{"title":"Duncan business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply","question":"Do I need a business licence in Duncan, and how do I get one?","slug":"business-licence","place":{"path":"ca/bc/duncan","name":"Duncan","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"business","name":"Starting and running a business"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"City of Duncan","url":"https://duncan.ca"},"short_answer":"Yes. Every business in the City of Duncan needs a City business licence, including non-profit societies, home-based and out-of-town businesses. Apply in person, by email or by mail. Renew and pay by March 31 each year or the licence is deemed revoked.","aliases":["duncan business license","how to get a business licence duncan","open a business in duncan","business licence application duncan"],"cost":"$100 a year if paid before March 1 ($125 after February 29); $50 for new licences issued after July 1; $1 for a non-profit. Mobile food vendor $200 (private property) or $500 (City property).","how_long":"Processed within 2 weeks after payment.","where":[{"type":"in_person","label":"City Hall","value":"200 Craig Street, Duncan, BC V9L 1W3"},{"type":"email","label":"Business licences","value":"licence@duncan.ca"},{"type":"mail","label":"Mail to City Hall","value":"200 Craig Street, Duncan, BC V9L 1W3"},{"type":"phone","label":"City Hall","value":"250-746-6126"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Business Licence Application (PDF)","url":"https://duncan.ca/download/business-licence-application-dec-2021/"},{"title":"Mobile Food Vendor Business Licence Application (PDF)","url":"https://duncan.ca/wp-content/uploads/dlm_uploads/2021/02/Mobile-Food-Vendor-Business-Licence-Application.pdf"},{"title":"Short Term Rental Business Licence Commitment (PDF)","url":"https://duncan.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Short-Term-Rental-Committment.pdf"},{"title":"Business Licence Regulation Bylaw No. 3117 (PDF)","url":"https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/37455/"}],"related":[{"slug":"home-based-business","title":"Duncan home-based business rules","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/duncan/home-based-business/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/north-cowichan","name":"North Cowichan","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/business-licence/"},{"place":"ca/bc/ladysmith","name":"Ladysmith","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/business-licence/"},{"place":"ca/bc/north-saanich","name":"North Saanich","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/business-licence/"},{"place":"ca/bc/lake-cowichan","name":"Lake Cowichan","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-cowichan/business-licence/"},{"place":"ca/bc/sidney","name":"Sidney","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sidney/business-licence/"},{"place":"ca/bc/central-saanich","name":"Central Saanich","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/business-licence/"}],"topic":{"title":"Business licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/business-licence/"},"facts":{"who_needs":{"label":"Who needs one","value":"Every business operating in Duncan, including non-profit societies, home-based businesses and out-of-town businesses. A business with more than one location needs a licence for each.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://duncan.ca/businesses/business-licences/","title":"Business Licences, City of Duncan","section":"Business Licences page","quotes":["A Business Licence is required by every business (including non-profit Societies, home based businesses, and out of town businesses)","A person who carries on business from more than one location shall obtain a","licence for each business location"]},{"url":"https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/37455/","title":"Business Licence Regulation Bylaw No. 3117, 2014 (PDF, consolidated to July 3, 2018), City of Duncan","section":"s. 3.1","quotes":["No person shall carry on a Business within the City of Duncan unless a valid"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fee":{"label":"Fee","value":"$100 a year if paid before March 1 ($125 after February 29); $50 for new licences issued after July 1. Non-profits $1. Mobile food vendor $200 (private property) or $500 (City property).","short":"$100 a year ($125 after February 29)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/181386","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 3212, 2020 (PDF, consolidated to August 24, 2026)","section":"Schedule D - Business Licensing","quotes":["Schedule D – Business Licensing","$100.00","$125.00","$50.00","5. From every non-profit organization","$1.00","$200.00","$500.00"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"how_to_apply":{"label":"How to apply","value":"Apply in person at 200 Craig Street, by email to licence@duncan.ca, or by mail, using the Business Licence application. Applications are referred to Building, Public Health Inspector, Planning and others; food businesses need Island Health approval. Zoning must allow the business. Processed within 2 weeks after payment.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://duncan.ca/businesses/business-licences/","title":"Business Licences, City of Duncan","section":"Business Licences page","quotes":["In person – 200 Craig Street, Duncan, BC","By email – licence@duncan.ca","Any food-related businesses must have an inspection completed and approved by Vancouver Island Health Authority","Your business licence will be processed within 2 weeks after the City receives payment"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"renewal":{"label":"Renewal","value":"Licences are issued for a calendar year and expire on December 31. Renew and pay by March 31 or the licence is deemed revoked; a penalty is added to each unpaid licence as at March 1 ($125 instead of $100). A renewal form may be sent.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/37455/","title":"Business Licence Regulation Bylaw No. 3117, 2014 (PDF, consolidated to July 3, 2018), City of Duncan","section":"s. 6.1, 5.2","quotes":["Business Licences shall be issued for a calendar year and shall expire on","December 31 of each year","will be added to each unpaid Business Licence as at March 1","paying the annual fee prior to March 31 in each year that the Business is","Licence shall be deemed to be revoked."]