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

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

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

**Short answer:** Yes. In Invermere anyone carrying on business needs a District licence for each business and premises. A General Business Licence is $150 to apply and $150 to renew. Email the form to info@invermere.net or hand it in at 914 8th Avenue.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Invermere, https://invermere.net)  
**Cost:** General Business Licence: $150 application and $150 renewal. Other categories cost more (for example Mobile Vendor $500 / $300; Short-term Rental $700 / $500). Transfer to new premises or owner: $75.  
**How long:** The licence is typically issued in 7 to 10 working days.  
**Where:**
- In person: Municipal Hall, 914 8th Avenue, Invermere, BC V0A 1K0 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
- Email: Business licensing, info@invermere.net
- Phone: District office, 250-342-9281

## Key facts

- **Who needs one:** Anyone carrying on business in the District needs a licence for each business and each premises. No licence is needed for daycare or babysitting of up to two unrelated children or one family's children, or a residential garage sale of up to five sale days a year.
  - Source: [Business Licencing Bylaw No. 1683, 2025, ss. 3.1, 3.2, 20.1](https://invermere.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/bylaw-1683-business-licencing-2025.pdf)
  - Official wording: "(a) A person will not carry on business in the District without first having obtained and paid for a" … "(c) A person who carries on business from more than one premise in the District must obtain a separate" … "A Business Licence is not required for the provision of daycare or babysitting services for up to two" … "provided that a person does not hold more than five (5) sale days per year."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fee:** General Business Licence: $150 application and $150 renewal. Other categories cost more (for example Mobile Vendor $500 / $300; Short-term Rental $700 / $500). Transfer to new premises or owner: $75.
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Amendment Bylaw No. 1682, 2025, Schedule F](https://invermere.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/bylaw-1682-fees-and-charges-amendment-bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "General Business Licence $150 $150" … "Mobile Vendor $500 $300" … "Business Licence Transfer Fee * $75"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **How to apply:** Complete the application form and email it to info@invermere.net or hand it in at 914 8th Avenue, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday. Staff forward it to the agencies that must approve it; the licence is typically issued in 7 to 10 working days.
  - Source: [Business Licencing, FAQ](https://invermere.net/business/business-licencing/)
  - Official wording: "Applications can be emailed to info@invermere.net. Alternately, applications can be submitted in-person between 8:30am – 4:30pm, Monday- Friday at the District of Invermere office at 914 8th Ave." … "Licence staff will review your application to make sure it is complete, and forward it to the appropriate agencies for approvals." … "Typically, a licence is issued within 7 to 10 working days, but may take longer."
  - Source: [Business Licencing Bylaw No. 1683, 2025, s. 5.1](https://invermere.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/bylaw-1683-business-licencing-2025.pdf)
  - Official wording: "The Licence Inspector may grant a Business Licence upon being satisfied that the Applicant has complied" … "with the bylaws of the District regulating building, zoning, health, sanitation, water, life safety, nuisance,"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Renewal:** Licences run January 1 to December 31. A renewal notice is mailed in early December and fees are due by January 31.
  - Source: [Business Licencing Bylaw No. 1683, 2025, ss. 8.1, 12.3](https://invermere.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/bylaw-1683-business-licencing-2025.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Business Licences will be granted annually for a period commencing January 1 and expiring December" … "31." … "must be paid to the District prior to January 31 in the licence year."
  - Source: [Business Licencing, FAQ](https://invermere.net/business/business-licencing/)
  - Official wording: "If you have a business licence, you will automatically be sent a renewal notice in the mail in early December."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Inter-community licence:** None set. The District does not offer an inter-community licence.
- **Fine:** Municipal ticket: $500 first offence and $3,000 subsequent offence for failing to obtain or hold a licence; $50 first and $150 subsequent for failing to display it. A court fine can be up to $50,000.
  - Source: [Ticket Information Utilization Bylaw Schedule O, Bylaw No. 1655, 2024, Schedule O (Bylaw 1655, 2024)](https://invermere.civicweb.net/document/51621/)
  - Official wording: "Fail to obtain or hold business 3.1 (a), (b) or (c)" … "First Offence: $ 500 Subsequent Offence: $3,000*" … "Fail to display business licence 10.1" … "First Offence: $ 50"
  - Source: [Business Licencing Bylaw No. 1683, 2025, s. 24.4](https://invermere.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/bylaw-1683-business-licencing-2025.pdf)
  - Official wording: "(b) on summary conviction to a fine of not more than Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00), plus the"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Business Licencing Bylaw No. 1683, 2025
  - Source: [Business Licencing Bylaw No. 1683, 2025, Title](https://invermere.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/bylaw-1683-business-licencing-2025.pdf)
  - Official wording: "BYLAW NO. 1683, 2025"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

Under [Business Licencing Bylaw No. 1683, 2025](https://invermere.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/bylaw-1683-business-licencing-2025.pdf), anyone carrying on business in the District of Invermere needs a licence for each business and each premises. No licence is needed for daycare or babysitting of up to two unrelated children or one family's children, or a residential garage sale of up to five sale days a year. Fees are in Schedule F of the Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1615 (Amendment Bylaw No. 1682, 2025).

## Steps

1. Complete the business licence application form.
2. Email it to info@invermere.net, or hand it in at 914 8th Avenue, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday.
3. Staff forward it to the agencies that must approve it.
4. Pay the fee: e-transfer to info@invermere.net, or cash, cheque or debit at the office. Bring the form, any lease and any provincial or federal licences.

## Good to know

- Licences run January 1 to December 31. A renewal notice is mailed in early December and fees are due by January 31.
- Other fees (application / renewal): Cannabis Dispenser $1000 / $500; Rental of watercraft $1000 / $1000; Pawnbrokers and second-hand dealers $2000 / $150; Carnival or circus $150 per day; Social escort, dating, massage and body paint $5000 / $5000.
- A municipal ticket is $500 for a first offence and $3,000 for a subsequent offence for failing to obtain or hold a licence, and $50 first and $150 subsequent for failing to display it. A court fine can be up to $50,000. The ticket schedule names a repealed bylaw, so confirm current amounts with the District.
- The District does not offer an inter-community licence.

## Official forms and pages

- [Business Licencing, District of Invermere](https://invermere.net/business/business-licencing/)
- [Business Licencing Bylaw No. 1683, 2025 (PDF)](https://invermere.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/bylaw-1683-business-licencing-2025.pdf)
- [Fees and Charges Amendment Bylaw No. 1682, 2025 (PDF)](https://invermere.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/bylaw-1682-fees-and-charges-amendment-bylaw.pdf)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Business licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/business-licence.md)
- [Radium Hot Springs](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/radium-hot-springs/business-licence.md)
- [Canal Flats](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/canal-flats/business-licence.md)
- [Kaslo](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kaslo/business-licence.md)
- [Elkford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/elkford/business-licence.md)
- [Kimberley](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kimberley/business-licence.md)
- [Cranbrook](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cranbrook/business-licence.md)

## Sources

- [Business Licencing, District of Invermere](https://invermere.net/business/business-licencing/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Business Licencing Bylaw No. 1683, 2025 (PDF), District of Invermere](https://invermere.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/bylaw-1683-business-licencing-2025.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Fees and Charges Amendment Bylaw No. 1682, 2025 (PDF), District of Invermere](https://invermere.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/bylaw-1682-fees-and-charges-amendment-bylaw.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Ticket Information Utilization Bylaw Schedule O, Bylaw No. 1655, 2024 (PDF), District of Invermere](https://invermere.civicweb.net/document/51621/) (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 is recorded as not set. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with District of Invermere. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/invermere/business-licence/_