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

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

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

**Short answer:** Yes. Anyone carrying on a business in the City of Kamloops, including a home-based or non-resident business, needs a City business licence. Apply online through eApply with a MyCity account. There is a $15 application fee, then a category fee (for example $168 for retail under 324 m²).

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Kamloops, https://www.kamloops.ca)  
**Cost:** $15 non-refundable application fee, then a category fee (Schedule D, from January 1, 2026): retail under 324 m² $168; business service $168; restaurant, bakery, deli or caterer $225; general contractor $284; subcontractor $142. These are primary fees.  
**How long:** Two to four business days for a home-based or non-resident business; 12 to 16 business days for a commercial business, and longer if inspections are needed (City FAQ).  
**Where:**
- Online: Apply for a business licence (eApply), https://www.kamloops.ca/eApply
- In person: Business Licensing (kiosk), 105 Seymour Street, Kamloops, BC V2C 2C6
- Phone: Business Licensing, 250-828-3481
- Email: Business Licensing, business@kamloops.ca

## Key facts

- **Who needs one:** Anyone carrying on a business in the City, including home-based businesses, commercial, and non-resident businesses.
  - Source: [Business Licence and Regulation Bylaw No. 9-60, s. 400](https://kamloops.civicweb.net/filepro/document/204252/Business%20Licence%20and%20Regulation%20Bylaw%20No.%209-60.pdf)
  - Official wording: "No person or entity shall carry on a business within the City without having" … "obtained a valid business licence issued by the Business Licence Inspector."
  - Source: [Business Licensing Frequently Asked Questions, FAQ](https://www.kamloops.ca/business-development/business-licensing/frequently-asked-questions)
  - Official wording: "The City issues licences to commercial, home-based, and non-resident businesses."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fee:** $15 non-refundable application fee, then a category fee (Schedule D, effective January 1, 2026). Examples: retail under 324 m² $168; business service $168; restaurant, bakery, deli or caterer $225; general contractor $284; subcontractor $142.
  - Source: [Business Licensing Frequently Asked Questions, FAQ](https://www.kamloops.ca/business-development/business-licensing/frequently-asked-questions)
  - Official wording: "$15 non-refundable application fee" … "All other licence fees will be invoiced once your application has been reviewed, and fees will be due upon receipt of your invoice."
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 44-14, Schedule D, Sch. D, items 3, 5, 9, 26](https://kamloops.civicweb.net/document/204231/)
  - Official wording: "(a) Floor area less than 324 m² $146.00 $111.00 $168.00 $128.00" … "(a) Restaurant Bakery, Deli, Caterer $196.40 n/a $225.00 n/a" … "Business Licence Fees by Category Effective October 2, 2012 Effective January 1, 2026"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to apply:** Apply online through eApply with a MyCity account, giving business name, address, contact details, start date and a brief description, with the $15 fee. A kiosk is at 105 Seymour Street. Commercial sites are reviewed for zoning, building, fire and health rules; home-based businesses have a streamlined process.
  - Source: [Business Licensing Frequently Asked Questions, FAQ](https://www.kamloops.ca/business-development/business-licensing/frequently-asked-questions)
  - Official wording: "All new licence applications are done online through eApply" … "a business name, address, contact information, business start date, and a brief description of your business" … "Commercial locations are reviewed for zoning (land use), building, fire, and health regulations."
  - Source: [Business Licensing Frequently Asked Questions, FAQ (processing)](https://www.kamloops.ca/business-development/business-licensing/frequently-asked-questions)
  - Official wording: "The processing time for a new business licence is two to four business days for a home-based or non-resident business and 12 to 16 business days for a commercial business"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Renewal:** A licence runs January 1 to December 31. Renewal fees must be paid before January 1 even without an invoice; invoices are sent in November. A $25 late charge applies to payments received after January 15. (Sources differ: The City's FAQ says invoices go out around mid-November and payment is due by January 1; the renewal page says end of November and December 31. The bylaw says before the start of the licence period (January 1) and late after January 15. Renewals can be paid through MyCity, PayOnline, mail, in person, or online banking.)
  - Source: [Business Licence and Regulation Bylaw No. 9-60, ss. 405, 407](https://kamloops.civicweb.net/filepro/document/204252/Business%20Licence%20and%20Regulation%20Bylaw%20No.%209-60.pdf)
  - Official wording: "to commence on the first day of January and to terminate on the 31st day of December" … "Business licence holders must renew their business licence by submitting the required" … "renewal payments received after January 15th in a given year will be subject to a" … "$25 late payment charge."
  - Source: [Business Licensing, Business Licence Renewal](https://www.kamloops.ca/business-development/business-licensing)
  - Official wording: "Business licence renewal invoices are sent at the end of November each year. Payments are due by December 31."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Inter-community licence:** Yes, for mobile businesses working in two or more partner communities. Partners may include Barriere, Chase, Clearwater, Kamloops, Lillooet, Logan Lake, Merritt and Tk'emlups te Secwepemc. The fee is $75. It is a secondary licence: you need a primary licence first and apply through the community that issued it.
  - Source: [Business Licensing, Inter-Community Business Licence](https://www.kamloops.ca/business-development/business-licensing)
  - Official wording: "Partnering communities may include Barriere, Chase, Clearwater, Kamloops, Lillooet, Logan Lake, Merritt," … "An ICBL is a secondary business licence."
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 44-14, Schedule D, Sch. D, item 40](https://kamloops.civicweb.net/document/204231/)
  - Official wording: "INTER COMMUNITY BUSINESS LICENCE FEE $75.00 $75.00"
  - Source: [Business Licence and Regulation Bylaw No. 9-60, s. 524(g)](https://kamloops.civicweb.net/filepro/document/204252/Business%20Licence%20and%20Regulation%20Bylaw%20No.%209-60.pdf)
  - Official wording: "is separate and additional to any Municipal Business Licence that"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** $200 for carrying on business without a business licence (s. 400). $100 for failing to display a business licence (s. 419).
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 43-15, Sch. D](https://kamloops.civicweb.net/document/71966)
  - Official wording: "No Business Licence 400 $200.00" … "Failure to Display Business Licence 419 $100.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Business Licence and Regulation Bylaw No. 9-60, 2012
  - Source: [Business Licence and Regulation Bylaw No. 9-60, title](https://kamloops.civicweb.net/filepro/document/204252/Business%20Licence%20and%20Regulation%20Bylaw%20No.%209-60.pdf)
  - Official wording: "BUSINESS LICENCE AND REGULATION BYLAW NO. 9-60, 2012" … "Effective Date - October 2, 2012"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The City of Kamloops requires a licence under its [Business Licence and Regulation Bylaw 9-60](https://kamloops.civicweb.net/filepro/document/204252/Business%20Licence%20and%20Regulation%20Bylaw%20No.%209-60.pdf) for anyone carrying on a business in the City. You need a separate licence for each premises and for each distinct business category on a premises. Commercial sites are reviewed for zoning, building, fire and health rules. Home-based businesses have a streamlined process.