},{"url":"https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/181386","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 3212, 2020 (PDF, consolidated to August 24, 2026)","section":"Schedule D","quotes":["from a premise in a commercially zoned property in the City, an $100.00 $125.00 $50.00 annual fee of"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"inter_community":{"label":"Inter-community licence","value":"Yes, for mobile businesses that move from client to client (not fixed-location sales). Annual fee $170, separate from and additional to any municipal licence fee. It covers participating Vancouver Island communities from Sooke to Parksville. For mobile businesses, a Duncan licence also covers Lake Cowichan, North Cowichan and Ladysmith.","short":"Yes, $170 a year (mobile businesses)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://duncan.ca/businesses/business-licences/inter-community-business-licences/","title":"Inter-Community Business Licences, City of Duncan","section":"Inter-Community page","quotes":["Municipalities from Sooke to Parksville participate in the Inter-Community Business Licence program","The annual fee for the inter-community licence is $170"]},{"url":"https://duncan.ca/businesses/business-licences/","title":"Business Licences, City of Duncan","section":"Business Licences page","quotes":["automatically authorizes operations in Lake Cowichan, North Cowichan and Ladysmith","For mobile businesses, the City of Duncan Business Licence automatically authorizes operations in Lake Cowichan, North Cowichan and Ladysmith"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":"Bylaw notice for no business licence (Business Licence Regulation s. 3.1): $100 ($75 within 14 days; $125 late). Failure to renew: $100. Operating without an inter-community licence: $200 ($175 early; $225 late).","short":"Notice $100 ($75 if paid in 14 days)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/181059","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw (PDF), City of Duncan","section":"Schedule A - Business Licence","quotes":["BUSINESS LICENCE REGULATION BYLAW NO. 3117, 2014","No business licence","$100.00","$75.00","$125.00","Failure to renew licence","Operating without a business licence","$200.00"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Business Licence Regulation Bylaw No. 3117, 2014 (consolidated to July 3, 2018); Inter-Community Business Licence Bylaw No. 3261, 2025","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/37455/","title":"Business Licence Regulation Bylaw No. 3117, 2014 (PDF, consolidated to July 3, 2018), City of Duncan","section":"Title","quotes":["Business Licence Regulation Bylaw No. 3117, 2014"]},{"url":"https://duncan.civicweb.net/filepro/documents/37448","title":"City Bylaws folder, City of Duncan CivicWeb","section":"Bylaw list","quotes":["Inter-Community Business Licence Bylaw No. 3261"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":7,"stated":7,"matched":7,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nEvery business operating in Duncan needs a City business licence under the [Business Licence Regulation Bylaw No. 3117](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/37455/), including non-profit societies, home-based businesses and out-of-town businesses. A business with more than one location needs a licence for each. Applications are referred to Building, the Public Health Inspector, Planning and others, and zoning must allow the business.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Ask Development Services (250-746-6126) whether your business is allowed at the address.\n2. Fill in the Business Licence Application. Use the Mobile Food Vendor application for a food truck or cart. Food businesses need Island Health approval.\n3. Apply in person at 200 Craig Street, by email to licence@duncan.ca, or by mail.\n4. Pay at the front counter, drop box, by mail, through online banking or online (OptionPay adds a fee). The City processes the licence within 2 weeks after payment.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Licences are issued for a calendar year and expire on December 31. Renew and pay by March 31 or the licence is deemed revoked. A penalty applies to each licence unpaid as at March 1 ($125 instead of $100). A renewal form may be sent.\n- Fines: operating without a licence is a $100 bylaw notice ($75 within 14 days, $125 late). Failure to renew is $100.\n- Changing your business location costs $50; a reprint is $5.\n- An inter-community licence ($170 a year, separate from any municipal fee) covers mobile businesses only, ones that move from client to client, not fixed-location sales. It covers participating Vancouver Island communities from Sooke to Parksville. For a mobile business, a Duncan licence also covers Lake Cowichan, North Cowichan and Ladysmith.\n- Operating without an inter-community licence is a $200 bylaw notice ($175 early).","sources":[{"url":"https://duncan.ca/businesses/business-licences/","title":"Business Licences, City of Duncan","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/37455/","title":"Business Licence Regulation Bylaw No. 3117, 2014 (PDF, consolidated to July 3, 2018), City of Duncan","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/181386","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 3212, 2020 (PDF, consolidated to August 24, 2026)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://duncan.ca/businesses/business-licences/inter-community-business-licences/","title":"Inter-Community Business Licences, City of Duncan","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/181059","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw (PDF), City of Duncan","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://duncan.civicweb.net/filepro/documents/37448","title":"City Bylaws folder, City of Duncan CivicWeb","accessed":"2026-11-05"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-05","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 7 of 7 facts was matched to the official text."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/duncan/business-licence/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/duncan/business-licence.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/duncan/business-licence.json"}}