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

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

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

**Short answer:** Yes. In Belcarra anyone carrying on a business needs a Village business licence, including contractors working two or more days. A home occupation licence is $100 a year. Mail or email the application form to the Village Office.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Village of Belcarra, https://belcarra.ca)  
**Cost:** Home occupation $100 a year. Non-resident tradesperson, contractor or unclassified $100; media service $205. Short-term rental or B&B $100. Special public event permit $350 a day. Half price after July 31.  
**How long:** Not stated.  
**Where:**
- In person: Municipal Hall, 4084 Bedwell Bay Road, Belcarra, BC V3H 4P8 (Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (closed statutory holidays).)
- Phone: Village Office, 604-937-4100
- Email: Village Office, belcarra@belcarra.ca

## Key facts

- **Who needs one:** Anyone carrying on a business in the Village (a commercial undertaking, or professional, personal or other services for gain or profit), including contractors working two or more days. Exempt: renting not more than 2 rooms, garage sales, craft fair handicraft sales, charity performances with all proceeds to charity, and some non-resident businesses.
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 227, 1995 (PDF, consolidated), ss. 1, 2(a), 3](https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2024/06/Bylaw-227-1995-Business-Licence-Consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "no person shall carry on within the Village, any business unless he/she is the holder of a valid and subsisting licence" … "means carrying on a commercial undertaking of any kind or nature or the providing of professional, personal or other services for the purpose of gain or profit, within the Village" … "for the business of letting or renting rooms where not more than 2 rooms are available for letting or renting" … "for a performance, concert, exhibition or entertainment the entire proceeds of which, above actual expenses, are devoted to a charitable purpose;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fee:** Home occupation (arts and crafts, professional services, tradesperson, food caterer, unclassified) $100 a year. Non-resident: tradesperson, contractor or unclassified $100; media service $205. Short-term rental or B&B $100. Special public event permit $350 a day. Half price after July 31.
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 517, 2018 (PDF, consolidated), Schedule 3](https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2026/07/Bylaw-517-2018-Fees-and-Charges-Bylaw-Consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Home Occupation Arts and Crafts $100.00" … "Media Service $205.00" … "Special Public Event Permit $350.00 per day" … "Note: Business Licence Fees are Pro Rated at 50% after July 31st"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **How to apply:** Fill in the Business Licence Application/Renewal form and mail it to the Village Office or email belcarra@belcarra.ca, paying the fee with the application. The Licence Inspector must be satisfied the premises do not breach any Village bylaw, and may ask for $2 million liability insurance and WorkSafeBC registration.
  - Source: [Business License Application or Renewal Form, Application form](https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2024/11/Business-License-Application-or-Renewal-Form-2024-fillable.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Mail to above address or email to belcarra@belcarra.ca"
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 227, 1995 (PDF, consolidated), ss. 2(b), 5, 6](https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2024/06/Bylaw-227-1995-Business-Licence-Consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Before any licence is issued, the Licence Inspector shall be satisfied that the premises for which the licence is sought does not violate the provisions of any pertinent bylaws of the Village." … "Every applicant for a licence shall pay to the Village, at the time of application, the proper licence fee" … "liability insurance coverage in the amount of two million dollars ($2,000,000.00)"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Renewal:** Licences run January 1 to December 31 and must be renewed before the start of each year. A business not operating in the Village before July 31 pays half the fee. Fees are not refundable.
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 227, 1995 (PDF, consolidated), ss. 2(a), 10](https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2024/06/Bylaw-227-1995-Business-Licence-Consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "licences shall be issued for a twelve month period to commence on the first day of January and to terminate on the thirty-first day of December in and every year" … "it shall be incumbent upon each person to renew such licence prior to the beginning of each licencing period"
  - 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:** Bylaw notice for carrying on business without a licence: $100, or $50 if paid within 14 days, or $150 if paid more than 28 days after receiving the notice. The municipal ticket schedule also lists "No Business Licence" at $100. On conviction the bylaw (s. 14.2) sets a fine of $2,500 to $50,000.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 520, 2018 (PDF, consolidated), Schedule A, Business License Bylaw No. 227](https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2024/09/Bylaw-520-2018-Bylaw-Notice-Enforcement-Bylaw-Consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "License Required $100.00 $50.00 $150.00"
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 256, Schedule 4](https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2019/05/vob-bylaw-256_municipal_ticketing.pdf)
  - Official wording: "No Business Licence 2(a) $100.00"
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 227, 1995 (PDF, consolidated), s. 14.2](https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2024/06/Bylaw-227-1995-Business-Licence-Consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "is liable, upon summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding $50,000 and not less than $2,500"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Village of Belcarra Business Licence Bylaw No. 227, 1995
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 227, 1995 (PDF, consolidated), title](https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2024/06/Bylaw-227-1995-Business-Licence-Consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Business Licence Bylaw No. 227, 1995"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

