Castlegar business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply
Do I need a business licence in Castlegar, and how do I get one?
Short answer
Yes. Every person who owns or operates a business in Castlegar needs a City licence for each business and each premises, including home-based businesses and mobile vendors. Apply in person at City Hall or by email to Development Services at devserv@castlegar.ca. Fees depend on the type of business.
Key facts
| Who needs one | Every person who owns or operates a business in Castlegar needs a licence for each business and each premises, including home-based businesses, mobile vendors and outside businesses working in the City on occasion. Exempt (s. 3.6): non-commercial societies and charities, occasional non-profit fund-raising, tenancy-act rentals, and government activity.Business Licencing Bylaw 1337 (consolidated March 2024, PDF), s. 3.1, 3.2; Business Licence Guide; Business Licencing Bylaw 1337 (consolidated March 2024, PDF), s. 3.6 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingEvery person who owns or operated a business within the City of Castlegar shall Every person who operates a business at more than one premises, shall obtain a a society registered in British Columbia or Canada or a registered charitable rental of a dwelling unit where the rental agreement is subject to the This includes businesses that are located a society registered in British Columbia or Canada or a registered charitable rental of a dwelling unit where the rental agreement is subject to the |
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| Fee | Set by Schedule A of Bylaw 1337 by type of business. Examples: contractors $100; home occupations $100; commercial retail under 6,000 sq ft $150; professional (one person) $150; accommodation 0-5 rooms $100; mobile vendor seasonal or annual $250. Applications from July 1 pay 50%.Business Licencing Bylaw 1337 (consolidated March 2024, PDF), Schedule A; Business Licencing Bylaw 1337 (consolidated March 2024, PDF), s. 6.5 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wording$100 CONTRACTORS $100 HOME OCCUPATIONS $150 COMMERCIAL RETAIL (UNDER 6,000 SQUARE FEET) $250 MOBILE FOOD OR RETAIL VENDORS (SEASONAL OR ANNUAL) Licence applications received on or after July 1st, will be subject to a fifty (50) percent |
| How to apply | Submit the application and fee in person at City Hall or by email to devserv@castlegar.ca. Staff review it against the Zoning, Sign and Building bylaws; a fire inspection or other inspection may be required before the licence issues.Business Licence Guide, How do I Submit an Application?; Business Licence Guide, Step 3 and Step 4; Apply for a Business Licence, Business Licence Fire Inspections · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingdevserv@castlegar.ca. Business licence fees can be paid in person at City Hall or virtually through the compliance with applicable regulations such as the City’s Zoning Bylaw, Sign Bylaw and Building An Inspection may be required prior to a licence being issued. The Castlegar Fire Department is dedicated to improving the overall safety of businesses within our |
| Renewal | A licence runs January 1 to December 31. Renewal invoices are mailed at the end of December and are due January 31; a $50 penalty applies after that.Business Licencing Bylaw 1337 (consolidated March 2024, PDF), s. 5.1, 6.6; Apply for a Business Licence, Business Licence Renewal · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingto commence January 1st and to terminate on December 31, on each and every year. shall be subject to a penalty fee of fifty (50) dollars. City of Castlegar Business Licence renewal invoices are mailed out at the end of December each year. |
| Inter-community licence | Yes. The Inter-Community Business Licence costs $100, on top of the regular Castlegar licence fee. It lets mobile businesses (trades, cleaning, pest control and similar) work in other participating communities without a standard licence there. It is not available for taxis, mobile food vendors or similar excluded businesses.Inter-Community Business Licence Bylaw 1246 (consolidated, PDF), s. 4; Inter-Community Business Licence Bylaw 1246 (consolidated, PDF), s. 2 and Schedule A; Apply for a Business Licence · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThe fee for an Inter-Community Business Licence is $100.00 and shall be paid in The fee for an Inter-Community Business Licence is separate and additional to any more than one Participating Government by moving from client to client rather than having Mobile food vendors, fruit stands, flea markets, trade shows or other similar Businesses. The city is a member of the West Kootenay Inter-Community Business Licensing program |
| Fine | Municipal ticket for operating without a business licence: $200, or $100 if paid within 30 days. On conviction in court: $100 to $2,000.Municipal Ticketing Bylaw 1179 (consolidated, PDF), Schedule B-3, s. 3.1; Business Licencing Bylaw 1337 (consolidated March 2024, PDF), s. 15.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingNo business licence $200 $100 conviction thereof, be liable to a penalty of not less than $100.00 (one hundred |
| Bylaw | Business Licencing Bylaw No. 1337, 2020Business Licencing Bylaw 1337 (consolidated March 2024, PDF), s. 1.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThis Bylaw may be cited for all purposes as ‘Business Licencing Bylaw No. 1337, 2020’. |
How it works
Under Business Licencing Bylaw 1337, every person who owns or operates a business in Castlegar needs a licence for each business and each premises. This includes home-based businesses, mobile vendors and outside businesses that work in the City on occasion.
Not covered (s. 3.6): non-commercial societies and charities, occasional non-profit fund-raising, rentals under the Residential Tenancy Act, and government activity. These exemptions apply only to non-commercial or occasional activity.
Steps
- Check your zoning (see zoning-lookup) and fill in the Business Licence Application.
- Submit the application and fee in person at City Hall or by email to devserv@castlegar.ca. Fees are paid at application and are not refundable.
- Staff review it against the Zoning, Sign and Building bylaws. A fire inspection or other inspection may be required before the licence is issued.
- Renew each year. A licence runs January 1 to December 31. Renewal invoices are mailed at the end of December and are due January 31, with a $50 penalty after that. You can pay online by credit card, through online banking, by cheque, or at City Hall.
Good to know
- Fees are set by type of business in Schedule A of Bylaw 1337. An application received on or after July 1 gets a half-year licence ending December 31 at 50% of the fee.
- Mobile businesses working in several communities can buy an Inter-Community Business Licence for $100, in addition to the regular Castlegar fee. It is not available for taxis, mobile food vendors or similar excluded businesses. Bylaw 1246 and the City page do not name the participating communities, so ask Development Services.
- Operating without a licence brings a municipal ticket of $200, or $100 if paid within 30 days. Carrying on business from more than one location, or giving false information on the application, is $200 ($100 within 30 days). Business while a licence is suspended is $400 ($200 within 30 days). On conviction in court the fine is $100 to $2,000.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Fruitvale · Trail · Warfield · Rossland · Nelson · Salmo
Business licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Apply for a Business Licence, City of Castlegar (read 2026-11-05)
- Business Licencing Bylaw 1337 (consolidated March 2024, PDF), City of Castlegar (read 2026-11-05)
- Business Licence Guide (PDF), City of Castlegar (read 2026-11-05)
- Inter-Community Business Licence Bylaw 1246 (consolidated, PDF), City of Castlegar (read 2026-11-05)
- Municipal Ticketing Bylaw 1179 (consolidated, PDF), City of Castlegar (read 2026-11-05)
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