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

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

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

**Short answer:** Yes. Anyone carrying on business in the City of Kimberley, or advertising that they will, needs a valid City business licence. Fill in Business Licence Application Form A and email it to info@kimberley.ca or bring it to City Hall, 340 Spokane Street.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Kimberley, https://www.kimberley.ca)  
**Cost:** Set by type of business in Schedule B of Bylaw 1325: for example $25 for non-profits and clubs, $50 for most personal services, and $100 for restaurants, professional services and contractors.  
**How long:** Licences run for the calendar year, January 1 to December 31. The City does not state how long a new application takes.  
**Where:**
- Email: Email the completed form, info@kimberley.ca
- In person: Kimberley City Hall, 340 Spokane Street, Kimberley, BC V1A 2E8
- Phone: City Hall, 250-427-5311

## Key facts

- **Who needs one:** Anyone carrying on business in the City, or advertising that they are willing to, must hold a valid licence; the City page says all businesses located in or providing services within the City need one. A separate licence is needed for each business and each premises.
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 1325, 1979 (PDF, consolidated 2013), s. 1(a)](https://kimberley.civicweb.net/Documents/DocumentDisplay.aspx?ID=615)
  - Official wording: "no person shall" … "carry on any business, advertise, call or in any manner suggest that" … "holder of a valid and subsisting licence"
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 1325, 1979 (PDF, consolidated 2013), s. 4(g)-(h)](https://kimberley.civicweb.net/Documents/DocumentDisplay.aspx?ID=615)
  - Official wording: "obtain a separate licence for each business," … "each premise shall be deemed to be a separate business."
  - Source: [Business Licenses](https://www.kimberley.ca/business/resources/business-licenses)
  - Official wording: "All businesses located in or providing services within City of Kimberley boundaries must be in possession of a valid business license."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fee:** Set by category in Bylaw 1325 Schedule B: for example $50 for most personal services, repair, arts and wholesale; $100 for restaurants, professional services, contractors and retail under 5,000 sq ft ($150 over); $50 minimum for hotels ($4 per room); $25 for non-profits and clubs.
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 1325, Schedule B](https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/468)
  - Official wording: "Cafes, Coffee shops, Restaurants" … "$100.00" … "Under 5000 sqft" … "$100.00" … "Over 5000 sqft" … "$150.00" … "Non-Profits" … "$25.00" … "Hotels, Motels" … "$4.00 per room"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to apply:** Complete the Business Licence Application Form A and email it to info@kimberley.ca or bring it to City Hall, 340 Spokane Street. Staff sign off from Planning, Building, Fire, Bylaw Enforcement and Health. The Licence Inspector grants a licence only if the applicant complies with building, zoning, health, sanitation and business bylaws.
  - Source: [Business Licenses](https://www.kimberley.ca/business/resources/business-licenses)
  - Official wording: "Download the City’s Business License Application Form or pick one up at City Hall, 340 Spokane Street."
  - Source: [Business Licence Application Form A](https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/678)
  - Official wording: "Email completed form to:" … "info@kimberley.ca" … "Planning" … "Building" … "Inspector" … "Fire" … "Department"
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 1325, 1979 (PDF, consolidated 2013), s. 6(a)](https://kimberley.civicweb.net/Documents/DocumentDisplay.aspx?ID=615)
  - Official wording: "complied with the requirements of the" … "bylaws of the municipality regulating building, zoning, health," … "sanitation and business"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Renewal:** Licences run for the calendar year (January 1 to December 31) and must be renewed before the start of each licensing period. A business that becomes liable to be licensed after July 31 pays half the annual fee.
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 1325, 1979 (PDF, consolidated 2013), s. 4(b), 1(a)](https://kimberley.civicweb.net/Documents/DocumentDisplay.aspx?ID=615)
  - Official wording: "licences shall be issued on an annual basis and shall run for a calendar year." … "it shall be encumbent upon each person to renew" … "such licence prior to the beginning of each licencing period" … "a person who becomes liable to be licenced after the 31st day of July in any year, shall pay one-half of"
  - Source: [Business Licenses](https://www.kimberley.ca/business/resources/business-licenses)
  - Official wording: "2026 Business License renewals are due January 31, 2026."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Inter-community licence:** Yes. Inter-Community Business Licence Bylaw No. 2552, 2016: an add-on to a regular Kimberley or Cranbrook licence that lets mobile businesses operate in both. Fee not stated in readable official text; see the bylaw or ask the City.
  - Source: [Business Licenses](https://www.kimberley.ca/business/resources/business-licenses)
  - Official wording: "mobile businesses can operate in Kimberley and Cranbrook without having to apply for businesses licences from both municipalities." … "Inter-Community Business License Bylaw No. 2552, 2016"
  - Source: [Public hearing statement, Oct. 24, 2016, Oct. 24, 2016 public hearing statement](https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/41169/)
  - Official wording: "A business will be required to purchase a regular license in either Kimberley or" … "An Inter-Community Business license is an add-on to a municipal business"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** $100 for no business licence (MTI Bylaw 2540, Schedule 4, Business Bylaw No. 1325 s. 1(a)); $100 for no separate licence; $50 for failing to produce a licence.
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 2540, Schedule 4](https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/37089)
  - Official wording: "No business licence" … "1 (a)" … "100" … "Fail to produce licence" … "No separate licence"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Kimberley Business Licence Bylaw No. 1325, 1979 (consolidated for convenience June 10, 2013); Schedule B sets fees.
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 1325, 1979 (PDF, consolidated 2013), title](https://kimberley.civicweb.net/Documents/DocumentDisplay.aspx?ID=615)
  - Official wording: "BYLAW NO. 1325" … "KIMBERLEY BUSINESS LICENCE BYLAW, 1979" … "Consolidated for" … "Convenience Only: June 10, 2013"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under [Business Licence Bylaw 1325](https://kimberley.civicweb.net/Documents/DocumentDisplay.aspx?ID=615), no one may carry on business in Kimberley, or advertise that they are willing to, without a valid licence. The City page says all businesses located in or providing services within the City need one. A separate licence is needed for each business and each premises.

