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

Do I need a business licence in Chilliwack, and how do I get one?

Chilliwack, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

Short answer

Yes. Anyone carrying on a business in the City of Chilliwack needs a City business licence, which runs on the calendar year. Apply through the City's online application or by emailing a PDF form to blinfo@chilliwack.com; the City emails you to pay once the application is approved.

Key facts

Who needs one	Anyone carrying on a business in the City of Chilliwack. That includes advertising as open for business, dealing in, buying, selling, renting or displaying goods, rendering professional, personal, contractual or other services for gain or profit, letting more than two residential suites or units in one complex, and repairing or servicing others' automobiles or appliances. No licence is required for renting not more than two dwelling units, a farmer or orchardist selling unprocessed produce grown on their own land, door-to-door sale of Canadian newspapers, or teaching music, handicrafts or art as a home occupation to not more than one class of five students at one time.Business Licence Bylaw 1990, No. 1484 (PDF, consolidated December 6, 2022), ss. 4, 5(1), 6; Business Licences, City page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-05 Official wording no person shall carry on, within the City, any No licence is required for the business of renting dwelling units where not more not more than one class of five (3) renders or offers to render professional, personal, contractual, or other service to (4) lets for rent more than two residential suites or units in any one complex, or A Business Licence is required to operate a business within the City of Chilliwack.
Fee	Schedule A of Business Licence Bylaw 1484: $100 for mobile, non-resident or home occupation businesses; $100 plus $0.25 per m2 of gross floor area for other commercial (retail, personal service); $100 plus $0.10 per m2 for industrial; other types (restaurants, night clubs, cannabis retail, etc.) have their own fees. A business starting before June 30 pays the full annual fee; starting after June 30 pays half. A 3-month licence is 1/4 of the annual fee, a 1-month licence 1/10 and a 1-day licence $25.Business Licence Bylaw 1990, No. 1484 (PDF, consolidated December 6, 2022), Schedule A items 1, 9, 10, 13 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-05 Official wording Mobile, non-resident or home occupation Other Commercial (retail, personal service etc, $ 100.00 plus $0.25 per $ 100.00 plus $0.10 per Business starting after June 30 Business starting before June 30 annual fee Business starting after June 30 1/2 annual fee
How to apply	Apply or amend through the City's online business licence application portal. If the portal is not working, PDF forms can be emailed to blinfo@chilliwack.com. The application is reviewed by City departments (the application form lists Planning, Building, Fire and Engineering approvals); the property's zoning decides what businesses are permitted, and the Fire Department does the final review, with a fire inspection needed before most businesses can open or receive approval for a licence. The applicant is contacted by email to pay the fees once the application is reviewed and approved.Business Licences, City page; Fire Department business inspections, City Fire Dept page; Short-Term Rentals, City STR page; Business Licence Bylaw 1990, No. 1484 (PDF, consolidated December 6, 2022), s. 13(1) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-05 Official wording Apply for / Amend a Licence The applicant will be contacted via email to pay the fees once the application has been reviewed and approved. If the online application portal is not working, pdf application forms are available below. Completed application forms and all required documents can be submitted to blinfo@chilliwack.com. Web Map: check a property's zoning to review what businesses are permitted The City of Chilliwack Fire Department requires a fire inspection before most businesses can open or receive approval for a business licence. Applications can be submitted online, in person, or by mail. the applicant and the proposed business comply with all applicable bylaws
Renewal	Annual licences run January 1 to December 31 and must be renewed before the start of each licensing period. A $10 discount applies to an annual renewal paid or postmarked on or before December 15 of the preceding year. Pay online, by phone (604-792-2906) or in person; credit card payments carry a 2% service fee.Business Licence Bylaw 1990, No. 1484 (PDF, consolidated December 6, 2022), ss. 5(2), 29; Business Licences, City page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-05 Official wording shall renew such licence before the beginning of each licensing period the 1st day of January and terminate on the 31st day of December in each year $10.00 if payment is received by the City or postmarked on or before the 15th day of Licences are based on calendar year (not date of issuance). By phone: 604-792-2906 - Pay Online
Inter-community licence	Yes, the Inter-municipal Business Licence (IMBL), $250 in addition to the Chilliwack licence, for Mobile Businesses (construction trades and related professionals, maintenance and repair of land and buildings, and health care providers who only visit clients in their homes). It is applied for only in the municipality where the business has premises, is not pro-rated, and covers the participating municipalities that have adopted the bylaw: Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Delta, Hope, Kent, Langley (City and Township), Maple Ridge, Mission, Pitt Meadows, Surrey and Harrison Hot Springs (the City's form also lists Merritt, which the bylaw does not).Sources differ: Conflict: the City's IMBL form lists the City of Merritt among participating municipalities, but Bylaw 5347 (consolidated to December 2, 2025) does not list Merritt, so the value follows the bylaw. The fee is not pro-rated and the licence term matches the Chilliwack licence term (ss. 11, 15).Inter-municipal Business Licence Bylaw 2023, No. 5347, ss. 4, 10; Business Licences, City page; Inter-municipal business licence form, City form · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-05 Official wording City of Abbotsford Village of Harrison Hot Springs The Inter-municipal Business Licence fee is $250.00 and is payable to the Principal who only provides services by visiting clients in their homes from other than their “Participating Municipality” means those of the following municipalities that have adopted Municipality in which they maintain a Premises. Mobile businesses for construction, trades, and home health care services can apply for an IMBL City of Merritt INTER-MUNICIPAL BUSINESS LICENCE FEE: $250.00
Fine	$500 (early payment $490, late payment $510) for operating an unlicensed business, under Schedule A of the Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2018, No. 4573; the same $500 applies to operating contrary to law (s. 5(3)).Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, Schedule A, Schedule A, Bylaw 1484 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-05 Official wording Description Section Penalty ($) Penalty ($) Penalty ($) Available Operating Unlicensed Business 5(1) 500.00 490.00 510.00 Yes Operating contrary to law 5(3) 500.00 490.00 510.00 Yes
Bylaw	Business Licence Bylaw 1990, No. 1484 (with Schedule A fees); Inter-municipal Business Licence Bylaw 2023, No. 5347Business Licence Bylaw 1990, No. 1484 (PDF, consolidated December 6, 2022), s. 1; Inter-municipal Business Licence Bylaw 2023, No. 5347, s. 2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-05 Official wording "Business Licence Bylaw 1990, No. 1484" “Inter-municipal Business Licence Bylaw 2023, No. 5347”

