{"title":"Golden business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply","question":"Do I need a business licence in Golden, and how do I get one?","slug":"business-licence","place":{"path":"ca/bc/golden","name":"Golden","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":"Town of Golden","url":"https://www.golden.ca"},"short_answer":"In Golden anyone owning or operating a business needs a Town business licence; non-profits do not. Most categories cost $70 a year and a general contractor $125. Apply with the online webform, the fillable PDF, or at Town Hall.","aliases":["business licence golden bc","town of golden business license","open a business golden","renew business licence golden"],"cost":"Set by business type in Schedule A of Bylaw 990: $70 a year for most categories (retail, wholesale, professional, repair, other); general contractor $125. Cannabis retail $300 and liquor primary $70 (Town page). Short-term rental and B&B licences have their own fees.","how_long":"A licence lasts one year and ends April 30. A business starting after November 1 pays 50% less.","where":[{"type":"online","label":"Business Licences, Town of Golden (webform and PDF form)","value":"https://www.golden.ca/business-development/business-licences"},{"type":"phone","label":"Business Licence Department","value":"250-344-2271 ext. 238"},{"type":"in_person","label":"Town Hall","value":"810 9th Ave. South, Golden, BC"}],"documents":["Business licence application (online webform or fillable PDF)"],"forms":[{"title":"Business Licences, Town of Golden","url":"https://www.golden.ca/business-development/business-licences"},{"title":"Business Licencing Bylaw No. 990 (PDF)","url":"https://golden.civicweb.net/document/64410/"}],"related":[{"slug":"home-based-business","title":"Golden home-based business rules","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/golden/home-based-business/"},{"slug":"short-term-rental","title":"Golden short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/golden/short-term-rental/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Golden zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/golden/zoning-lookup/"},{"slug":"bylaw-fines","title":"Golden bylaw fines and how tickets work","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/golden/bylaw-fines/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/revelstoke","name":"Revelstoke","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/revelstoke/business-licence/"},{"place":"ca/bc/radium-hot-springs","name":"Radium Hot Springs","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/radium-hot-springs/business-licence/"},{"place":"ca/bc/invermere","name":"Invermere","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/invermere/business-licence/"},{"place":"ca/bc/nakusp","name":"Nakusp","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nakusp/business-licence/"},{"place":"ca/bc/new-denver","name":"New Denver","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-denver/business-licence/"},{"place":"ca/bc/sicamous","name":"Sicamous","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sicamous/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":"Any person owning or operating a business in Golden, meaning any commercial or industrial undertaking, or professional or personal service for gain or profit. Non-profit organizations do not need a licence.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.golden.ca/business-development/business-licences","title":"Business Licences, Town of Golden","section":"Who needs one","quotes":["Any person owning or operating a business within The Town of Golden is required to hold a valid business licence"]},{"url":"https://golden.civicweb.net/document/64410/","title":"Business Licencing Bylaw No. 990 (PDF)","section":"Schedule A","quotes":["Non-Profit Organizations will not be required to obtain a license."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"fee":{"label":"Fee","value":"Set by business type in Schedule A of Bylaw 990: $70 a year for most categories (retail, wholesale, professional, repair, other); general contractor $125. Cannabis retail $300 and liquor primary $70 (Town page).","short":"$70 a year (most categories)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://golden.civicweb.net/document/64410/","title":"Business Licencing Bylaw No. 990 (PDF)","section":"Schedule A","quotes":["not previously mentioned or listed in this category $ 70.00","of wholesale service in this category $ 70.00","of a general contractor $ 125.00"]},{"url":"https://www.golden.ca/business-development/business-licences","title":"Business Licences, Town of Golden","section":"Business Licence Fee","quotes":["- Cannabis retail application - $2000 ### Business Licence Fee - Cannabis retail - $300 - Liquor primary - $70 - Zoning Amendment","### Business Licence Fee - Cannabis retail - $300 - Liquor primary - $70 - Zoning Amendment Town of Golden Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 1402, 2018 - Cannabis introduced the permitted use of Cannabis Retail to the Mixed-Use Commercial C2 zone (which is the commercial area south of the Kicking Horse River bridge and between 6th St N and 7th St N). The bylaw also introduces the permitted use of Cannabis Production to the Light Industrial M2 zone."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"how_to_apply":{"label":"How to apply","value":"Use the online webform, download the fillable PDF form, or visit Town Hall at 810 9th Ave South. The licence fee is paid once the application is approved. Business Licence Department: 250-344-2271 ext. 238.