Under the Village of Belcarra's [Business Licence Bylaw No. 227, 1995](https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2024/06/Bylaw-227-1995-Business-Licence-Consolidated.pdf), no one may carry on a business in the Village without a valid licence. "Business" means a commercial undertaking, or professional, personal or other services for gain or profit, and it includes contractors working two or more days.

Exempt are renting not more than 2 rooms, garage sales, handicraft sales at craft fairs, charity performances with all proceeds to charity, and some non-resident businesses.

## Steps

1. Fill in the [Business License Application or Renewal form](https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2024/11/Business-License-Application-or-Renewal-Form-2024-fillable.pdf).
2. Mail it to the Village Office or email belcarra@belcarra.ca, and pay the fee with the application.
3. The Licence Inspector must be satisfied the premises do not breach any Village bylaw. The Village may ask for $2 million liability insurance and WorkSafeBC registration.

## Good to know

- Licences run January 1 to December 31 and must be renewed before the start of each year. A business not operating in the Village before July 31 pays half the fee. Fees are not refundable.
- Without a licence, a bylaw notice is $100 ($50 if paid within 14 days, $150 if paid more than 28 days after receiving the notice) and a municipal ticket is $100. On conviction the bylaw sets a fine of $2,500 to $50,000.
- Short-term rentals have their own rules (see short-term-rental).
- Contact: Village Office, 604-937-4100.

## Official forms and pages

- [Business License Application or Renewal Form (PDF)](https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2024/11/Business-License-Application-or-Renewal-Form-2024-fillable.pdf)
- [Business Licence Bylaw No. 227, 1995 (PDF)](https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2024/06/Bylaw-227-1995-Business-Licence-Consolidated.pdf)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Business licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/business-licence.md)
- [Port Moody](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-moody/business-licence.md)
- [Anmore](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/anmore/business-licence.md)
- [Coquitlam](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coquitlam/business-licence.md)
- [New Westminster](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/business-licence.md)
- [Burnaby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burnaby/business-licence.md)
- [Port Coquitlam](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-coquitlam/business-licence.md)

## Sources

- [Business Licence Bylaw No. 227, 1995 (PDF, consolidated), Village of Belcarra](https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2024/06/Bylaw-227-1995-Business-Licence-Consolidated.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 517, 2018 (PDF, consolidated), Village of Belcarra](https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2026/07/Bylaw-517-2018-Fees-and-Charges-Bylaw-Consolidated.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Business License Application or Renewal Form (PDF), Village of Belcarra](https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2024/11/Business-License-Application-or-Renewal-Form-2024-fillable.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 520, 2018 (PDF, consolidated), Village of Belcarra](https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2024/09/Bylaw-520-2018-Bylaw-Notice-Enforcement-Bylaw-Consolidated.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 256 (PDF), Village of Belcarra](https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2019/05/vob-bylaw-256_municipal_ticketing.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 7 facts was matched to the official text; 1 could not be confirmed. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with Village of Belcarra. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/business-licence/_