---
title: "Central Saanich business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply"
question: "Do I need a business licence in Central Saanich, and how do I get one?"
place: Central Saanich, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/central-saanich
category: Starting and running a business
owner: municipal
owner_body: District of Central Saanich
sources_read: 2026-11-06
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/business-licence/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/business-licence.json"
---

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

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

**Short answer:** In Central Saanich every business operating in the District needs a business licence, including home businesses. New licences cost $25 to $200 depending on type. Renewal is free but you must submit the renewal form. Licences run January 1 to December 31.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Central Saanich, https://www.centralsaanich.ca)  
**Cost:** New application: Home Based $50; Small Commercial (up to 464.5 m²) $100; Large Commercial (over 464.5 m²) $200; Farm Based $25; Daily $35; Non-Resident $100; Intermunicipal $100; Inter-Community $170. Half rate if issued after July 31. Renewal is free.  
**How long:** Not stated.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Business licence help, 250-544-4206
- In person: Municipal Hall, 1903 Mount Newton Cross Road, Saanichton, BC V8M 2A9 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)

## Key facts

- **Who needs one:** All businesses operating, working, providing or selling a product or service in Central Saanich, including retail, commercial, industrial, professional firms and home businesses. Not needed for: renting up to two bedrooms, farm wholesale and farm stands, garage sales (up to 6 days a year), government, and charities.
  - Source: [Business Licence, Business Licence; Who requires a Business Licence](https://www.centralsaanich.ca/business-licence)
  - Official wording: "All businesses in Central Saanich must obtain a Business Licence and prominently display it in their place of business." … "All businesses operating, working, providing or selling a product or service in the District of Central Saanich shall be in possession of a valid business licence"
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 2166, s. 5](https://www.centralsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-04/2166%20Business%20License%20Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "for the letting or renting of a bedroom in a dwelling unit where not more than two bedrooms are available for letting or renting;" … "for a garage sale, which is conducted on a person's own residential property, except where garage sales are conducted on that property more than six (6) days per calendar year;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fee:** New application fee: Home Based $50; Small Commercial (up to 464.5 m²) $100; Large Commercial (over 464.5 m²) $200; Farm Based $25; Daily $35; Non-Resident $100; Intermunicipal $100; Inter-Community $170. Half-year rate if issued after July 31. Renewal is free.
  - Source: [Business Licence, Annual Licence Fees](https://www.centralsaanich.ca/business-licence)
  - Official wording: "| Home Based | $ 50 | $50" … "| Small Commercial * | $100 | $100" … "| Large Commercial ** | $200 | $200" … "| Farm Based | $25 | $25" … "| Daily | $ 35 |" … "| Inter-Community | $170 | $170" … "If your licence is issued after July 31, the invoice will be a half-year rate only"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to apply:** Submit the application form to Municipal Hall or online. Staff review zoning, the building file and possibly a site inspection. An invoice is mailed; pay by online banking, mail, drop box or in person. The licence is mailed after payment. None is issued for a property with bylaw infractions.
  - Source: [Business Licence, Applying for a new business licence](https://www.centralsaanich.ca/business-licence)
  - Official wording: "Submit a completed application form to the Municipal Hall or fill out an online application." … "Staff will complete the review process; including zoning analysis, building file review and possible site inspection." … "Once paid, the business licence will be mailed out." … "Please note that a business licence will not be issued for a property where bylaw infractions exist, including an unauthorized secondary suite."
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 2166, s. 7(a)](https://www.centralsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-04/2166%20Business%20License%20Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Every application for an initial license for a commercial business shall include a detailed floor plan of the premises"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Renewal:** Licences run January 1 to December 31. Renewal notices are mailed late November or early December. Renewal is free but the renewal form must be submitted. After 60 days past expiry a late renewal fee applies: Home Based $50, Small Commercial $100, Large Commercial $200, Farm Based $25.
  - Source: [Business Licence, Business Licence Renewals; Licence Info and Conditions](https://www.centralsaanich.ca/business-licence)
  - Official wording: "Annual licences are issued for a calendar year (Jan 1 - Dec 31)" … "There is no charge for annual renewals, however you must submit your renewal application on this form." … "Where a licence for a business is not renewed within 60 days after its expiry date, the holder of the licence shall pay a late renewal fee." … "| Home Based | $ 50 | $50" … "| Small Commercial * | $100 | $100" … "| Large Commercial ** | $200 | $200" … "| Farm Based | $25 | $25"
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 2166, s. 9](https://www.centralsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-04/2166%20Business%20License%20Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Licenses issued hereunder shall be annual Licenses for the period January 1st to December 31st"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Inter-community licence:** Yes. Intermunicipal ($100) and Inter-Community ($170) licences cover work in participating municipalities. Commercial businesses based here that work elsewhere need the commercial licence plus an intermunicipal or intercommunity one. At least 12 Vancouver Island municipalities are in the Intercommunity agreement; none are named.
  - Source: [Business Licence, Business Licence Types](https://www.centralsaanich.ca/business-licence)
  - Official wording: "Inter-Community - A business licence to carry on business within the boundaries of any participating municipality, and issued pursuant to the Intercommunity Business Licence Agreement (ICBL)." … "| Inter-Community | $170 | $170" … "| Intermunicipal | $100 | $100" … "There are at least 12 municipalities on Vancouver Island that are part of this agreement."
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 2166, s. 7(b)](https://www.centralsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-04/2166%20Business%20License%20Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "shall be treated as an application for an Intermunicipal License"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Breach of the bylaw: court fine of $100 to $10,000 on summary conviction, each day a separate offence. It may also be enforced by ticket; the ticket amount was not found.
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 2166, s. 13](https://www.centralsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-04/2166%20Business%20License%20Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "liable on summary conviction to a fine of not less than $100.00 and not more than $10,000.00" … "This Bylaw may be enforced by means of a ticket in the form prescribed for the purpose of s. 264 of the Community Charter."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Central Saanich Business License Bylaw No. 2166
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 2166, s. 1](https://www.centralsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-04/2166%20Business%20License%20Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Central Saanich Business License Bylaw No. 2166"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under the [Business Licence Bylaw No. 2166](https://www.centralsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-04/2166%20Business%20License%20Bylaw.pdf), you need a licence to operate, work, or provide or sell a product or service in Central Saanich. That includes retail, commercial, industrial, professional firms and home businesses. Businesses based elsewhere that work in the District also need one. You need a separate licence for each premises.

