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

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

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

**Short answer:** Yes, anyone carrying on a business in the District of Clearwater needs a licence. Most businesses pay $100 a year. Apply in person at 209 Dutch Lake Road or by email to admin@docbc.ca. A licence runs January 1 to December 31.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Clearwater, https://www.districtofclearwater.com)  
**Cost:** Most businesses (service category), home based, professional office, non-resident and bed and breakfast: $100 a year. Financial institution $200, liquor outlet $250, second hand dealer $200, cannabis retail or production $1,000. Halved after July 31.  
**How long:** Not stated.  
**Where:**
- In person: District of Clearwater office, 209 Dutch Lake Road, Clearwater, BC V0E 1N0 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.)
- Email: District of Clearwater office, admin@docbc.ca
- Phone: District of Clearwater office, 250-674-2257

## Key facts

- **Who needs one:** Anyone carrying on a business in the District. Not covered: registered societies and charities without regular commercial business, occasional non-profit fund-raising, residential rentals under the Residential Tenancy Act, farm businesses, government activity, and garage sales under four days a year.
  - Source: [Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 124, 2014 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw 224, 2019), ss. 3.1, 2.3](https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/56496/)
  - Official wording: "A person must not engage in or carry on a business within the District unless that" … "(c) rental of a single-family dwelling or duplex where the rental agreement is" … "(f) Garage or Yard Sales held less than four (4) days per year"
  - Source: [Business Licenses, District page](https://www.districtofclearwater.com/business-services/business-licenses/)
  - Official wording: "Any person owning or operating a business within the District of Clearwater must obtain an annual Business Licence"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fee:** Most businesses (service category) $100 a year; home based business $100; professional office $100; non-resident business $100; bed and breakfast $100; financial institution $200; liquor outlet $250; second hand dealer $200; cannabis retail or production $1,000. Halved after July 31.
  - Source: [Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 124, 2014 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw 224, 2019), Schedule A](https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/56496/)
  - Official wording: "1. SERVICE All businesses except those identified in $100.00" … "4. FINANCIAL Banks, Credit Unions, Trust Companies, $200.00" … "6. LIQUOR OUTLETS Pubs, Lounges, Cabarets, Liquor Stores, $250.00" … "12. CANNABIS RETAIL As defined in Section 2 (Bylaw No. 213, 2019) $1,000.00" … "by 50% for a person who obtains a Licence after July 31st in any year;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **How to apply:** Complete the Business Licence Application and return it, with fees, in person to 209 Dutch Lake Road or by email to admin@docbc.ca. The Licence Inspector may issue a licence when satisfied the business can operate safely and follow District bylaws.
  - Source: [Business Licenses, District page](https://www.districtofclearwater.com/business-services/business-licenses/)
  - Official wording: "To apply to a business licence, complete the Business Licence Application- return in person to 209 Dutch Lake Road or by email to Admin@docbc.ca."
  - Source: [Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 124, 2014 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw 224, 2019), s. 4.2](https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/56496/)
  - Official wording: "Licence on being satisfied that the Applicant can operate the business in a safe"
  - Source: [Business Licence Application, Application form, office-use section](https://www.districtofclearwater.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Business-Licence-Application-2025.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Building Inspector Approval" … "Is Proposed Business Use Permitted" … "Fire Inspection Required"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Renewal:** A licence runs January 1 to December 31. Renewal invoices are sent before the end of December; renew with the fee by January 31. After January 31 a late fee of $25 is added.
  - Source: [Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 124, 2014 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw 224, 2019), ss. 3.9, 5.1 to 5.3](https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/56496/)
  - Official wording: "Business Licences shall be deemed effective from January 1st to December 31st" … "submit to the District a renewal form/invoice together with the annual licence fee" … "a late payment fee of $25.00."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Inter-community licence:** Yes. The Inter-Community Business Licence (ICBL) for mobile businesses working in two or more partner communities costs $75 (Bylaw 267, from January 1, 2023). Partners may include Barriere, Chase, Kamloops, Lillooet, Logan Lake, Merritt and Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc. A primary licence in a partner community is required first.
  - Source: [Business Licenses, District page, Inter-Community Business Licence](https://www.districtofclearwater.com/business-services/business-licenses/)
  - Official wording: "Partnering communities may include Barriere, Chase, Kamloops, Lillooet, Logan Lake, Merritt, and" … "including cost ($75.00) and how to apply." … "An ICBL is a secondary business licence which means to apply for an ICBL you must first have a primary business licence in one of our partner communities."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fine:** Municipal ticket $100 ($75 if paid within 30 days) for carrying on a business without a licence. The same amounts apply to failing to renew a licence.
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 221, 2019 (PDF, consolidated to September 2024), Schedule 4; s. 3.1](https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/28332/)
  - Official wording: "Business carried on without Licence 3.1 100 75" … "Failure to renew Licence 3.2 100 75" … "the discounted fines pursuant to section 265(2) of the Community Charter for the"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** District of Clearwater Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 124, 2014
  - Source: [Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 124, 2014 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw 224, 2019), s. 1.1](https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/56496/)
  - Official wording: "District of Clearwater Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 124, 2014"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

