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

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

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

**Short answer:** Yes. In Creston anyone starting, expanding or relocating a business needs a Town business licence. Annual fees start at $50 (non-profit) and $70 (home occupation). Apply at Town Hall or email the form; zoning must permit the business.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Town of Creston, https://www.creston.ca)  
**Cost:** Annual base fee: home occupation $70; non-profit $50; commercial $120 to $190; industrial $470 to $570; short-term rental $520.  
**How long:** Licences run January 1 to December 31. The Town states no processing time; all departments must approve.  
**Where:**
- In person: Town Hall, 238 - 10th Ave. N., Creston, BC (Pay in person Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
- Phone: Business Licences (Town Hall), 250-428-2214 ext. 410
- Email: Town Hall, info@creston.ca
- Online: Business Licences page, https://www.creston.ca/business-licences

## Key facts

- **Who needs one:** Any person starting a business, or expanding or relocating an existing one, in Town, including home occupations and short-term rentals. Renting out dwelling units counts as a business at four or more units on the owner's principal-residence property, or two or more units elsewhere.
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 1793, 2017 (PDF, consolidated to December 2, 2025), Part 2 definition of Business; Part 5 s. 1](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2025-12/Business%20Licence-1793_0.pdf)
  - Official wording: "No person shall carry on any business within the municipality unless they are the holder of either:" … "four or more dwelling units or manufactured home pads are located on the same property as the owner’s principal residence;" … "two or more dwelling units or manufactured home pads are located on any other property;"
  - Source: [Business Licences, Business Licences page](https://www.creston.ca/business-licences)
  - Official wording: "Any person wishing to start a business, or to expand or relocate an existing business within the Town of Creston must obtain a business licence."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fee:** Annual base fee by class: home occupation $70; non-location-based $70; non-profit $50; commercial small $120, mid-size $160, large $190; industrial $470 to $570; short-term rental $520. Some businesses add Schedule 4B fees.
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1763 (PDF, consolidated to May 12, 2026), Schedule 4A](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/Fees%20and%20Charges-1763.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Home Occupation $70.00" … "Non-location based businesses $70.00" … "Non-profit $50.00" … "Commercial - small $120.00" … "Commercial - mid size $160.00" … "Commercial - large $190.00" … "Industrial - small $470.00" … "Industrial - large $570.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to apply:** Apply at Town Hall, or fill in the application form and email it in. Talk first with zoning, building and health staff, then the Fire Department; the licence is not granted until all departments approve. No licence is issued unless zoning permits the business.
  - Source: [Business Licences, Business Licences page](https://www.creston.ca/business-licences)
  - Official wording: "You can apply for your business licence at Town Hall." … "The application form is available at Town Hall to be filled out in person or online where it can be emailed in." … "Generally, a licence will not be granted until approval has been given by all departments involved" … "The next step will be to see the Fire Department to ensure that intended operations can be carried out at the proposed address."
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 1793, 2017 (PDF, consolidated to December 2, 2025), Part 5 s. 11](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2025-12/Business%20Licence-1793_0.pdf)
  - Official wording: "No licence shall be issued to a person unless the zoning of the location of the business permits such business."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Renewal:** Licences run January 1 to December 31. A renewal notice is sent beforehand; the renewal deadline is January 31 (a $20 discount applies if paid by then).
  - Source: [Business Licences, Business Licences page](https://www.creston.ca/business-licences)
  - Official wording: "Business licences are valid from January 1 to December 31 each year." … "The annual renewal deadline is January 31."
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1763 (PDF, consolidated to May 12, 2026), Schedule 4A](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/Fees%20and%20Charges-1763.pdf)
  - Official wording: "A $20.00 discount will be applied to all Business Licence RENEWALS where payment is"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Inter-community licence:** Yes, for mobile businesses: the West Kootenay Inter-Community Business Licence covers Creston, Castlegar, Grand Forks, Nelson, Kaslo, New Denver, Rossland, Salmo, Slocan and Silverton. Fee $100, separate from and additional to any business licence fee required.
  - Source: [Business Licences, Business Licences page](https://www.creston.ca/business-licences)
  - Official wording: "The Town of Creston participates in the West Kootenay Inter-Community Business License Program (ICBL)" … "Village of Silverton"
  - Source: [Inter-Community Business Licence Bylaw No. 1890, 2019, Part 5 s. 5.1, 5.2](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2023-07/Inter-Community%20Business%20Licence-1890.pdf)
  - Official wording: "The Fee for an Inter-Community Business Licence is $100.00" … "is separate and additional to any"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** No business licence: $100 bylaw notice ($50 if paid early, $125 late). A court conviction can bring $2,500 to $10,000, and each day is a separate offence.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1760, Schedule A, Business Licence Bylaw No. 1793 s. 5.1](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2026-04/Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement.pdf)
  - Official wording: "1793 5.1 No Business Licence. $100.00 $50.00 $125.00"
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 1793, 2017 (PDF, consolidated to December 2, 2025), Part 8 s. 1](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2025-12/Business%20Licence-1793_0.pdf)
  - Official wording: "to a fine not exceeding Ten Thousand ($10,000.00) Dollars and not less than Two Thousand Five Hundred ($2,500.00) Dollars"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Business Licence Bylaw No. 1793, 2017
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 1793, 2017 (PDF, consolidated to December 2, 2025), Part 1](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2025-12/Business%20Licence-1793_0.pdf)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw may be cited as “Business Licence Bylaw No. 1793, 2017”."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Any person starting a business, or expanding or relocating an existing one, in the Town needs a licence under the [Business Licence Bylaw No. 1793](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2025-12/Business%20Licence-1793_0.pdf). This includes home occupations and short-term rentals. Renting out dwelling units counts as a business at four or more units on the owner's principal-residence property, or two or more units elsewhere. Provincial government activities are excluded. A valid Inter-Community Business Licence from another participating government also lets a business operate.