## Steps

1. Check zoning with Planning (250-828-3561 or planning@kamloops.ca). Some commercial types need prior approvals (zoning, building permit, sign permit, fire and Interior Health inspections) before opening.
2. Apply online through eApply with a MyCity account, giving your business name, address, contact details, start date and a brief description, with the $15 fee. A kiosk is at 105 Seymour Street.
3. Pay the category fee. Check it with Business Licensing before applying.

## Good to know

- Other categories (accommodation, contractors, financial and more) are in Schedule D of [Fees and Charges Bylaw 44-14](https://kamloops.civicweb.net/document/204231/). Each has a primary and a secondary fee.
- Renewals: a licence runs January 1 to December 31. Pay before January 1 even if you have no invoice; invoices are sent in November. A $25 late charge applies to payments received after January 15. Pay through MyCity, PayOnline, mail, in person, or online banking. The City's pages give slightly different invoice and due dates, so check your notice.
- Mobile businesses working in two or more partner communities (which may include Barriere, Chase, Clearwater, Kamloops, Lillooet, Logan Lake, Merritt and Tk'emlups te Secwepemc) can get an inter-community licence for $75. It is a secondary licence: you need a primary licence first and apply through the community that issued it.
- Fines: $200 for carrying on business without a business licence, and $100 for failing to display a business licence.

## What you'll need

- Business name, address, contact details, start date and a brief description
- Any approvals that apply to your premises (zoning, building, sign permit, fire, Interior Health)

## Official forms and pages

- [Business Licensing, City of Kamloops](https://www.kamloops.ca/business-development/business-licensing)
- [Business Licensing Frequently Asked Questions](https://www.kamloops.ca/business-development/business-licensing/frequently-asked-questions)
- [Business Licence and Regulation Bylaw 9-60 (PDF)](https://kamloops.civicweb.net/filepro/document/204252/Business%20Licence%20and%20Regulation%20Bylaw%20No.%209-60.pdf)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Business licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/business-licence.md)
- [Sun Peaks](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sun-peaks/business-licence.md)
- [Chase](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chase/business-licence.md)
- [Barriere](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/barriere/business-licence.md)
- [Logan Lake](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/logan-lake/business-licence.md)
- [Ashcroft](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ashcroft/business-licence.md)
- [Cache Creek](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cache-creek/business-licence.md)

## Sources

- [Business Licensing, City of Kamloops](https://www.kamloops.ca/business-development/business-licensing) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Business Licensing Frequently Asked Questions, City of Kamloops](https://www.kamloops.ca/business-development/business-licensing/frequently-asked-questions) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Business Licence and Regulation Bylaw No. 9-60 (PDF), City of Kamloops](https://kamloops.civicweb.net/filepro/document/204252/Business%20Licence%20and%20Regulation%20Bylaw%20No.%209-60.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 44-14, Schedule D (PDF), City of Kamloops](https://kamloops.civicweb.net/document/204231/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 43-15 (PDF), City of Kamloops](https://kamloops.civicweb.net/document/71966) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Zoning Information Request, City of Kamloops](https://www.kamloops.ca/business-development/planning-development/apply-epermit/zoning-information-request) (read 2026-11-05)

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