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

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

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

Short answer

Yes. Every business in the City of Courtenay needs a City business licence unless exempt. Apply on the City's online form only; allow at least two to three weeks. You pay by invoice once approved and the licence is mailed. Licences run January 1 to December 31.

Key facts

Who needs one	Every business in Courtenay, whether permanent, mobile, home-based or non-resident, unless exempt. From Jan 1, 2027 exemptions include fundraising, societies, rentals over 90 days, garage sales and holders of a valid inter-community licence.Business Licence Bylaw, Intro; Business Licence Bylaw No. 2523 (consolidated October 24, 2025, PDF), s. 2.1; Business Licence Bylaw No. 3212, 2026, s. 4.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording All businesses — whether permanent, mobile, home-based or non-resident — must have a valid business licence before starting operations. No person shall carry on a business within the City without first: Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Bylaw, a Licence is not required for:
Fee	Until Dec 31, 2026 (Bylaw 2523): by business type, e.g. $100 for professional, business service and unclassified, $100 for retail under 4,000 sq. ft., $150 restaurant, $75 home occupation. From Jan 1, 2027 (Bylaw 3212): $50 application fee, then resident business $350 new or $250 renewal; non-resident $150.Business Licence Bylaw No. 2523 (consolidated October 24, 2025, PDF), Schedule A; Business Licence Bylaw No. 3212, 2026, Schedule A, Tables 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Business categories and annual licence fees payable: Restaurant .................................................................................................................$150.00 Professional ...............................................................................................................$100.00 Resident Business $350 $250 Non-Resident Business $150 $150 Non-Refundable Initial Licence Application Fee All Licence Types $50
How to apply	Apply on the City's online application form only (no email or other formats). Allow at least two to three weeks. After approval you get an invoice; the licence is mailed once paid. The City checks that zoning permits the business and that building, plumbing and fire permits and other bylaws are met.Business licences, Applying for a business licence; Business Licence Bylaw No. 3212, 2026, ss. 5.7, 11.2(a) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Submit your application using our online application form. We do not accept applications by email or in other formats. Allow a minimum of two to three weeks for processing, depending on the licence type and approvals needed. Once your application is approved, you will receive an invoice. including but not limited to building, plumbing and fire suppression prior to the the zoning of the Business Premises permits the proposed Business activity;
Renewal	Licences run January 1 to December 31. Renewal notices are mailed from November (mid-November 2026 for 2027). Bylaw 3212 (from Jan 1, 2027): renew and pay by January 31 or the licence is cancelled. Bylaw 2523 (to Dec 31, 2026): late fee of 25% of the annual fee after March 1 and 50% after June 1.Business licences, Renewing your business licence; Business Licence Bylaw No. 3212, 2026, ss. 9.3, 9.5; Business Licence Bylaw No. 2523 (consolidated October 24, 2025, PDF), ss. 3.3, 3.4 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Business licences are valid for the calendar year, from January 1 to December 31. Renewal notices are mailed to businesses with an active licence starting in November. Business licence renewal notices will be mailed in mid-November 2026. no later than the 31st January of the renewal year. by January 31st of the renewal year, the licence will be cancelled by the Licence Inspector. does not renew and pay for its licence prior to March 1st of each licence period does not renew and pay for their licence prior to June 1st of each licence period
Inter-community licence	Yes. The fee is $150, in addition to the municipal business licence, for businesses that go from client to client (such as contractors, trades, cleaning, pest control). It covers the participating municipalities: Campbell River, Courtenay, Duncan, Nanaimo, Parksville, Port Alberni, North Cowichan, Lantzville, Comox, Lake Cowichan, Ladysmith, Qualicum Beach and Cumberland.Sources differ: Conflict: the City's separate Inter-community business licence page says the yearly fee is $250; Bylaw No. 2769 s. 4(a) and the main Business licences page say $150. Bylaw followed. Its list of municipalities also omits Lantzville, which the bylaw names. Businesses with no physical location in a participating community must first get a standard licence from one of them.Inter-Community Business Licence Bylaw No. 2769, s. 4(a); definitions; Business licences, Inter-community business licence; Inter-community business licence, Inter-community page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording The fee for an Inter-Community Business Licence is $150 and shall be paid in full at the will be in addition to a Municipal Business Licence. City of Campbell River City of Courtenay City of Duncan City of Nanaimo District of Lantzville The annual fee for an inter-community business licence is $150 in addition to the Standard Business licence annual fee. This licence includes the following participating municipalities and the yearly fee is $250.00:
Fine	Bylaw notice (Bylaw 3185, written for Bylaw 2523 s. 2.1): no business licence $500 ($375 if paid within 14 days; $500 after 30 days). Not displaying the licence $100 ($75 early, $125 late). Not yet updated for Bylaw 3212 (from Jan 1, 2027).Municipal Enforcement Bylaw No. 3185, Appendix A, Business Licence Bylaw · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording No business licence 2.1 $500.00 $375.00 $500.00 Yes Fail to display licence 2.3 $100.00 $75.00 $125.00 Yes
Bylaw	Business Licence Bylaw No. 2523, 2008 (to December 31, 2026); Business Licence Bylaw No. 3212, 2026 (from January 1, 2027)Business Licence Bylaw No. 2523 (consolidated October 24, 2025, PDF), s. 1.1; Business Licence Bylaw No. 3212, 2026, ss. 1.1, 17.1, 18.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording This bylaw may be cited for all purposes as "Business Licence Bylaw No. 2523, 2008". This Bylaw shall be cited as “Business Licence Bylaw No. 3212, 2026”. This Bylaw comes into effect on January 1, 2027.

