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

# Fort St. John business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply

**Question:** Do I need a business licence in Fort St. John, and how do I get one?

**Short answer:** Yes. Every business operating in the City of Fort St. John needs a valid City business licence, with a separate licence for each premises. Apply online, by email to businesslicences@fortstjohn.ca, in person at Development Services, or through BCeID or BizPal. A regular licence is $150.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Fort St. John, https://www.fortstjohn.ca)  
**Cost:** Regular $150; home occupation $125; mobile vendor $125; secondary suite $75; temporary (28 days) $75; name change or reprint $25; registered non-profit no cost. Inter-community licence $130 extra.  
**How long:** The City's pages do not state a processing time. It may send your application to Planning, Building, the Fire Department or Northern Health.  
**Where:**
- Online: Business licence application form, https://www.fortstjohn.ca/business-building-and-development/business-and-economic-development/business-licences/business/business-licence-application-form
- Email: Business licences, businesslicences@fortstjohn.ca
- In person: Development Services, 10648 100 Street, Fort St. John, BC V1J 3Z6
- Phone: City of Fort St. John, 250-787-8150

## Key facts

- **Who needs one:** All businesses operating within the City need a valid business licence (or an Inter-Community Business Licence). Separate licence for each premises. Registered non-profits pay nothing. A stall holder in a licensed market does not need one, except when selling tobacco, cannabis or liquor.
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 2563, 2021, s. 5.1, 5.2, 5.9](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/business-licence-bylaw)
  - Official wording: "No person shall carry on a business for which a licence is required by this Bylaw within" … "Every person who carries on a business from more than one premises in the City shall" … "A business licence is not required of any person who rents a stall,"
  - Source: [Business Licences, Who Needs a Business Licence](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/business-building-and-development/business-and-economic-development/business-licences)
  - Official wording: "All businesses operating within the City of Fort St. John are required to have a valid business licence or a valid inter-community business licence."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fee:** Regular business licence $150; home occupation (business or office) $125; mobile vendor $125; secondary suite $75; temporary licence (28 days) $75; name change or reprint $25; registered non-profit no cost. Applications from April 1, July 1 and October 1 get 25%, 50% and 75% off.
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 2563, 2021, Schedule A, Table 1.0](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/business-licence-bylaw)
  - Official wording: "Regular Business Licence $150.00" … "Home Occupations – Business and Office $125.00" … "Secondary Suite $75.00" … "Temporary Licence (28 Days) $75.00" … "Registered Non-Profit NO COST" … "April 1 25% Reduction"
  - Source: [Business Licence Application Process, Business License Fees](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/business-building-and-development/business-and-economic-development/business-licences/business-licence-application-process)
  - Official wording: "Regular Commercial Business Licence: $150.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to apply:** Apply with the online form, by email to businesslicences@fortstjohn.ca, in person at Development Services, or through BCeID or BizPal. The City reviews it and may send it to Planning, Building, Fire Department or Northern Health. Approval needs the application, fees, any other agency approvals, inspections, and a declaration that the use meets zoning.
  - Source: [Business Licence Application Process, Steps 2-3](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/business-building-and-development/business-and-economic-development/business-licences/business-licence-application-process)
  - Official wording: "Completing the online form" … "Submitting via email to businesslicences@fortstjohn.ca" … "Submitting through BCeID" … "Planning - Building - Fire Department - Northern Health Authority"
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 2563, 2021, s. 6.1](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/business-licence-bylaw)
  - Official wording: "The applicant’s declaration of compliance of land use/business activities with"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Renewal:** Licences run January 1 to December 31 and must be renewed before December 31. An expired licence not renewed by January 31 is terminated on February 1 and a new application is needed. A licence issued after January 1 lasts to December 31 of that year.
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 2563, 2021, s. 5.3, 6.7, 6.8](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/business-licence-bylaw)
  - Official wording: "The business licence period shall be one (1) year to commence on the 1st day of January and to terminate on" … "prior to the expiry of the" … "business licence on December 31st of that year." … "renewed as required by January 31st of the renewal" … "year, the business licence shall then be terminated on February 1st"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Inter-community licence:** Yes. $130, in addition to a regular City licence, for businesses that travel client to client. Bylaw 2371 (2017) lists Dawson Creek, Chetwynd, Hudson's Hope, Taylor, Tumbler Ridge, Pouce Coupe and Northern Rockies; the City's web page omits Northern Rockies. Excludes taxis, mobile food vendors, door-to-door sales. (Sources differ: The bylaw lists eight participating governments including Fort St. John and the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality; the City's web page lists six others and omits the Northern Rockies. Bylaw followed.)
  - Source: [Inter-Community Business Licence Bylaw No. 2371, 2017, s. 4 and definitions](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/inter-community-business-licence-bylaw)
  - Official wording: "The fee for an Inter-Community Business Licence is $130 and shall be paid in full at the time" … "City of Dawson Creek" … "Northern Rockies Regional Municipality" … "Mobile food vendors, flea markets, trade shows or other similar Businesses." … "Door to door sale persons/businesses."
  - Source: [Business Licences, Inter-community Business Licence](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/business-building-and-development/business-and-economic-development/business-licences)
  - Official wording: "This inter-community business licence is to be purchased IN ADDITION to a regular Fort St. John business licence"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Bylaw notice for operating a business without a licence: $200 ($150 if paid within 14 days; $250 if paid late). Not posting the licence: $100 ($50 early; $150 late).
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 2563, 2021, Schedule B, Table 3.0](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/business-licence-bylaw)
  - Official wording: "Days) (1-14 Days) (31-60 Days (50% of Collections Penalty) 60+) Operating a Business 5.1 $200.00 $150.00 $250.00 Yes without a Licence Business Licence not" … "Collections Penalty) 60+) Operating a Business 5.1 $200.00 $150.00 $250.00 Yes without a Licence Business Licence not 5.10 $100.00 $50.00 $150.00 Yes" … "5.1 $200.00 $150.00 $250.00 Yes without a Licence Business Licence not 5.10 $100.00 $50.00 $150.00 Yes Posted" … "Business Licence not 5.10 $100.00 $50.00 $150.00 Yes Posted Failure to provide 6.1 $200.00 $150.00 $250.00 Yes"
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 2563, 2021, s. 8.8](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/business-licence-bylaw)
  - Official wording: "shall result in liability for penalties in amounts set out in"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Business Licence Bylaw No. 2563, 2021
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 2563, 2021, s. 1.1](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/business-licence-bylaw)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw may be cited as “City of Fort St. John Business Licence Bylaw No. 2563,"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