Under the [Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 124](https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/56496/), anyone carrying on a business in the District must hold a licence. Not covered: registered societies and charities without regular commercial business, occasional non-profit fund-raising, residential rentals under the Residential Tenancy Act, farm businesses, government activity, and garage sales under four days a year.

Fees (Schedule A) are $100 a year for most businesses, home based businesses, professional offices, non-resident businesses and bed and breakfasts. A financial institution is $200, a liquor outlet $250, a second hand dealer $200, and cannabis retail or production $1,000. Fees are halved for a licence obtained after July 31. Lodging, special events and some other categories have other fees; ask the District.

A licence runs January 1 to December 31. It is tied to the business premises and is not transferable.

## Steps

1. Complete the Business Licence Application.
2. Return it with the fee in person to 209 Dutch Lake Road, or by email to admin@docbc.ca.
3. The Licence Inspector may issue the licence once satisfied the business can operate safely and follow District bylaws. The form's office-use box checks zoning, whether a building permit is needed and whether a fire inspection is needed.
4. To renew, pay by January 31. Renewal invoices are sent before the end of December. After January 31 a $25 late fee is added.

## Good to know

- **Inter-Community Business Licence (ICBL):** for mobile businesses working in two or more partner communities, $75 (Bylaw 267, from January 1, 2023). Partners may include Barriere, Chase, Kamloops, Lillooet, Logan Lake, Merritt and Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc. You need a primary licence in a partner community first.
- **Fine:** operating without a licence, or failing to renew, is a municipal ticket of $100 ($75 if paid within 30 days). Bylaw 124 also allows penalties under the Offence Act, with each day a separate offence.
- Bylaw 124 is consolidated only to 2019, so fees may have changed.

## Official forms and pages

- [Business Licence Application (PDF)](https://www.districtofclearwater.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Business-Licence-Application-2025.pdf)
- [Business Licenses, District of Clearwater](https://www.districtofclearwater.com/business-services/business-licenses/)
- [Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 124, 2014 (consolidated)](https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/56496/)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Business licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/business-licence.md)
- [Barriere](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/barriere/business-licence.md)
- [Sun Peaks](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sun-peaks/business-licence.md)
- [Chase](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chase/business-licence.md)
- [100 Mile House](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/100-mile-house/business-licence.md)
- [Kamloops](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kamloops/business-licence.md)
- [Sicamous](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sicamous/business-licence.md)

## Sources

- [Business Licenses, District of Clearwater](https://www.districtofclearwater.com/business-services/business-licenses/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 124, 2014 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw 224, 2019)](https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/56496/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Business Licence Application (PDF)](https://www.districtofclearwater.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Business-Licence-Application-2025.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 221, 2019 (PDF, consolidated to September 2024)](https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/28332/) (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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with District of Clearwater. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/clearwater/business-licence/_