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

# Greenwood business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply

**Question:** Do I need a business licence in Greenwood, and how do I get one?

**Short answer:** Greenwood issues business licences through City Hall (250-445-6644) using an online Business Licence Application Form. The City's page lists a regular licence at $100 plus a $50 application fee. Business Licence Bylaw 1016, 2024 could not be read, so confirm who needs a licence with the City.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Greenwood, https://www.greenwoodcity.com)  
**Cost:** Regular licence $100 plus a $50 application fee; seasonal $75; non-profits no fee; transfer to a new person $25. Special event mobile vendors ($150) and retail cannabis and liquor stores ($350) are listed as application fees. New businesses applying after October 1 pay 50%.  
**How long:** Not stated by the City.  
**Where:**
- Online: Business Licence Application Form, https://forms.greenwoodcity.com/Business-Licence-Application-Form
- In person: Greenwood City Hall, 202 South Government Avenue, Greenwood, BC V0H 1J0
- Phone: City Hall, 250-445-6644
- Email: City Hall reception, reception@greenwoodcity.ca

## Key facts

- **Who needs one:** Not confirmed. The City's Business Licence Bylaw 1016 is image-only and could not be read.
- **Fee:** Regular licence $100 plus a $50 application fee. Seasonal $75. Non-profits pay no fee. Special event mobile vendors ($150) and retail cannabis and liquor stores ($350) are listed as application fees. Transfer to a new person $25. New businesses applying after October 1 pay 50%.
  - Source: [Forms & Permits, Permits & Fees](https://www.greenwoodcity.com/services/forms-permits/)
  - Official wording: "The Regular Business License Fee in the City of Greenwood shall be $100.00." … "A Seasonal Business License fee shall be $75.00." … "Special Event Mobile Vendor: $150" … "Retail Cannabis stores & Liquor Store(s): $350" … "The fee to transfer a license to a new person shall be $25.00." … "License Fees are pro-rated 50% for new businesses who apply after October 1st."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to apply:** Complete the Business Licence Application Form online or at City Hall (202 S Government Ave, 250-445-6644, reception@greenwoodcity.ca). A non-refundable application fee applies. Interior Health approval is needed for food premises, personal service establishments and care facilities; building or sign permits may be needed. Premises may not be occupied until inspected and licensed.
  - Source: [Business Licence Application Form](https://forms.greenwoodcity.com/Business-Licence-Application-Form)
  - Official wording: "please contact the Greenwood City Hall at 250-445-6644, reception@greenwoodcity.ca, or visit us at City Hall, 202 S Government Ave." … "There will be a non-refundable application fee" … "Interior Health Approval Required?" … "they may not be occupied until they have been inspected by the authorities concerned and a license issued."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Renewal:** Renew before expiry for $90 (10% discount); if not renewed by March 1 the fee is $120. The April 2026 newsletter says businesses not paid by April 30, 2026 are deemed inactive and cancelled, and renewing after that carries the $50 application fee. The expiry date is not stated.
  - Source: [Forms & Permits, Permits & Fees](https://www.greenwoodcity.com/services/forms-permits/)
  - Official wording: "the Regular Business License Fee will be $90.00 (10% discount)." … "by March 1 of each year, the Regular Business License fee will be $120.00 (a 20% penalty)."
  - Source: [April 2026 newsletter, Business Licences notice](https://media-002-ca.cdn.govstack.com/greenwoodcity-013-ca/media/3wqfmsv0/april-2026-newsletter-2.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Business license renewal fees for 2026 are now overdue. Reminder" … "paid for by April 30, 2026 will be deemed inactive and canceled."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Inter-community licence:** Not confirmed. The City's Business Licence Bylaw 1016 is image-only and could not be read.
- **Fine:** Not confirmed. The City's Business Licence Bylaw 1016 is image-only and could not be read.
- **Bylaw:** Business Licence Bylaw No. 1016, 2024
  - Source: [Business Licence Application Form, Note](https://forms.greenwoodcity.com/Business-Licence-Application-Form)
  - Official wording: "Business Licences Bylaw # 1016, 2024"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The City's Forms and Permits page lists the fees below. They may change when the City updates its fees bylaw. The business licence bylaw (Business Licence Bylaw No. 1016, 2024) could not be read, so who needs a licence is not confirmed here.

- Regular licence: $100 plus a $50 application fee. Seasonal: $75. Non-profits: no fee.
- Special event mobile vendors ($150) and retail cannabis and liquor stores ($350) are listed as application fees.
- Transfer to a new person: $25. New businesses applying after October 1 pay 50%.

## Steps

1. Complete the Business Licence Application Form online or at City Hall (202 South Government Avenue). The application fee is non-refundable.
2. Get Interior Health approval if you run a food premises, personal service establishment or care facility. Building or sign permits may also be needed.
3. Do not occupy the premises until it is inspected and licensed.

## Good to know

- **Renewal:** renew before expiry for $90 (a 10% discount). If not renewed by March 1, the fee is $120. The expiry date is not stated.
- The City has stated that businesses not paid by April 30 are deemed inactive and cancelled, and that renewing after that carries the $50 application fee.
- The City states no processing time or fine. Call City Hall at 250-445-6644.

## Official forms and pages

- [Business Licence Application Form](https://forms.greenwoodcity.com/Business-Licence-Application-Form)
- [Forms & Permits, City of Greenwood](https://www.greenwoodcity.com/services/forms-permits/)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Business licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/business-licence.md)
- [Midway](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/midway/business-licence.md)
- [Grand Forks](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/grand-forks/business-licence.md)
- [Osoyoos](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/osoyoos/business-licence.md)
- [Rossland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/rossland/business-licence.md)
- [Oliver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oliver/business-licence.md)
- [Warfield](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/warfield/business-licence.md)

## Sources

- [Business Licence Application Form, City of Greenwood](https://forms.greenwoodcity.com/Business-Licence-Application-Form) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Forms & Permits, City of Greenwood](https://www.greenwoodcity.com/services/forms-permits/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [April 2026 newsletter (PDF), City of Greenwood](https://media-002-ca.cdn.govstack.com/greenwoodcity-013-ca/media/3wqfmsv0/april-2026-newsletter-2.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 4 of 7 facts was matched to the official text; 3 could not be confirmed. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Greenwood. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/greenwood/business-licence/_