Annual base fees ([Fees and Charges Bylaw](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/Fees%20and%20Charges-1763.pdf)): home occupation $70; non-location-based $70; non-profit $50; commercial small $120, mid-size $160, large $190; industrial $470 to $570; short-term rental $520. Some businesses add Schedule 4B fees, such as liquor licence $75, cannabis retail $75, mobile services $50 and car wash $50 a bay. Commercial size is by floor area (small is 464 sq. m. or less; large is over 2,000 sq. m.). Industrial size is by lot size.

## Steps

1. Talk first with zoning, building and health staff, then the Fire Department. No licence is issued unless zoning permits the business.
2. Apply at Town Hall, or fill in the application form and email it in. Business Licences: 250-428-2214 ext. 410.
3. Open the premises for inspection. Some businesses (restaurants, tattoo parlours, daycares) need Interior Health approval before the application is processed.
4. Pay the fee. Renewal notices are sent beforehand; the deadline is January 31.

## Good to know

- Licences run January 1 to December 31. A $20 discount applies to renewals paid by January 31 and to new licences paid within 30 days of approval.
- Pay at Town Hall or by mail: credit card, debit, cash, cheque or email transfer.
- Mobile businesses can use the West Kootenay Inter-Community Business Licence ([Bylaw No. 1890](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2023-07/Inter-Community%20Business%20Licence-1890.pdf)), valid in Creston, Castlegar, Grand Forks, Nelson, Kaslo, New Denver, Rossland, Salmo, Slocan and Silverton. The fee is $100, in addition to any licence fee required.
- Operating without a licence is a $100 bylaw notice ($50 if paid early, $125 late). A court conviction can bring $2,500 to $10,000, and each day is a separate offence.

## Official forms and pages

- [Business Licences, Town of Creston](https://www.creston.ca/business-licences)
- [Business Licence Bylaw No. 1793, 2017 (PDF, consolidated to December 2, 2025)](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2025-12/Business%20Licence-1793_0.pdf)
- [Inter-Community Business Licence Bylaw No. 1890, 2019 (PDF)](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2023-07/Inter-Community%20Business%20Licence-1890.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Creston home-based business rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/creston/home-based-business.md)
- [Creston short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/creston/short-term-rental.md)
- [Creston zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/creston/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Creston bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/creston/bylaw-fines.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Business licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/business-licence.md)
- [Salmo](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/salmo/business-licence.md)
- [Kimberley](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kimberley/business-licence.md)
- [Cranbrook](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cranbrook/business-licence.md)
- [Fruitvale](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fruitvale/business-licence.md)
- [Nelson](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nelson/business-licence.md)
- [Castlegar](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/castlegar/business-licence.md)

## Sources

- [Business Licences, Town of Creston](https://www.creston.ca/business-licences) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Business Licence Bylaw No. 1793, 2017 (PDF, consolidated to December 2, 2025)](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2025-12/Business%20Licence-1793_0.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1763 (PDF, consolidated to May 12, 2026)](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/Fees%20and%20Charges-1763.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Inter-Community Business Licence Bylaw No. 1890, 2019 (PDF)](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2023-07/Inter-Community%20Business%20Licence-1890.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1760 (PDF)](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2026-04/Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Contact Directory, Town of Creston](https://www.creston.ca/contact-directory-0) (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 Town of Creston. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/creston/business-licence/_