---
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?"
place: Duncan, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/duncan
category: Starting and running a business
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of Duncan
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/duncan/business-licence/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/duncan/business-licence.json"
---

# 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?

**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.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Duncan, https://duncan.ca)  
**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:**
- In person: City Hall, 200 Craig Street, Duncan, BC V9L 1W3
- Email: Business licences, licence@duncan.ca
- By mail: Mail to City Hall, 200 Craig Street, Duncan, BC V9L 1W3
- Phone: City Hall, 250-746-6126

## Key facts

- **Who needs one:** 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.
  - Source: [Business Licences, Business Licences page](https://duncan.ca/businesses/business-licences/)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [Business Licence Regulation Bylaw No. 3117, 2014 (PDF, consolidated to July 3, 2018), s. 3.1](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/37455/)
  - Official wording: "No person shall carry on a Business within the City of Duncan unless a valid"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fee:** $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).
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 3212, 2020 (PDF, consolidated to August 24, 2026), Schedule D - Business Licensing](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/181386)
  - Official wording: "Schedule D – Business Licensing" … "$100.00" … "$125.00" … "$50.00" … "5. From every non-profit organization" … "$1.00" … "$200.00" … "$500.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to apply:** 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.
  - Source: [Business Licences, Business Licences page](https://duncan.ca/businesses/business-licences/)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Renewal:** 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.
  - Source: [Business Licence Regulation Bylaw No. 3117, 2014 (PDF, consolidated to July 3, 2018), s. 6.1, 5.2](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/37455/)
  - Official wording: "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."
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 3212, 2020 (PDF, consolidated to August 24, 2026), Schedule D](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/181386)
  - Official wording: "from a premise in a commercially zoned property in the City, an $100.00 $125.00 $50.00 annual fee of"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Inter-community licence:** 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.
  - Source: [Inter-Community Business Licences, Inter-Community page](https://duncan.ca/businesses/business-licences/inter-community-business-licences/)
  - Official wording: "Municipalities from Sooke to Parksville participate in the Inter-Community Business Licence program" … "The annual fee for the inter-community licence is $170"
  - Source: [Business Licences, Business Licences page](https://duncan.ca/businesses/business-licences/)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** 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).
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, Schedule A - Business Licence](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/181059)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Business Licence Regulation Bylaw No. 3117, 2014 (consolidated to July 3, 2018); Inter-Community Business Licence Bylaw No. 3261, 2025
  - Source: [Business Licence Regulation Bylaw No. 3117, 2014 (PDF, consolidated to July 3, 2018), Title](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/37455/)
  - Official wording: "Business Licence Regulation Bylaw No. 3117, 2014"
  - Source: [City Bylaws folder, Bylaw list](https://duncan.civicweb.net/filepro/documents/37448)
  - Official wording: "Inter-Community Business Licence Bylaw No. 3261"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Every 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.

## Steps

1. Ask Development Services (250-746-6126) whether your business is allowed at the address.
2. Fill in the Business Licence Application. Use the Mobile Food Vendor application for a food truck or cart. Food businesses need Island Health approval.
3. Apply in person at 200 Craig Street, by email to licence@duncan.ca, or by mail.
4. 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.

## Good to know

- 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.
- Fines: operating without a licence is a $100 bylaw notice ($75 within 14 days, $125 late). Failure to renew is $100.
- Changing your business location costs $50; a reprint is $5.
- 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.
- Operating without an inter-community licence is a $200 bylaw notice ($175 early).

## Official forms and pages

- [Business Licence Application (PDF)](https://duncan.ca/download/business-licence-application-dec-2021/)
- [Mobile Food Vendor Business Licence Application (PDF)](https://duncan.ca/wp-content/uploads/dlm_uploads/2021/02/Mobile-Food-Vendor-Business-Licence-Application.pdf)
- [Short Term Rental Business Licence Commitment (PDF)](https://duncan.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Short-Term-Rental-Committment.pdf)
- [Business Licence Regulation Bylaw No. 3117 (PDF)](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/37455/)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Business licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/business-licence.md)
- [North Cowichan](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/business-licence.md)
- [Ladysmith](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/business-licence.md)
- [North Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/business-licence.md)
- [Lake Cowichan](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-cowichan/business-licence.md)
- [Sidney](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sidney/business-licence.md)
- [Central Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/business-licence.md)

## Sources

- [Business Licences, City of Duncan](https://duncan.ca/businesses/business-licences/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Business Licence Regulation Bylaw No. 3117, 2014 (PDF, consolidated to July 3, 2018), City of Duncan](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/37455/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 3212, 2020 (PDF, consolidated to August 24, 2026)](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/181386) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Inter-Community Business Licences, City of Duncan](https://duncan.ca/businesses/business-licences/inter-community-business-licences/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw (PDF), City of Duncan](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/181059) (read 2026-11-05)
- [City Bylaws folder, City of Duncan CivicWeb](https://duncan.civicweb.net/filepro/documents/37448) (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 Duncan. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/duncan/business-licence/_