## Steps

1. Fill in Business Licence Application Form A.
2. Email it to info@kimberley.ca or bring it to City Hall. Staff from Planning, Building, Fire, Bylaw Enforcement and Health sign off. The Licence Inspector grants a licence only if you comply with building, zoning, health, sanitation and business bylaws.
3. Pay the fee for your business category. Fees are in Schedule B of the bylaw: for example $50 for most personal services, repair, arts and wholesale; $100 for restaurants, professional services, contractors and retail under 5,000 sq ft ($150 over); $50 minimum for hotels ($4 per room); $25 for non-profits and clubs.
4. A sign permit is required before you put up business signage.

## Good to know

- Renewal: licences must be renewed before the start of each licensing period (January 1). A business that becomes liable after July 31 pays half the annual fee. This is from the bylaw; check the City page for current renewal dates.
- Inter-community licence: Bylaw 2552, 2016 offers an add-on to a regular Kimberley or Cranbrook licence so mobile businesses can operate in both. The fee is not found in readable official text; ask the City.
- Fines: a ticket for no business licence is $100; failing to produce a licence is $50.

## Official forms and pages

- [Business Licence Application Form A (PDF)](https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/678)
- [Business Licences, City of Kimberley](https://www.kimberley.ca/business/resources/business-licenses)
- [Business Licence Bylaw No. 1325, 1979 (PDF)](https://kimberley.civicweb.net/Documents/DocumentDisplay.aspx?ID=615)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Business licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/business-licence.md)
- [Cranbrook](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cranbrook/business-licence.md)
- [Canal Flats](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/canal-flats/business-licence.md)
- [Fernie](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fernie/business-licence.md)
- [Creston](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/creston/business-licence.md)
- [Kaslo](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kaslo/business-licence.md)
- [Sparwood](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sparwood/business-licence.md)

## Sources

- [Business Licenses, City of Kimberley](https://www.kimberley.ca/business/resources/business-licenses) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Business Licence Bylaw No. 1325, 1979 (PDF, consolidated 2013), City of Kimberley](https://kimberley.civicweb.net/Documents/DocumentDisplay.aspx?ID=615) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Business Licence Application Form A (PDF), City of Kimberley](https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/678) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Business Licence Bylaw No. 1325, Schedule B (PDF), City of Kimberley](https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/468) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 2540, Schedule 4 (PDF), City of Kimberley](https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/37089) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Public hearing statement, Oct. 24, 2016 (PDF), City of Kimberley](https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/41169/) (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 Kimberley. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kimberley/business-licence/_