[Business Licence Bylaw 2563, 2021](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/business-licence-bylaw) requires a valid licence (or an Inter-Community Business Licence) for every business operating within the City: any commercial or industrial activity for gain or profit, other than government. Bed and breakfasts, home occupations, secondary suites and direct sales also need one. Registered non-profits pay nothing. A stall holder in a licensed market does not need one, except when selling tobacco, cannabis or liquor.

## Steps

1. Before buying property or signing a lease, ask Development Services whether your use is permitted.
2. Apply with the online form, by email to businesslicences@fortstjohn.ca, in person at Development Services, or through BCeID or BizPal.
3. The City reviews it and may send it to Planning, Building, the Fire Department or Northern Health. Approval needs the application, fees, any other agency approvals, inspections, and a declaration that the use meets zoning.
4. Pay: in person (no cash), by debit, credit card (3.5% processing fee), cheque or online banking.
5. Renew before December 31. Applications from April 1, July 1 and October 1 get 25%, 50% and 75% off.

## Good to know

- Licences run January 1 to December 31. An expired licence not renewed by January 31 is terminated on February 1, and you need a new application. A licence issued after January 1 lasts to December 31 of that year.
- Licences are non-transferable and fees non-refundable. Changes need 30 days' written notice. The licence must be posted in a visible location.
- An inter-community licence ($130, in addition to a regular City licence) is for businesses that travel client to client. It excludes taxis, mobile food vendors and door-to-door sales. Bylaw 2371 lists Dawson Creek, Chetwynd, Hudson's Hope, Taylor, Tumbler Ridge, Pouce Coupe and the Northern Rockies; the City's web page omits the Northern Rockies, so confirm.
- Operating without a licence: a bylaw notice is $200 ($150 if paid within 14 days; $250 if paid late). Not posting the licence is $100 ($50 early; $150 late).
- The City's web page also says unlicensed businesses face a 10 per cent fee increase for each month. That is not in the bylaw, so ask the City.

## Official forms and pages

- [Types of Business Licences](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/business-building-and-development/business-and-economic-development/business-licences)
- [Business Licence Application Process](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/business-building-and-development/business-and-economic-development/business-licences/business-licence-application-process)
- [Business Licence Bylaw 2563, 2021 (PDF)](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/business-licence-bylaw)
- [Inter-Community Business Licence Bylaw 2371, 2017 (PDF)](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/inter-community-business-licence-bylaw)
- [Changes to Your Business Licence](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/business-building-and-development/business-and-economic-development/business-licences/changes-your)

## Related questions

- [Fort St. John home-based business rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-john/home-based-business.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Business licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/business-licence.md)
- [Taylor](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/taylor/business-licence.md)
- [Dawson Creek](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dawson-creek/business-licence.md)
- [Pouce Coupe](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/pouce-coupe/business-licence.md)
- [Hudson's Hope](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hudsons-hope/business-licence.md)
- [Chetwynd](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chetwynd/business-licence.md)
- [Tumbler Ridge](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tumbler-ridge/business-licence.md)

## Sources

- [Business Licences, City of Fort St. John](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/business-building-and-development/business-and-economic-development/business-licences) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Business Licence Application Process, City of Fort St. John](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/business-building-and-development/business-and-economic-development/business-licences/business-licence-application-process) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Changes to Your Business Licence, City of Fort St. John](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/business-building-and-development/business-and-economic-development/business-licences/changes-your) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Business Licence Bylaw No. 2563, 2021 (PDF)](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/business-licence-bylaw) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Inter-Community Business Licence Bylaw No. 2371, 2017 (PDF)](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/inter-community-business-licence-bylaw) (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 Fort St. John. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-john/business-licence/_