---
title: "Delta business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply"
question: "Do I need a business licence in Delta, and how do I get one?"
place: Delta, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/delta
category: Starting and running a business
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of Delta
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/delta/business-licence/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/delta/business-licence.json"
---

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

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

**Short answer:** Yes. Anyone carrying on a business in the City of Delta needs a City business licence, including businesses based outside Delta that work in the city. Send the Business Licence application to the Business Licences office by email, in person or by mail.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Delta, https://www.delta.ca)  
**Cost:** Set by Schedule 4 of the Fees and Charges Bylaw. The basic annual licence is $175 for 1 to 5 persons engaged, up to $1,133 for 51 to 100. Many types have their own fee. Taxes extra.  
**How long:** Resident businesses usually take at least 15 business days. The City's page says commercial or industrial applications take about 4 to 6 weeks, and gives differing times for non-resident licences (3 to 5 business days in one place, typically the same day in another).  
**Where:**
- Email: Business Licences, businesslicences@delta.ca
- Phone: Licensing Office, 604-946-3314 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.)
- In person: Delta City Hall, 4500 Clarence Taylor Crescent, Delta, BC V4K 3E2
- By mail: Mail to Business Licences, Delta City Hall, Business Licences, 4500 Clarence Taylor Crescent, Delta, BC V4K 3E2
- Online: Delta Online (payments and renewals), https://deltaonline.ca/

## Key facts

- **Who needs one:** Anyone carrying on, owning or operating a business in Delta, including businesses based outside Delta that work in the city. Each premises is a separate business. Exempt: charities that devote all proceeds to charity (with exceptions) and federal and provincial ministries, Metro Vancouver and the City.
  - Source: [Delta Business Licence Bylaw No. 7670, 2017 (consolidated), s. 5.1, 5.2, 5.3](https://delta.civicweb.net/document/195983)
  - Official wording: "no person may carry on, maintain," … "Where a Business is carried on in or from more than one premises in the" … "the entire proceeds of which, above actual bona fide" … "Metro Vancouver; or"
  - Source: [Business Licences, Business Licences page](https://www.delta.ca/city-hall/doing-business/business-licences)
  - Official wording: "All businesses in Delta require a licence to operate." … "Non-resident businesses have their offices located outside of Delta but carry on business within this Municipality."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fee:** Set by Schedule 4 of the Fees and Charges Bylaw. Basic annual licence: $175 (1 to 5 persons engaged), $282 (6-10), $471 (11-15), $615 (16-25), $850 (26-50), $1,133 (51-100). Many types have their own fee, e.g. bed and breakfast $23 per room. Taxes extra.
  - Source: [Delta Consolidated Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 8386, Schedule 4, Schedule 4, Part A and Part B](https://delta.civicweb.net/document/234450/)
  - Official wording: "(1) 1 to 5 persons engaged $175.00 /each" … "(2) 6 to 10 persons engaged $282.00 /each" … "(3) 11 to 15 persons engaged $471.00 /each" … "(4) 16 to 25 persons engaged $615.00 /each" … "(5) 26 to 50 persons engaged $850.00 /each" … "(6) 51 to 100 persons engaged $1,133.00 /each" … "(Subject to applicable taxes)"
  - Source: [Delta Business Licence Bylaw No. 7670, 2017 (consolidated), s. 5.11, 5.13](https://delta.civicweb.net/document/195983)
  - Official wording: "Delta Consolidated Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 8386, 2024." … "No reduction or refund of the annual Licence Fee will be made by The"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to apply:** Submit the Business Licence application form to businesslicences@delta.ca, in person at City Hall (4500 Clarence Taylor Cres.), or by mail. Staff coordinate any building, plumbing, fire, health, environmental and zoning checks. After approval an invoice is sent; pay online (deltaonline.ca), in person or by mail. Resident businesses usually take at least 15 business days.
  - Source: [Business Licences, Business Licences page](https://www.delta.ca/city-hall/doing-business/business-licences)
  - Official wording: "Resident businesses operate from a location within Delta and may require inspection of the premises to ensure compliance with building, plumbing, fire, health, environmental control and zoning regulations." … "The approval process usually takes a minimum of 15 business days." … "Apply by email: businesslicences@delta.ca" … "Once your Business Licence has been approved an invoice will be emailed or mailed to you with instructions on how to pay."
  - Source: [Delta Business Licence Bylaw No. 7670, 2017 (consolidated), s. 5.4, 5.6](https://delta.civicweb.net/document/195983)
  - Official wording: "be made to the Licence Inspector in the form provided for that purpose;" … "may, at their discretion, require all premises associated with the Business, including any"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Renewal:** A licence is valid for one year from the application date and renews automatically. Renewal notices are mailed about a month before expiry, and you can pay online, in person or by mail. Licences are non-transferable and non-refundable.
  - Source: [Business Licences, Business Licences page](https://www.delta.ca/city-hall/doing-business/business-licences)
  - Official wording: "Your Business Licence will automatically renew after one year of business." … "The Business Licence renewal notices are mailed out approximately one month prior to the expiration date of a Business Licence." … "Business Licences are non-transferable and non-refundable."
  - Source: [Delta Business Licence Bylaw No. 7670, 2017 (consolidated), s. 5.17](https://delta.civicweb.net/document/195983)
  - Official wording: "will be granted for an annual period, unless"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Inter-community licence:** Yes. Metro-West IMBL, $300 (Burnaby, Delta, New Westminster, Richmond, Surrey, Vancouver); Fraser Valley IMBL, $250 (12 municipalities including Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Langley, Maple Ridge, Mission, Surrey). Paid on top of the Delta licence and limited to construction-trade contractors or professionals and home-visit health providers.
  - Source: [Business Licences, Business Licences page, Inter-Municipal Business Licence](https://www.delta.ca/city-hall/doing-business/business-licences)
  - Official wording: "The cost of the IMBL is $300 and is in addition to your existing City of Delta Business Licence." … "The cost of the IMBL is $250 and is in addition to your existing City of Delta Business Licence." … "Eligibility is limited to businesses, defined as trades contractors or other professionals (related to the construction industry)" … "a health care professional or a health care service provider who doesn't work out of a clinic or office and only offers home-visit services."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Operating without a business licence: $1,000 under the Municipal Ticket Information bylaw; $500 under the Bylaw Notice Enforcement bylaw ($450 if paid within 14 days, $550 after 28 days). Court fine up to $10,000. The City may also collect up to three years of past fees.
  - Source: [Delta Municipal Ticketing Information Bylaw No. 6639, Schedule 1, Schedule 1, Business Licence Bylaw 7670](https://delta.civicweb.net/document/135301)
  - Official wording: "5.1 No Business Licence 1,000"
  - Source: [Delta Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 7009, 2011, Schedule A, Business Licence Bylaw 7670](https://delta.civicweb.net/document/238336)
  - Official wording: "5.1 No Business Licence 500 450 550"
  - Source: [Delta Business Licence Bylaw No. 7670, 2017 (consolidated), s. 5.14, 8.1](https://delta.civicweb.net/document/195983)
  - Official wording: "may collect the fees appropriate for the Business for its prior years of operation, to a maximum of" … "liable to a fine of not more than Ten Thousand ($10,000.00) Dollars"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Delta Business Licence Bylaw No. 7670, 2017 (consolidation printed July 31, 2026); fees in Delta Consolidated Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 8386, 2024, Schedule 4
  - Source: [Delta Business Licence Bylaw No. 7670, 2017 (consolidated), s. 1.1 and cover](https://delta.civicweb.net/document/195983)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw may be cited as “Delta Business Licence Bylaw No. 7670, 2017”." … "Print date: July 31, 2026"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The City of Delta requires a licence under the [Business Licence Bylaw No. 7670](https://delta.civicweb.net/document/195983) for anyone carrying on, owning or operating a business in Delta. Each premises is a separate business. Exempt are charities that devote all proceeds to charity (with exceptions), federal and provincial ministries, Metro Vancouver and the City. Staff coordinate any building, plumbing, fire, health, environmental and zoning checks.

