Chetwynd business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply
Do I need a business licence in Chetwynd, and how do I get one?
Short answer
Yes, anyone carrying on a business in Chetwynd needs a District business licence, including home based businesses. Most categories cost $100 a year. Complete the Schedule B application; licences run January 1 to December 31.
Key facts
| Who needs one | Anyone carrying on a business in the District, including home based businesses and peddlers. Soliciting sales or agreeing to provide a service also needs a licence. A business operating from more than one premises needs a separate licence for each.Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 906, 2009, consolidated, s. 4.1; Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 906, 2009, consolidated, s. 4.10.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingNo person shall carry on a business, including home based businesses and peddlers, within the municipality without having first obtained a valid The soliciting of sales of any article, commodity or thing, or any agreement for the provision of any service shall require a business licence the business carried on, in or from each premises shall be deemed to be a separate business and shall require a separate licence. |
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| Fee | Most categories are $100 a year (contractors, food, retail, home based, services, unclassified). Professional offices (accountants, lawyers, dentists, physicians) $144. Banks and finance companies $440; local producers and crafts $54; non-profits $10; pawnbrokers $1,000. Transfer $25. Rentals: $100 up to 15 rooms or pads, $11 each above, to $440.Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 906, 2009, consolidated, Schedule A · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingCategory 6 Home based Business $100.00 Bank $440.00 Local Producers $ 54.00 Non-Profit Organization $ 10.00 Every person requesting a transfer of business licence must pay a licence transfer fee of $25.00. $11.00 per unit applies with a maximum licence fee of $440.00. Category 12 Professional Offices Accountant $144.00 Category 11 Pawnbrokers $1,000.00 |
| How to apply | Complete the Schedule B application form, signed by the owner or authorized representative. The Bylaw Enforcement Officer grants the licence if satisfied the business complies with District bylaws, including building, zoning, health and sanitation (and fire services, on inspection). BizPaL, an online permit information service, is linked from the District's site.Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 906, 2009, consolidated, s. 4.5.1 and 3.2.2; Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 906, 2009, consolidated, s. 4.17.3; Starting a Business, BizPaL, BizPaL page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingEvery person applying for a business licence shall complete the application form attached as Schedule “B” to this bylaw. including without limitation bylaws regarding building, zoning, health, sanitation and business has complied with the bylaws of the municipality regulating building, fire services, zoning, health and safety, sanitation and business BizPaL is an online service that simplifies the business permit, licence and other compliance regulation process |
| Renewal | Licences run January 1 to December 31 each year and must be renewed annually by paying the fee before the licensing period begins. A business that starts after June 30 pays half the annual fee. Changed application details must be given to the District before renewal.Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 906, 2009, consolidated, s. 4.3 and 4.4 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordinglicences shall be granted for a one-year period, to commence on the first day of January and terminate on the 31st day of December in each and every year. Licence holders must renew their business licence annually by submitting the required business licence fee prior to the beginning of each licensing period. |
| Inter-community licence | Yes. The District took part in the 2017 Northeast BC inter-community (mobile) business licence. The add-on cost $130 then and covers Dawson Creek, Fort St. John, Chetwynd, Hudson's Hope, Tumbler Ridge and Pouce Coupe (Taylor to be added later).Inter-community business licence news release, 2017, Province news release hosted by the District, March 30, 2017; Bylaws, Bylaw library · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingThe Mobile Business Licence add-on in the northeast costs $130. can be used in City of Dawson Creek, City of Fort St. John, District of Chetwynd, Tumbler Ridge and Pouce Coupe. Inter-Community Business Licence Bylaw No. 1051, 2017 |
| Fine | Carrying on business without a licence: $50 ticket, increasing by the original amount for each continuing offence. Failure to renew a licence: $50, same increase. On conviction the bylaw allows up to $10,000 plus costs.Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 935, 2011, Appendix 2; Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 906, 2009, consolidated, s. 6.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingCarry on business without obtaining license 4.1.1 $ 50.00* Failure to renew license 4.4.1 $ 50.00* *Increase by original amount for each continuing offence be liable to a penalty not exceeding Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000) plus the costs of prosecution. |
| Bylaw | Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 906, 2009 (consolidated; amended by Bylaws 985, 2013 and 1084, 2018). Inter-Community Business Licence Bylaw No. 1051, 2017.Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 906, 2009, consolidated, Title page; Bylaws, Bylaw library · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingBUSINESS LICENSING AND REGULATION BYLAW NO. 906, 2009 Amending Bylaw No.: Date Adopted: 985, 2013 July 15, 2013 1084, 2018 November 19, 2018 Business Licensing & Regulation, Bylaw No. 906, 2009 |
How it works
The District of Chetwynd's Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 906 requires a licence for anyone carrying on a business in the District, including home based businesses and peddlers. Soliciting sales or agreeing to provide a service also needs one. A business operating from more than one premises needs a separate licence for each. Licences run January 1 to December 31 and are renewed annually by paying the fee before the licensing period begins.
Steps
- Complete the Schedule B application form, signed by the owner or an authorized representative.
- The Bylaw Enforcement Officer grants the licence if the business complies with District bylaws, including building, zoning, health and sanitation, and fire services on inspection.
- Pay the fee. The bylaw does not say where to hand in the form; phone 250-401-4100. BizPaL, an online permit information service, is linked from the District's site.
Good to know
- Fees (Schedule A): most categories are $100 a year (contractors, food, retail, home based, services, unclassified). Professional offices (accountants, lawyers, dentists, physicians) $144; banks and finance companies $440; local producers and crafts $54; non-profits $10; pawnbrokers $1,000. Transfer $25. Rentals: $100 up to 15 rooms or pads, $11 each above, to $440.
- A business that starts after June 30 pays 50% of the annual fee. Fees are non-refundable unless the application is withdrawn or refused.
- Tickets: carrying on business without a licence $50, and failing to renew $50, each increasing by the original amount for each continuing offence; false information on the application $100; failure to display the licence $50. Conviction can bring up to $10,000 plus costs.
- The District took part in a 2017 Northeast BC inter-community (mobile) business licence at $130 then, covering Dawson Creek, Fort St. John, Chetwynd, Hudson's Hope, Tumbler Ridge and Pouce Coupe. The bylaw is a scanned PDF we could not read, so confirm the current fee and towns with the District.
- Changed application details must be given to the District before renewal.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Hudson's Hope · Tumbler Ridge · Fort St. John · Taylor · Dawson Creek · Pouce Coupe
Business licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 906, 2009, consolidated (PDF), District of Chetwynd (read 2026-11-08)
- Starting a Business, BizPaL, District of Chetwynd (read 2026-11-08)
- Bylaws, District of Chetwynd (read 2026-11-08)
- Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 935, 2011 (PDF), District of Chetwynd (read 2026-11-08)
- Inter-community business licence news release, 2017 (PDF), District of Chetwynd (read 2026-11-08)
Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 7 of 7 facts was matched to the official text. How answers are checked.