---
title: "Kent business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply"
question: "Do I need a business licence in Kent, and how do I get one?"
place: Kent, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/kent
category: Starting and running a business
owner: municipal
owner_body: District of Kent
sources_read: 2026-11-06
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kent/business-licence/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kent/business-licence.json"
---

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

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

**Short answer:** Yes. Anyone carrying on a business in the District of Kent needs a licence, renewed each year by December 31. Most businesses pay $125 a year. Apply with the form and fee to the Licence Inspector at Municipal Hall in Agassiz.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Kent, https://www.kentbc.ca)  
**Cost:** Most businesses $125 a year. Non-resident $110. Construction contractor with one vehicle under 3,900 kg and one trailer $125. Retail cannabis $5,000. Some home occupations $500 plus $1 per m². Inter-Municipal Business Licence $250 on top of the resident fee.  
**How long:** Not stated.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Business Licence Inspector, 604-796-2235
- In person: Municipal Hall, 7170 Cheam Avenue, Agassiz, BC V0M 1A0 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)

## Key facts

- **Who needs one:** Anyone carrying on a business in the District, resident or non-resident, including short-term rentals. Exempt: charities and non-profits using revenue solely for charitable purposes, occasional fundraisers, long-term rentals under the Residential Tenancy Act, farm operations (not agri-tourism or farm commercial or industrial uses), farmers market vendors, garage sales (4 a year).
  - Source: [Business Licencing and Regulation Bylaw No. 1747, 2025, s. 3.1](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/kentbc-ca/media/4ngnwdaz/bylaw1747.pdf)
  - Official wording: "A person must not engage in or carry on a business within the District unless" … "Farm Operations with the exception of farm-related commercial and farm" … "related industrial uses and agri-tourism." … "organization whose revenues are used solely for charitable or benevolent"
  - Source: [Business Licencing and Regulation Bylaw No. 1747, 2025, s. 4.1](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/kentbc-ca/media/4ngnwdaz/bylaw1747.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Rental of a single family dwelling, secondary suite, or duplex where the" … "Farm Operations with the exception of farm-related commercial and farm" … "maximum 4 times per calendar year"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fee:** Most businesses $125 a year. Non-resident $110. Construction contractor with one vehicle under 3,900 kg and one trailer $125. Retail cannabis $5,000. Some home occupations $500 plus $1 per m². Renewal paid before Dec. 15 is 10% less; after Jan. 31 it is 10% more. Half price for new licences after July 31.
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1717, 2023 (PDF, consolidated), Sch. B, Business Licence](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/kentbc-ca/media/0tcgzwdh/bylaw1717consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "All other Businesses not listed above" … "Non Resident" … "$110" … "Only in the initial year of application, licence fee" … "after July 31st"
  - Source: [Business Licences and Permits, Fees](https://www.kentbc.ca/business-and-development/business-licences-and-permits/)
  - Official wording: "Fees and Charges bylaw sets the business licence fees"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to apply:** Complete the resident or non-resident business licence application form and deliver it with the fee to the Licence Inspector (Municipal Hall, 7170 Cheam Avenue). The licence depends on the Zoning bylaw, and building and plumbing alterations are regulated by the Building bylaw and BC Building Code. Contact Development Services before changing premises.
  - Source: [Business Licencing and Regulation Bylaw No. 1747, 2025, s. 3.5](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/kentbc-ca/media/4ngnwdaz/bylaw1747.pdf)
  - Official wording: "A person may apply for a licence by completing an application on the prescribed" … "form and delivering it, together with any further information that may be"
  - Source: [Business Licences and Permits, Related bylaws](https://www.kentbc.ca/business-and-development/business-licences-and-permits/)
  - Official wording: "Zoning bylaw regulates the permitted property uses" … "regulate commercial tenant alterations or improvements for building and plumbing."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Renewal:** Licences expire December 31. Renewal notices are mailed in early November. Pay before expiry; payments must be received by the due date (postmarks are not accepted). Fines may apply if not renewed by February 28.
  - Source: [Business Licencing and Regulation Bylaw No. 1747, 2025, s. 9.1](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/kentbc-ca/media/4ngnwdaz/bylaw1747.pdf)
  - Official wording: "annual licence fee to the District Office for processing prior to expiry of the" … "licence on December 31st."
  - Source: [Business Licencing and Regulation Bylaw No. 1747, 2025, s. 9.2](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/kentbc-ca/media/4ngnwdaz/bylaw1747.pdf)
  - Official wording: "the licence is not renewed by February 28th, applicable fines may be applied"
  - Source: [Business Licences and Permits, Renewal](https://www.kentbc.ca/business-and-development/business-licences-and-permits/)
  - Official wording: "We mail renewal notices in early November of each year to all businesses with a current" … "Payments must be received by the due date. Postmark dates are not accepted."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Inter-community licence:** Yes. An Inter-Municipal Business Licence (IMBL) costs $250 for the calendar year, on top of the resident licence fee. It covers participating municipalities (Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Delta, Harrison Hot Springs, Hope, Kent, both Langleys, Maple Ridge, Mission, Pitt Meadows, Surrey) for trade contractors in the construction industry and contractors doing maintenance or repair of land and buildings.
  - Source: [Business Licences and Permits, Inter-Municipal Business Licence](https://www.kentbc.ca/business-and-development/business-licences-and-permits/)
  - Official wording: "An IMBL costs $250 for the calendar year and is in addition to the resident business licence fee." … "Businesses eligible for an IMBL include trade contractors or other professionals"
  - Source: [Inter-Municipal Business Licence Bylaw No. 1728, s. 10](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/kentbc-ca/media/zd4fc2gp/bylaw1728.pdf)
  - Official wording: "The Inter-municipal Business Licence fee is $250 and is payable to the Principal"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** No ticket amount found. A conviction under the Business Licencing bylaw carries a fine not exceeding $10,000 per offence, or up to the maximum in the Bylaw Notice Enforcement or Municipal Ticket Information bylaw. Short-term rentals: up to $500 per day, per offence.
  - Source: [Business Licencing and Regulation Bylaw No. 1747, 2025, s. 20.4](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/kentbc-ca/media/4ngnwdaz/bylaw1747.pdf)
  - Official wording: "a fine not exceeding $10,000 for each offence; and"
  - Source: [Short Term Rentals | District of Kent, Compliance](https://www.kentbc.ca/business-and-development/short-term-rentals/)
  - Official wording: "Operators may face fines of up to $500 per day, per offence."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Business Licencing and Regulation Bylaw No. 1747, 2025
  - Source: [Business Licencing and Regulation Bylaw No. 1747, 2025, s. 1.1](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/kentbc-ca/media/4ngnwdaz/bylaw1747.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Business Licencing and Regulation" … "Bylaw No. 1747, 2025"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Anyone carrying on a business in the District, resident or non-resident, needs a licence under [Business Licencing and Regulation Bylaw No. 1747](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/kentbc-ca/media/4ngnwdaz/bylaw1747.pdf). This includes short-term rentals. Exempt are charities and non-profits using revenue solely for charitable purposes, occasional fundraisers, long-term rentals under the Residential Tenancy Act, farm operations (not agri-tourism or farm commercial or industrial uses), farmers market vendors, and garage sales (4 a year).