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.golden.ca/business-development/business-licences","title":"Business Licences, Town of Golden","section":"Getting a Business Licence","quotes":["You can apply for a business licence using our online webform, by downloading the fillable PDF form, or by visiting Town Hall at 810 9th Ave, South.","Once approved there is a business licence fee to be paid.","Business Licence Department: 250-344-2271 ext.238"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"renewal":{"label":"Renewal","value":"A licence lasts one year and ends April 30. It auto-renews unless \"one year only\" is chosen; notices are mailed about a month before. A business starting after November 1 pays 50% less. Unpaid by April 30: late fee.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.golden.ca/business-development/business-licences","title":"Business Licences, Town of Golden","section":"Getting a Business Licence","quotes":["A business licence is issued for one year and terminates on the 30th day of April.","Business licences auto renew (unless one year only selected)","A 50% reduction in the fee amount will be made on account of any person commencing to do business after the first day of November"]},{"url":"https://golden.civicweb.net/document/64410/","title":"Business Licencing Bylaw No. 990 (PDF)","section":"s. 14","quotes":["A peanity of 10% or a minimum of $10.00 will be added to all Trade License"]}],"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":"Bylaw notice for no business licence: $100 first offence, $200 second, $300 third ($80/$180/$280 if paid within 14 days; $120/$220/$320 after 28 days). A court fine of $100 to $500 is also possible under Bylaw 990.","short":"Notice $100 first offence ($80 if paid in 14 days)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://golden.civicweb.net/document/129117/","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, Schedule G (PDF)","section":"Schedule G","quotes":["3 Fail to obtain business licence (1st offence) $100.00 $80.00 $120.00","3 Fail to obtain business licence (2nd offence) $200.00 $180.00 $220.00","3 Fail to obtain business licence (3rd offence) $300.00 $280.00 $320.00"]},{"url":"https://golden.civicweb.net/document/64410/","title":"Business Licencing Bylaw No. 990 (PDF)","section":"s. 13","quotes":["less than $100.00 and not more than $500.00."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Town of Golden Business Licencing Bylaw No. 990, cited in the bylaw as \"Trade License (Amendment) Bylaw Number 990, 1996\"","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.golden.ca/business-development/business-licences","title":"Business Licences, Town of Golden","section":"Who needs one","quotes":["Town of Golden Business Licencing Bylaw No. 990"]},{"url":"https://golden.civicweb.net/document/64410/","title":"Business Licencing Bylaw No. 990 (PDF)","section":"s. 15","quotes":["This Bylaw may be cited as \"Trade License (Amendment) Bylaw Number 990,"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":7,"stated":6,"matched":6,"none":0,"unknown":1},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nAny person owning or operating a business in Golden needs a Town business licence. A business means any commercial or industrial undertaking, or professional or personal service for gain or profit. Non-profit organizations do not need a licence.\n\nFees are set by business type in Schedule A of [Business Licencing Bylaw No. 990](<https://golden.civicweb.net/document/64410/>): $70 a year for most categories (retail, wholesale, professional, repair, other) and $125 for a general contractor. The Town page lists cannabis retail at $300 and liquor primary at $70.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Use the online webform, download the fillable PDF form, or visit Town Hall at 810 9th Ave. South.\n2. Submit the application. The licence fee is paid once the application is approved.\n3. Renew each year. The licence ends April 30 and auto-renews unless you choose \"one year only\". Notices are mailed about a month before.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- A business starting after November 1 pays 50% less.\n- Fees not paid by April 30 get a penalty of 10% or a minimum of $10 (bylaw s. 14); the Town page also mentions a late fee.\n- Operating without a licence is a bylaw notice of $100 first offence, $200 second and $300 third. A court fine of $100 to $500 is also possible under Bylaw 990. Failing to display the licence is $100.\n- Short-term rentals and B&Bs have their own licences and higher amounts (see the short-term-rental answer).\n- No inter-community licence is mentioned on the Town pages. Ask the Business Licence Department if you work in several communities.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.golden.ca/business-development/business-licences","title":"Business Licences, Town of Golden","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://golden.civicweb.net/document/64410/","title":"Business Licencing Bylaw No. 990 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://golden.civicweb.net/document/129117/","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, Schedule G (PDF)","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 6 of 7 facts was matched to the official text; 1 could not be confirmed."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/golden/business-licence/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/golden/business-licence.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/golden/business-licence.json"}}