{"title":"Gold River business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply","question":"Do I need a business licence in Gold River, and how do I get one?","slug":"business-licence","place":{"path":"ca/bc/gold-river","name":"Gold River","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":"Village of Gold River","url":"https://goldriver.ca"},"short_answer":"Yes. Anyone carrying on a business in the Village of Gold River, resident or non-resident, needs a Village business licence, which runs on the calendar year. The fee is $75 for most businesses. Apply to the Licence Inspector on the Village's application form.","aliases":["gold river business licence","business license gold river","renew business licence gold river","non-resident business licence gold river"],"cost":"$75 a year for most businesses. Retail or wholesale cannabis $75. Medical marihuana production facility $1,000. Special event $150 per day. A first licence taken out after August 1 is half price.","how_long":"Licences expire December 31; renewals are due January 1. The Village does not state a processing time.","where":[{"type":"in_person","label":"Municipal Hall","value":"499 Muchalat Drive, Gold River, BC V0P 1G0","note":"Office hours are not stated on the Village's website."},{"type":"phone","label":"Village Hall","value":"250-283-2202"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Application for a Business Licence (PDF)","url":"https://goldriver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Busines-Licence-Fillable.pdf"},{"title":"Business Licence Bylaw No. 735, 2021 (PDF)","url":"https://goldriver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Bylaw-No-735-2021-Business-Licence-Bylaw.pdf"}],"related":[{"slug":"home-based-business","title":"Gold River home-based business rules","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gold-river/home-based-business/"},{"slug":"short-term-rental","title":"Gold River short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gold-river/short-term-rental/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Gold River zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gold-river/zoning-lookup/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/campbell-river","name":"Campbell River","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/campbell-river/business-licence/"},{"place":"ca/bc/tofino","name":"Tofino","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tofino/business-licence/"},{"place":"ca/bc/sayward","name":"Sayward","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sayward/business-licence/"},{"place":"ca/bc/cumberland","name":"Cumberland","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/business-licence/"},{"place":"ca/bc/courtenay","name":"Courtenay","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/business-licence/"},{"place":"ca/bc/comox","name":"Comox","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/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 person carrying on, maintaining or owning any business in the Village must have a licence, including resident and non-resident businesses. A business with more than one branch, office or store needs a separate licence for each. Organizations that, in the Licence Inspector's opinion, operate solely for charitable or non-profit purposes are not 'business'.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://goldriver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Bylaw-No-735-2021-Business-Licence-Bylaw.pdf","title":"Business Licence Bylaw No. 735, 2021 (PDF), Village of Gold River","section":"s. 3.a, 3.d","quotes":["Every person following, practicing, carrying on, maintaining, or owning within the","Village, any business, shall take out and maintain a licence","shall","obtain a separate licence for each branch, office, place, premise or store"]},{"url":"https://goldriver.ca/municipal-services/permits-and-licences/","title":"Permits and Licences, Village of Gold River","section":"Business Licence","quotes":["resident and non-resident businesses operating within our boundaries must have a valid and current business licence."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"fee":{"label":"Fee","value":"$75 a year for most businesses ('all other business'). Retail or wholesale cannabis $75 (reduced from $2,000 effective January 1, 2022). Medical marihuana production facility $1,000. Special event $150 per day. A first licence taken out after August 1 is half price.","short":"$75 a year (most businesses)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://goldriver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Bylaw-No-734-2021-Fees-and-Charges-Bylaw.pdf","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 734, 2021 (PDF), Village of Gold River","section":"Schedule G / Business licence categories, production and research facility","quotes":["and Research Facility Retail/wholesale cannabis or cannabis products $2,000 Special Event $150/day All other business $75","SCHEDULE G BUSINESS LICENCE FEES Type of Businss Fee (annual unless otherwise stated) Medical Marihuana Production Facility / Medical Marihuana Production $1,000 and Research Facility Retail/wholesale cannabis or cannabis products $2,000"]},{"url":"https://goldriver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Bylaw-No-734.1-2022-Fees-and-Charges-Amendment-Bylaw.pdf","title":"Fees and Charges Amendment Bylaw No. 734.1, 2022 (PDF), Village of Gold River","section":"Amendment","quotes":["to reduce the Annual Fee for","Retail/wholesale cannabis or cannabis products to $75 effective January 1, 2022."]},{"url":"https://goldriver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Bylaw-No-735-2021-Business-Licence-Bylaw.pdf","title":"Business Licence Bylaw No. 735, 2021 (PDF), Village of Gold River","section":"s. 3.h","quotes":["after the 1st day of August in any","year, the annual licence fee for that year shall be reduced by half of the annual"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"how_to_apply":{"label":"How to apply","value":"Apply to the Licence Inspector on the application form, stating the nature and address of the business, number of persons, floor area and any other information required, with the fee. The Licence Inspector grants a licence once satisfied that building, zoning, health, sanitation and business bylaws and federal or provincial requirements are met. The form is on the Village's Permits and Licences page.