Fees are in the [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1717](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/kentbc-ca/media/0tcgzwdh/bylaw1717consolidated.pdf): most businesses $125 a year; non-resident $110; a construction contractor with one vehicle under 3,900 kg and one trailer $125; retail cannabis $5,000; some home occupations $500 plus $1 per m². Renewal paid before Dec. 15 is 10% less, and after Jan. 31 it is 10% more. New licences after July 31 are half price. There is also an administrative fee for new licences.

## Steps

1. Complete the resident or non-resident application form from the [Business Licences and Permits page](https://www.kentbc.ca/business-and-development/business-licences-and-permits/).
2. Deliver it with the fee to the Licence Inspector at Municipal Hall, 7170 Cheam Avenue, or pay by phone with a credit card or by mail. In person you can pay by cheque, cash, credit or debit.
3. Contact Development Services (604-796-2235) before changing premises, since the licence depends on zoning and building alterations follow the Building bylaw and BC Building Code.

## Good to know

- Licences expire December 31. Renewal notices are mailed in early November. Payments must be received by the due date; postmarks are not accepted. Fines may apply if not renewed by February 28.
- Contractors working in Kent must have a valid licence or inspections will not be done.
- An Inter-Municipal Business Licence (IMBL) costs $250 for the calendar year, on top of the resident licence fee. It covers trade contractors in the construction industry and contractors doing maintenance or repair of land and buildings in participating municipalities (Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Delta, Harrison Hot Springs, Hope, Kent, both Langleys, Maple Ridge, Mission, Pitt Meadows, Surrey). See [Bylaw No. 1728](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/kentbc-ca/media/zd4fc2gp/bylaw1728.pdf).
- No ticket amount is set. A conviction carries a fine not exceeding $10,000 per offence. Short-term rental operators may face up to $500 per day, per offence, per the District's web page.

## Official forms and pages

- [Business Licences and Permits, District of Kent](https://www.kentbc.ca/business-and-development/business-licences-and-permits/)
- [Business Licencing and Regulation Bylaw No. 1747, 2025 (PDF)](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/kentbc-ca/media/4ngnwdaz/bylaw1747.pdf)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1717, 2023 (PDF, consolidated)](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/kentbc-ca/media/0tcgzwdh/bylaw1717consolidated.pdf)
- [Inter-Municipal Business Licence Bylaw No. 1728 (PDF)](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/kentbc-ca/media/zd4fc2gp/bylaw1728.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Kent home-based business rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kent/home-based-business.md)
- [Kent short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kent/short-term-rental.md)
- [Kent zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kent/zoning-lookup.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Business licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/business-licence.md)
- [Harrison Hot Springs](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/harrison-hot-springs/business-licence.md)
- [Chilliwack](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chilliwack/business-licence.md)
- [Hope](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hope/business-licence.md)
- [Abbotsford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/abbotsford/business-licence.md)
- [Mission](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mission/business-licence.md)
- [Maple Ridge](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/maple-ridge/business-licence.md)

## Sources

- [Business Licences and Permits, District of Kent](https://www.kentbc.ca/business-and-development/business-licences-and-permits/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Business Licencing and Regulation Bylaw No. 1747, 2025 (PDF)](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/kentbc-ca/media/4ngnwdaz/bylaw1747.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1717, 2023 (PDF, consolidated)](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/kentbc-ca/media/0tcgzwdh/bylaw1717consolidated.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Inter-Municipal Business Licence Bylaw No. 1728 (PDF)](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/kentbc-ca/media/zd4fc2gp/bylaw1728.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Short Term Rentals | District of Kent](https://www.kentbc.ca/business-and-development/short-term-rentals/) (read 2026-11-06)

_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 District of Kent. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kent/business-licence/_