---
title: "Houston business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply"
question: "Do I need a business licence in Houston, and how do I get one?"
place: Houston, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/houston
category: Starting and running a business
owner: municipal
owner_body: District of Houston
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/business-licence/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/business-licence.json"
---

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

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

**Short answer:** Yes. Anyone carrying on a business in the District of Houston needs a business licence, including home-based, mobile and rental-accommodation businesses. Apply online through the PSD Citywide portal. The general licence is $125 a year (2026 to 2028).

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Houston, https://houston.ca)  
**Cost:** Per year (2026 to 2028): general $125; restaurant or retail $250; personal services $180; automotive $325; industrial $400; cannabis or liquor $600; artisan $60; mobile vendor or contractor $250 (or $30 a month); rental accommodation $20 per unit.  
**How long:** Not stated.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Community Development Department, 250-845-2238
- Email: Business licence email, doh@houston.ca
- In person: Municipal Office, 3367 12th Street, Houston, BC V0J 1Z0 (Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)

## Key facts

- **Who needs one:** Anyone carrying on a business in the District, including home-based, mobile and rental-accommodation businesses; one licence per location and per trade name or type. Exempt: governments, garage sales, registered non-profits, buskers, and vendors at a farmers' or flea market.
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 1220, 2025, ss. 3.1 to 3.3](https://houston.civicweb.net/document/144934/)
  - Official wording: "A person must not carry on any business within the municipality without a valid licence issued by the business licence inspector." … "a separate business licence for each: (1) location in the District from which the business is carried on; and" … "buskers or street entertainers; and" … "a person who sells or advertises goods, products or services as part of a Farmers' Market or a flea market."
  - Source: [Licences and Permits, "Business Licence"](https://houston.ca/community/planning-and-development/licences-and-permits/)
  - Official wording: "regardless of your business’s “home” location, you are required to obtain a business licence."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fee:** Per year (2026 to 2028): general $125; restaurant or retail $250; personal services $180; automotive $325; industrial $400; cannabis or liquor $600; artisan $60; mobile vendor or contractor $250 (or $30 a month); rental accommodation $20 per unit.
  - Source: [Bylaw No. 1221, 2025, Business Licence Fees, Schedule A-3, Schedule A-3 (Business Licenses), effective January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2028](https://houston.civicweb.net/document/145046/)
  - Official wording: "General License Fee Per year $125.00 $125.00 $125.00" … "Restaurant License Fee Per year $250.00 $250.00 $250.00" … "Personal Services (Health Per year $180.00 $180.00 $180.00" … "Industrial License Fee Per year $400.00 $400.00 $400.00" … "Artisan License Fee Per year $60.00 $60.00 $60.00" … "Mobile Vendor Fee Per year or $250.00/year or"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **How to apply:** Apply online through the PSD Citywide portal. Staff review the application; a business in a building must show the zoning permits the use and give a fire inspection report if none in the last six months. Health permits, insurance or provincial approvals may also be needed.
  - Source: [Business Licensing User Guide, Business Licensing User Guide, p. 2](https://houston.civicweb.net/document/146200/)
  - Official wording: "This guide provides step-by-step instructions on how to apply for a business licence online" … "using the PSD Citywide portal."
  - Source: [Licences and Permits, "Business Licence"](https://houston.ca/community/planning-and-development/licences-and-permits/)
  - Official wording: "must demonstrate that the Zoning is permitted for the proposed use and must provide a Fire Inspection Report if one has not been completed within the last six months."
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 1220, 2025, s. 3.4](https://houston.civicweb.net/document/144934/)
  - Official wording: "A person may apply for a licence by submitting a completed application to the Inspector"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Renewal:** Licences are valid for the calendar year (or the period set for a temporary or seasonal business). The licensee must renew each year; renewals submitted after February 28 pay a $25 late fee. Renew through the portal with "Request Renewal".
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 1220, 2025, ss. 3.13, 3.15 and late renewal](https://houston.civicweb.net/document/144934/)
  - Official wording: "the year in which it is obtained unless is cancelled or suspended; or" … "a Licensee is responsible for renewing the" … "submitted after February 28 of the applicable calendar year is subject to the non-refundable late application fee"
  - Source: [Bylaw No. 1221, 2025, Business Licence Fees, Schedule A-3](https://houston.civicweb.net/document/145046/)
  - Official wording: "Late Renewal Fee Per occurrence $25.00 $25.00 $25.00"
  - Source: [Business Licensing User Guide, p. 3, note](https://houston.civicweb.net/document/146200/)
  - Official wording: "Open the applicable licence application you want to renew from your Licences Dashboard to “Request Renewal”."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Inter-community licence:** Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read.
- **Fine:** Bylaw notice for failing to obtain a licence (s. 3.2): $200, or $150 if paid within 14 days; $250 if paid late. On conviction the bylaw allows a fine of up to $50,000.
  - Source: [Bylaw No. 1230, 2026, Schedule A, Business Licence Bylaw No. 1220 bylaw notice amounts, Schedule A, Business Licence Bylaw No. 1220, 2025](https://houston.civicweb.net/document/144929/)
  - Official wording: "Failure to Obtain License" … "3.2 $ 200.00 $ 150.00 5 250.00 Yes"
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 1220, 2025, s. 5.7](https://houston.civicweb.net/document/144934/)
  - Official wording: "A person who commits an offence is liable for a fine not exceeding $50,000 and the costs of prosecution."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Business Licence Bylaw No. 1220, 2025 (in force January 1, 2026; replaces Bylaw No. 1085, 2016).
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 1220, 2025, ss. 6.1, 6.4, 6.5](https://houston.civicweb.net/document/144934/)
  - Official wording: "This bylaw may be cited as "Business Licence Bylaw No. 1220, 2025"." … "District of Houston Business Licence" … "Bylaw No. 1085, 2016 and all amendments thereto are repealed."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