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://goldriver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Bylaw-No-735-2021-Business-Licence-Bylaw.pdf","title":"Business Licence Bylaw No. 735, 2021 (PDF), Village of Gold River","section":"s. 3.b-3.c","quotes":["All applications for licences under this bylaw shall be made to the Licence Inspector","on an application form provided for that purpose","accompanied by the prescribed fee"]},{"url":"https://goldriver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Bylaw-No-735-2021-Business-Licence-Bylaw.pdf","title":"Business Licence Bylaw No. 735, 2021 (PDF), Village of Gold River","section":"s. 6.c","quotes":["The Licence Inspector shall grant a licence when he is satisfied the applicant has","zoning, health, sanitation and business and applicable federal and/ or provincial"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"renewal":{"label":"Renewal","value":"Licences are for the calendar year and expire on December 31. Renewal fees are due January 1. A renewal paid more than 30 days after expiry costs an additional $150.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://goldriver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Bylaw-No-735-2021-Business-Licence-Bylaw.pdf","title":"Business Licence Bylaw No. 735, 2021 (PDF), Village of Gold River","section":"s. 3.f-3.g","quotes":["all licence","renewal fees are due and payable on January 1st in any year.","shall expire on the 31st day of December next","an additional fee of one hundred and","fifty dollars ($150)."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"inter_community":{"label":"Inter-community licence","value":null,"status":"unknown","reason":"not_found","sources":[]},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":null,"status":"unknown","reason":"scanned","note":"The ticket amounts are in a scanned schedule that could not be read.","sources":[]},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Business Licence Bylaw No. 735, 2021, as amended by Bylaw No. 735.1, 2022; fees in Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 734, 2021, Schedule G","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://goldriver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Bylaw-No-735-2021-Business-Licence-Bylaw.pdf","title":"Business Licence Bylaw No. 735, 2021 (PDF), Village of Gold River","section":"Title","quotes":["Business Licence Bylaw No. 735, 2021"]},{"url":"https://goldriver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Bylaw-No-735.1-2022-Business-Licencing-Amendment.pdf","title":"Business Licence Amendment Bylaw No. 735.1, 2022 (PDF), Village of Gold River","section":"Amendment","quotes":["Business Licence Amendment Bylaw No. 735.1, 2022"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":7,"stated":5,"matched":5,"none":0,"unknown":2},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\n[Business Licence Bylaw No. 735, 2021](https://goldriver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Bylaw-No-735-2021-Business-Licence-Bylaw.pdf) says every person carrying on, maintaining or owning a business in the Village of Gold River needs a licence, including non-resident businesses. A business with more than one branch, office or store needs a licence for each. Organizations the Licence Inspector considers to operate solely for charitable or non-profit purposes are not a \"business\".\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Fill in the [Application for a Business Licence (PDF)](https://goldriver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Busines-Licence-Fillable.pdf), giving the nature and address of the business, number of persons, floor area and any other information required.\n2. Submit it to the Licence Inspector with the fee at Municipal Hall, 499 Muchalat Drive.\n3. The Licence Inspector grants the licence once satisfied that building, zoning, health, sanitation and business bylaws and federal or provincial requirements are met. Restaurants and cannabis trade businesses have extra steps.\n4. Post the licence in a conspicuous place on the premises. Non-residents must carry theirs while working in Gold River.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Licences expire December 31. Renewal fees are due January 1; a renewal paid more than 30 days after expiry costs an extra $150.\n- Issued licences are not refunded.\n- On conviction the bylaw allows a fine up to $10,000. Ticket amounts are in a scanned schedule we could not read; ask the Village.","sources":[{"url":"https://goldriver.ca/municipal-services/permits-and-licences/","title":"Permits and Licences, Village of Gold River","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://goldriver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Bylaw-No-735-2021-Business-Licence-Bylaw.pdf","title":"Business Licence Bylaw No. 735, 2021 (PDF), Village of Gold River","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://goldriver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Bylaw-No-735.1-2022-Business-Licencing-Amendment.pdf","title":"Business Licence Amendment Bylaw No. 735.1, 2022 (PDF), Village of Gold River","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://goldriver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Bylaw-No-734-2021-Fees-and-Charges-Bylaw.pdf","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 734, 2021 (PDF), Village of Gold River","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://goldriver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Bylaw-No-734.1-2022-Fees-and-Charges-Amendment-Bylaw.pdf","title":"Fees and Charges Amendment Bylaw No. 734.1, 2022 (PDF), Village of Gold River","accessed":"2026-11-08"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-08","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 7 facts was matched to the official text; 2 could not be confirmed."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gold-river/business-licence/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gold-river/business-licence.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gold-river/business-licence.json"}}