasing property."
  - Source: [Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 1845, 2019, s. 6, 7](https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/126621)
  - Official wording: "An application for a Business License will be referred to the local Health Authority" … "may be subject to inspections and approval by any City Department or Government Agency as"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Renewal:** Licences run January 1 to December 31 and must be renewed by March 1 each year. Notices are mailed in January. A 10% penalty may apply to late payments. If not renewed by September 1, the licence may be removed from the file and a new application is needed.
  - Source: [Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 1845, 2019, s. 3(b), 24, 27](https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/126621)
  - Official wording: "Business Licenses will be issued annually, to commence on the 1st day of January" … "Every Business will renew their Business License by March 1st of each year." … "Businesses that do not renew their business license by September 1st of each year may"
  - Source: [Business Licensing, Business licensing page](https://www.cityofarmstrong.bc.ca/business-licensing/)
  - Official wording: "Business Licence renewal notices are mailed in January and are due March 1 each year." … "A 10% penalty may apply to late payments."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Inter-community licence:** Yes, for mobile businesses that move from client to client in more than one participating municipality: $150 a year ($75 if started after July 31), in addition to any municipal licence. Participants include Vernon, Salmon Arm, Enderby, Lumby, Kelowna, Spallumcheen, Coldstream, Osoyoos and Oliver.
  - Source: [Inter-Community Business Licence Bylaw No. 1619, Inter-Community Business License Bylaw No. 1619, s. 10](https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/148236)
  - Official wording: "The fee for an Inter-Community Business License is $150.00 and shall be retained by the" … "Participating Municipality that issues the license." … "The fee may be prorated to $75.00 if the Business started after July 31st." … "more than one Participating Municipality but not from or in Premises in one or more" … "participating municipalities, and who provides the service or activity by moving from client to"
  - Source: [Inter-Community Business License – Participating Communities, Participating communities list](https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/193687)
  - Official wording: "• District of Peachland • City of Salmon Arm • City of Vernon • City of Enderby • Village of Lumby" … "• Town of Oliver • Town of Princeton • Township of Spallumcheen • Regional District of Central Okanagan" … "Inter-Community Business License - Participating Communities • Village of Keremeos • Town of Osoyoos • City of Revelstoke • District of Summerland"
  - Source: [Rates, Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1916, 2023 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw 1947, 2026), Schedule 4, item 4](https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/172744)
  - Official wording: "Annual Licence Fee - Intercommunity $ 150.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Operating without a business licence: $250 (Municipal ticket; same amount early or late). Other business licence offences, such as not posting the licence or not renewing by March 1: $100.
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw, Schedule 3](https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/165574)
  - Official wording: "Operating without a business license 3 (a), 23 $250.00 $250.00" … "Business license not posted 19 $100.00 $100.00" … "Failure to renew the business license by 24 $100.00 $100.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** City of Armstrong Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw Number 1845 (Bylaw No. 1845, 2019)
  - Source: [Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 1845, 2019, s. 1](https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/126621)
  - Official wording: "The City of Armstrong Business Licensing and Regulation" … "Bylaw Number 1845"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

[Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw 1845](https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/126621) requires a licence for every business entity that owns or operates a business in the City of Armstrong, with a separate licence for each premises. Agricultural producers not involved in retail sales are exempt. No licence is needed for a delivery service that only unloads goods, or a passenger vehicle that only discharges passengers in the City. Mobile vendors, special events and some others have extra requirements.

## Steps

1. Confirm zoning with Planning before leasing or buying property. The City recommends this.
2. Fill in the Business Licence Application.
3. Submit it with the fees to City Hall. The application may be referred to Interior Health and to City departments for inspection and approval.
4. Renew each year by March 1. Notices are mailed in January. Pay in person, by mail or through online banking (City of Armstrong - Utilities payee).

## Good to know

- Not-for-profit organizations may have fees waived. The application form shows $0 for them.
- Special event licence: $22 a day.
- A 10% penalty may apply to late renewal payments. If a licence is not renewed by September 1, it may be removed from the file and a new application is needed.
- Inter-community licence: for mobile businesses that move from client to client in more than one participating municipality. It costs $150 a year ($75 if started after July 31), on top of any municipal licence. A business with premises applies only to the municipality where it has premises, and still needs a municipal licence there.
- Operating without a licence is a $250 municipal ticket. Other licence offences, such as not posting the licence or not renewing by March 1, are $100.
- To cancel, send the Cancellation Request Form to City Hall.

## Official forms and pages

- [Business License Application (PDF)](https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/153733)
- [Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw 1845 (PDF)](https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/126621)
- [Business Licensing page](https://www.cityofarmstrong.bc.ca/business-licensing/)
- [Cancellation Request Form](https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/182425)

## Related questions

- [Armstrong home-based business rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/armstrong/home-based-business.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Business licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/business-licence.md)
- [Spallumcheen](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/spallumcheen/business-licence.md)
- [Enderby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/enderby/business-licence.md)
- [Vernon](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vernon/business-licence.md)
- [Coldstream](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coldstream/business-licence.md)
- [Lumby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lumby/business-licence.md)
- [Lake Country](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-country/business-licence.md)

## Sources

- [Business Licensing, City of Armstrong](https://www.cityofarmstrong.bc.ca/business-licensing/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 1845, 2019 (PDF), City of Armstrong](https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/126621) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Business License Application (PDF), City of Armstrong](https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/153733) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Rates, Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1916, 2023 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw 1947, 2026), City of Armstrong](https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/172744) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw (PDF), City of Armstrong](https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/165574) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Inter-Community Business Licence Bylaw No. 1619 (PDF), City of Armstrong](https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/148236) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Inter-Community Business License – Participating Communities (PDF), City of Armstrong](https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/193687) (read 2026-11-05)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 7 of 7 facts was matched to the official text. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Armstrong. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/armstrong/business-licence/_