## Steps

1. Check that the property's zoning allows your business before you sign a lease.
2. If you work in a regulated trade (for example plumber, engineer or doctor), get your professional membership first.
3. Fill in the Business Licence Application and send it to businesslicences@delta.ca, bring it to City Hall, or mail it.
4. After approval the City sends an invoice. Pay online at deltaonline.ca, in person or by mail.

## Good to know

- Fees: basic annual licence $175 (1 to 5 persons engaged), $282 (6 to 10), $471 (11 to 15), $615 (16 to 25), $850 (26 to 50), $1,133 (51 to 100). Where more than five persons are engaged, the higher of Part A and Part B applies. Bed and breakfast is $23 per room. Licences are non-transferable and non-refundable.
- A licence is valid for one year from the application date and renews automatically. Renewal notices are mailed about a month before expiry.
- An inter-municipal licence costs $300 (Metro-West: Burnaby, Delta, New Westminster, Richmond, Surrey, Vancouver) or $250 (Fraser Valley, 12 municipalities). It is paid on top of the Delta licence and is limited to construction-trade contractors or professionals and home-visit health providers.
- Fines: operating without a licence is $1,000 as a municipal ticket or $500 as a bylaw notice ($450 if paid within 14 days, $550 after 28 days). A court fine can reach $10,000, and the City may collect up to three years of past fees.

## What you'll need

- Completed Business Licence Application
- Proof of professional membership first, for some trades (for example plumbers, engineers, doctors)
- Written consent of the owner or manager if you run a home business in a duplex, townhouse or apartment

## Official forms and pages

- [Business Licence Application (PDF)](https://www.delta.ca/media/3191)
- [Business Licences page](https://www.delta.ca/city-hall/doing-business/business-licences)
- [Delta Business Licence Bylaw No. 7670, 2017 (PDF)](https://delta.civicweb.net/document/195983)

## Related questions

- [Delta home-based business rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/delta/home-based-business.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Business licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/business-licence.md)
- [Richmond](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/richmond/business-licence.md)
- [Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vancouver/business-licence.md)
- [Burnaby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burnaby/business-licence.md)
- [White Rock](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/white-rock/business-licence.md)
- [New Westminster](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/business-licence.md)
- [Surrey](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/surrey/business-licence.md)

## Sources

- [Business Licences, City of Delta](https://www.delta.ca/city-hall/doing-business/business-licences) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Delta Business Licence Bylaw No. 7670, 2017 (consolidated) (PDF)](https://delta.civicweb.net/document/195983) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Delta Consolidated Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 8386, Schedule 4 (PDF)](https://delta.civicweb.net/document/234450/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Delta Municipal Ticketing Information Bylaw No. 6639, Schedule 1 (PDF)](https://delta.civicweb.net/document/135301) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Delta Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 7009, 2011 (PDF)](https://delta.civicweb.net/document/238336) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Business Licence Application (PDF), City of Delta](https://www.delta.ca/media/3191) (read 2026-11-05)

_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 City of Delta. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/delta/business-licence/_