---
title: "Ashcroft business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply"
question: "Do I need a business licence in Ashcroft, and how do I get one?"
place: Ashcroft, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/ashcroft
category: Starting and running a business
owner: municipal
owner_body: Village of Ashcroft
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ashcroft/business-licence/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ashcroft/business-licence.json"
---

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

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

**Short answer:** Yes. In Ashcroft anyone carrying on a business in the Village, including non-resident and mobile businesses, needs a Village business licence for each premises and each business. Fees are $60 to $400 a year by type, and a new business also pays a $50 fire inspection.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Village of Ashcroft, https://ashcroftbc.ca)  
**Cost:** Annual fee by type: retail or service and repair $60 (under 1,000 sq. ft.), $120 (1,001 to 2,500 sq. ft.), $200 (2,501 sq. ft. or more); restaurants $60 to $120 by seats; home occupation $60; contractors $120; professional $100; other $100. New business: $50 fire inspection.  
**How long:** Not stated. The licensing year is January 1 to December 31.  
**Where:**
- In person: Village Office, 601 Bancroft Street, Ashcroft, BC V0K 1A0 (Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.)
- Phone: Village Office, 250-453-9161
- Email: Village Office, admin@ashcroftbc.ca

## Key facts

- **Who needs one:** Anyone carrying on a business in the Village, including non-resident and mobile businesses, with a separate licence for each premises and each business. Exempt: yard or garage sales, fundraising by schools, churches or sports teams, government activity, charity performances, and certain non-resident delivery businesses.
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 850, 2022, s. 2.2-2.6](https://ashcroftbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Bylaw-No.-850-2022-Business-Licence-Bylaw-2022-Fillable.pdf)
  - Official wording: "The following types of businesses do not require a Licence:" … "yard or garage sales" … "A person who carries on the same business in or from more than one Premises in the Village must obtain and maintain separate Licences for each of the premises used in the business." … "A person shall not advertise, solicit or promote a business that is conducted within the Village without first obtaining a Licence for that business."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fee:** Annual fee by type: retail or service and repair $60 (under 1,000 sq. ft.), $120 (1,001 to 2,500 sq. ft.), $200 (2,501 sq. ft. or more); restaurants $60 to $120 by seats; home occupation $60; contractors $120; professional $100; other $100. A new business also pays a $50 fire inspection.
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 850, 2022, Schedule A](https://ashcroftbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Bylaw-No.-850-2022-Business-Licence-Bylaw-2022-Fillable.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Contractors - all types 120.00" … "Home Occupation 60.00" … "Retail Less than 1000 sq.ft. 60.00" … "Retail 1001 sq.ft. thru 2500 sq.ft. 120.00" … "Retail 2501 sq.ft. or more 200.00" … "Professional 100.00 N/A Public, Farmer or Flea Market 0.00" … "Fire Inspection Fee $50.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **How to apply:** Complete and sign the Village's Business Licence Application, submit it to the Village or the Licence Inspector, and pay the fee. The application needs a description of the business, name, addresses and floor area. The Licence Inspector must be satisfied the fee is paid, bylaws are met, and health or fire approvals are in place. A fire inspection is mandatory for new businesses.
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 850, 2022, s. 4.1, 4.2, 3.2, 2.7](https://ashcroftbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Bylaw-No.-850-2022-Business-Licence-Bylaw-2022-Fillable.pdf)
  - Official wording: "complete the application for a Licence provided by the Village;" … "submit the application to the Village or the Licence Inspector; and" … "floor area in square metres which is occupied by the business; and" … "Fire inspections are mandatory for every new business"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Renewal:** The licensing year is January 1 to December 31. Renewal fee is due before February 15, after which a $20 penalty applies. A new applicant after June 30 may pay 50% in the first year. A licence is not transferable to a new owner.
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 850, 2022, s. 5.5, 5.9, 5.14, 5.16, 5.18; Schedule A](https://ashcroftbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Bylaw-No.-850-2022-Business-Licence-Bylaw-2022-Fillable.pdf)
  - Official wording: "The licensing year shall be from January 1 to December 31" … "A Licence Holder must submit the applicable fee to the Licence Inspector prior to February 15 th." … "may pay a pro-rated Licence Fee of 50% in the first year of operation" … "Failure to pay the Licence Fee by February 15th $20.00" … "A Licence is not transferable to a new owner of an existing business."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Inter-community licence:** Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read.
- **Fine:** Not confirmed. Bylaw 850 makes a breach an offence but states no fine amount.
- **Bylaw:** Business Licence Bylaw No. 850, 2022
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 850, 2022, s. 7.6](https://ashcroftbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Bylaw-No.-850-2022-Business-Licence-Bylaw-2022-Fillable.pdf)
  - Official wording: "This bylaw may be cited as Village of Ashcroft Business Licence Bylaw No. 850, 2022."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

[Business Licence Bylaw No. 850](<https://ashcroftbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Bylaw-No.-850-2022-Business-Licence-Bylaw-2022-Fillable.pdf>) requires a licence for anyone carrying on a business in the Village, with a separate licence for each premises and each business. Exempt: yard or garage sales, fundraising by schools, churches or sports teams, government activity, charity performances, and certain non-resident delivery businesses.

## Steps

1. Complete and sign the Village's Business Licence Application (the form is in the bylaw PDF), giving a description of the business, your name, addresses and floor area.
2. Submit it to the Village or the Licence Inspector, and pay the fee. No online application was found.
3. The Licence Inspector must be satisfied that the fee is paid, bylaws are met, and any health or fire approvals are in place. A fire inspection ($50) is mandatory for new businesses.
4. Renew each year before February 15; after that a $20 penalty applies.

## Good to know

- Other Schedule A fees: apartment complex $60, auto dealers $200, financial institutions $400, mobile vending $100, non-profit society $0.
- A new applicant after June 30 may pay 50% in the first year.
- A licence is not transferable to a new owner.
- The bylaw makes a breach an offence, each day separate, but states no fine amount. Ask the Village office.

## Official forms and pages

- [Business Licence Bylaw No. 850, 2022, with application form (PDF)](https://ashcroftbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Bylaw-No.-850-2022-Business-Licence-Bylaw-2022-Fillable.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Ashcroft home-based business rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ashcroft/home-based-business.md)
- [Ashcroft short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ashcroft/short-term-rental.md)
- [Ashcroft zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ashcroft/zoning-lookup.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Business licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/business-licence.md)
- [Cache Creek](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cache-creek/business-licence.md)
- [Logan Lake](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/logan-lake/business-licence.md)
- [Lillooet](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lillooet/business-licence.md)
- [Lytton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lytton/business-licence.md)
- [Kamloops](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kamloops/business-licence.md)
- [Merritt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/merritt/business-licence.md)

## Sources

- [Business Licence Bylaw No. 850, 2022 (PDF)](https://ashcroftbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Bylaw-No.-850-2022-Business-Licence-Bylaw-2022-Fillable.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Contact, Village of Ashcroft](https://ashcroftbc.ca/governance/contact/) (read 2026-11-08)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 7 facts was matched to the official text; 2 could not be confirmed. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with Village of Ashcroft. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ashcroft/business-licence/_