How it works

Courtenay has two business licence bylaws. Business Licence Bylaw No. 2523 applies until December 31, 2026; Business Licence Bylaw No. 3212 applies from January 1, 2027. Before applying, the City checks that zoning permits the business and that building, plumbing and fire permits and other bylaws are met.

Steps

Check your use is allowed on the property and get any building, plumbing or fire permits you need.
Fill in the online application. The City does not take email or other formats.
After approval you get an invoice; pay it. The licence is mailed once paid.
Renew: licences run January 1 to December 31, and renewal notices are mailed from November (mid-November 2026 for 2027). Under Bylaw 3212, renew and pay by January 31 or the licence is cancelled. Under Bylaw 2523, a late fee of 25% of the annual fee applies after March 1 and 50% after June 1.

Good to know

Fees depend on the principal use. Bylaw 3212 also sets separate fees for some types, such as financial institutions $1,500, nightclubs and pubs $1,000, short-term rental $300 and mobile food vending $250 (private) or $450 (City park).
Exemptions from January 1, 2027 include fundraising, societies, rentals over 90 days, garage sales and holders of a valid inter-community licence. Bylaw 2523 has no exemption list; each business needs its own licence.
Contractors and other businesses that go from client to client may need an inter-community licence, $150 on top of the municipal licence (Bylaw 2769). The City's inter-community page says $250; confirm with the City.
Closing a business: email businesslicence@courtenay.ca with the business name and closure date.
Fines (Bylaw 3185, written for Bylaw 2523): no licence is a $500 bylaw notice ($375 if paid within 14 days; $500 after 30 days); not displaying the licence is $100 ($75 early). Not yet updated for Bylaw 3212.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Comox · Cumberland · Powell River · Campbell River · Port Alberni · Qualicum Beach

Business licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

Business licences, City of Courtenay (read 2026-11-05)
Business Licence Bylaw No. 2523 (consolidated October 24, 2025, PDF), City of Courtenay (read 2026-11-05)
Business Licence Bylaw No. 3212, 2026 (PDF), City of Courtenay (read 2026-11-05)
Inter-Community Business Licence Bylaw No. 2769 (PDF), City of Courtenay (read 2026-11-05)
Inter-community business licence, City of Courtenay (read 2026-11-05)
Municipal Enforcement Bylaw No. 3185 (PDF), City of Courtenay (read 2026-11-05)
Business Licence Bylaw, City of Courtenay (read 2026-11-05)

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