The [Business Licence Bylaw No. 1220, 2025](https://houston.civicweb.net/document/144934/) (in force January 1, 2026) requires a licence for anyone carrying on a business in the District, including home-based, mobile and rental-accommodation businesses. You need one licence per location and per trade name or type. Exempt: governments, garage sales, registered non-profits and charities (with proof of registration), buskers, vendors at a farmers' or flea market, and fundraising by educational organizations, sports teams or community associations.

## Steps

1. Apply online through the PSD Citywide portal. See the [Licences and Permits page](https://houston.ca/community/planning-and-development/licences-and-permits/).
2. If your business is in a building, show that the zoning permits the use, and give a fire inspection report if there has been none in the last six months.
3. Staff review the application. The Inspector may approve, refuse, suspend, cancel or impose conditions on a licence.
4. Health permits, insurance or provincial approvals may also be needed.

## Good to know

- Fees per year (2026 to 2028): general $125; restaurant or retail $250; personal services $180; automotive $325; industrial $400; cannabis or liquor $600; artisan $60; mobile vendor or contractor $250 (or $30 a month); rental accommodation $20 per unit.
- New liquor or cannabis application $900, amendment $400, transfer $10.
- Licences are valid for the calendar year. Renew through the portal with "Request Renewal". Renewals submitted after February 28 pay a $25 late fee. The Inspector may send an invoice before December 31 but is not required to.
- Operating without a licence: a bylaw notice is $200, or $150 if paid within 14 days; $250 if paid late. Failure to renew or transfer is $150, and failure to post a licence is $100. On conviction a fine of up to $50,000 is possible.
- We found no inter-community business licence for Houston.
- Questions: 250-845-2238 or doh@houston.ca.

## Official forms and pages

- [Business Licence Bylaw No. 1220, 2025 (PDF), District of Houston](https://houston.civicweb.net/document/144934/)
- [Bylaw No. 1221, 2025 (PDF), Business Licence Fees, Schedule A-3](https://houston.civicweb.net/document/145046/)
- [Business Licensing User Guide (PDF), District of Houston](https://houston.civicweb.net/document/146200/)
- [Licences and Permits, District of Houston](https://houston.ca/community/planning-and-development/licences-and-permits/)
- [Bylaw No. 1230, 2026 (PDF), Schedule A, Business Licence Bylaw No. 1220 bylaw notice amounts](https://houston.civicweb.net/document/144929/)

## Related questions

- [Houston home-based business rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/home-based-business.md)
- [Houston short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/short-term-rental.md)
- [Houston zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Houston bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/bylaw-fines.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Business licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/business-licence.md)
- [Telkwa](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/telkwa/business-licence.md)
- [Smithers](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/business-licence.md)
- [Granisle](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/granisle/business-licence.md)
- [New Hazelton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-hazelton/business-licence.md)
- [Terrace](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/terrace/business-licence.md)
- [Fraser Lake](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fraser-lake/business-licence.md)

## Sources

- [Business Licence Bylaw No. 1220, 2025 (PDF), District of Houston](https://houston.civicweb.net/document/144934/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Bylaw No. 1221, 2025 (PDF), Business Licence Fees, Schedule A-3](https://houston.civicweb.net/document/145046/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Business Licensing User Guide (PDF), District of Houston](https://houston.civicweb.net/document/146200/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Licences and Permits, District of Houston](https://houston.ca/community/planning-and-development/licences-and-permits/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Bylaw No. 1230, 2026 (PDF), Schedule A, Business Licence Bylaw No. 1220 bylaw notice amounts](https://houston.civicweb.net/document/144929/) (read 2026-11-08)

_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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with District of Houston. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/business-licence/_