No licence is needed to rent up to two bedrooms, for farm wholesale and farm stands, for garage sales (up to 6 days a year), or for government and charities.

## Steps

1. Submit the application form to Municipal Hall or online. Staff review zoning and the building file, and may do a site inspection.
2. Pay the invoice that is mailed to you, by online banking, mail, drop box or in person. The licence is mailed after payment.
3. Renew each year. Renewal notices are mailed in late November or early December. Renewal is free but the renewal form must be submitted. The page describes it as an online form; phone 250-544-4206 for help.
4. After 60 days past expiry, a late renewal fee applies: Home Based $50, Small Commercial $100, Large Commercial $200, Farm Based $25.

## Good to know

- No licence is issued for a property with bylaw infractions, including an unauthorized secondary suite.
- Intermunicipal ($100) and Inter-Community ($170) licences cover work in participating municipalities. A commercial business based here that works elsewhere needs the commercial licence plus one of these. At least 12 Vancouver Island municipalities take part; the District does not name them on the page we read.
- Breaking the bylaw can bring a court fine of $100 to $10,000, with each day a separate offence. It may also be enforced by ticket, but we could not find the ticket amount.

## Official forms and pages

- [Business Licence, District of Central Saanich](https://www.centralsaanich.ca/business-licence)
- [Business Licence Bylaw No. 2166 (PDF)](https://www.centralsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-04/2166%20Business%20License%20Bylaw.pdf)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Business licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/business-licence.md)
- [Sidney](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sidney/business-licence.md)
- [North Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/business-licence.md)
- [Highlands](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/business-licence.md)
- [Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/business-licence.md)
- [View Royal](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/business-licence.md)
- [Esquimalt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/business-licence.md)

## Sources

- [Business Licence, District of Central Saanich](https://www.centralsaanich.ca/business-licence) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Business Licence Bylaw No. 2166 (PDF)](https://www.centralsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-04/2166%20Business%20License%20Bylaw.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)

_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 District of Central Saanich. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/business-licence/_