How it works

Under the Business Licence Bylaw 1990, No. 1484, you carry on a business if you advertise as open, deal in, buy, sell, rent or display goods, offer services for gain, rent out more than two residential units in one complex, or repair others' cars or appliances. Each premises needs its own licence. Your use must also fit the property's zoning, which you can check on the City's online map.

Steps

Register your business name first if you need to (see the register-business-name answer).
Apply online or email the matching PDF form to blinfo@chilliwack.com.
The City reviews the application with other departments (planning, building, fire and engineering). Most businesses need a fire inspection first, and the Fire Department does the final review.
When approved, the City emails you to pay. Pay online, by phone or at City Hall.
Post the licence in a visible place at your premises. Non-resident businesses carry it with them.

Good to know

Fees: a business starting before June 30 pays the full annual fee; after June 30, half. A 1-day licence is $25.
Exempt: renting out two or fewer dwelling units, a farmer or orchardist selling unprocessed produce grown on their own land, door-to-door sale of Canadian newspapers, and teaching music, handicrafts or art at home to one class of five students or fewer.
Renewal: annual licences run January 1 to December 31. Renewals paid or postmarked on or before December 15 get a $10 discount.
Credit card payments (Mastercard or Visa, not AMEX) carry a 2% service fee.
If you stop operating before June 30, you can get half the annual fee back.
A change of address needs a transfer application; so does a change of ownership (within 60 days).
Mobile businesses (construction trades, building and land maintenance, home-visit health care) working in other cities can add an Inter-municipal Business Licence for $250, on top of the Chilliwack licence. It is not pro-rated and covers the cities that have adopted the bylaw, such as Abbotsford, Delta, Langley, Mission and Surrey. The City's form also lists Merritt, but the bylaw does not, so confirm with the Business Licence Office.
Operating without a licence is a $500 ticket (early payment $490, late payment $510).

What you'll need

Business name, owner name and contact information, business address, and gross floor area of the space
Proof of approvals from other agencies when the City asks (for example Fraser Health for food)
For cannabis retail, proof of ownership or a lease of the premises

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Harrison Hot Springs · Kent · Abbotsford · Mission · Hope · Township of Langley

Business licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

Business Licences, City of Chilliwack (read 2026-11-05)
Business Licence Bylaw 1990, No. 1484 (PDF, consolidated December 6, 2022) (read 2026-11-05)
Inter-municipal Business Licence Bylaw 2023, No. 5347 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
Inter-municipal business licence form (PDF), City of Chilliwack (read 2026-11-05)
Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, Schedule A (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
Fire Department business inspections, City of Chilliwack (read 2026-11-05)
Short-Term Rentals, City of Chilliwack (read 2026-11-05)

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