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

Do I need a business licence in Kitimat, and how do I get one?

Kitimat, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-06

Short answer

In Kitimat you need a District business licence before carrying on business, with limited exceptions. Fees depend on the number of people engaged, floor area or a flat rate, starting at $75. Apply at Municipal Hall, 270 City Centre, 250-632-8900.

Key facts

Who needs one	No person may carry on business within the District without first obtaining a valid District of Kitimat business licence, except businesses exempted by provincial or federal law or the exemptions in the Code (for example charitable performances, and certain non-resident travellers, carriers and wholesalers). A separate licence is needed for each premises and for each separate business classification at one premises.Kitimat Municipal Code, consolidated 2026-02, s. 4.1.4.1, 4.1.4.2, 4.1.4.10 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording No person shall carry on business within the District without first having obtained a valid District of Kitimat business licence each business classification shall have a separate business licence.
Fee	Set by Schedules A, B and C of Part 4, Division 1. Schedule A (by number of people regularly engaged): 1 to 3 people $75; 4 to 10 $150; 11 to 20 $300; 21 to 35 $600; over 35 $1,400. Schedule B (retail, restaurants and similar) is by floor area; Schedule C has flat fees (for example, Bed & Breakfast $75 plus $5 per guest room over 3).Kitimat Municipal Code, consolidated 2026-02, Part 4 Div 1 Schedules A to C / Schedule C, bed and breakfast base and per-room fee; Kitimat Municipal Code, consolidated 2026-02, s. 4.1.4.4 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording PART 4 - LICENCES AND PERMITS Division 1 - General Provisions SCHEDULE "A" - FEES Business Classification Agent For the above businesses the fee payable shall be based on number of persons regularly engaged in the business: 1- 3 $ 75.00 4 - 10 150.00 11 - 20 300.00 in the business: 1- 3 $ 75.00 4 - 10 150.00 11 - 20 300.00 21 - 35 600.00 21 - 35 600.00 over 35 1,400.00 Page 30 - Part 4 - Licences and Permits, Division 1 - Business Licencing and Commercial Vehicle Licencing Part 4,158 Page 31 SCHEDULE "B" - FEES Business Classification Group A Automobile Storage 0 - 1.21 hectares ground area - $150.00 Part 4,159 Page 32 SCHEDULE "C" - FEES BUSINESS CLASSIFICATION FEES PAYABLE Amusement Arcade $35.00 per machine one location Banks $500.00 Bed & Breakfast $75.00 plus $5.00 per guest room in excess of 3 Bed & Breakfast Inn $75.00 plus $5.00 per guest room Bowling Alleys $35.00 per lane Cab Premises Issued with company's first taxi or limousine tender the applicable licence fee(s) set forth in Schedules
How to apply	Complete the District's business licence application form (270 City Centre, Kitimat; 250-632-8900) and pay the fee with it. The licence is not issued until the Licence Inspector approves. The Inspector grants it when satisfied the applicant has complied with the bylaws on building, zoning, health, sanitation and business; the form has approval boxes for the Fire Department, Building Inspector, building permit, Planning and Council.Kitimat Municipal Code, consolidated 2026-02, s. 4.1.4.4, 4.1.4.6, 4.1.4.14; Business Licence Application 2023, Application form · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Every person applying for a business licence shall complete No business licence shall be issued until the Licence Inspector has building, zoning, health, 270 City Centre, Kitimat, BC V8C 2H7 (250) 632-8900 FIRE DEPARTMENT APPROVAL REQUIRED PLANNING DEPARTMENT APPROVAL REQUIRED
Renewal	Licences run for one year, from January 1 to December 31. Businesses that do not renew are deemed inactive.Kitimat Municipal Code, consolidated 2026-02, s. 4.1.4.7(a), 4.1.4.13(c) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording business licences shall be granted for a one year period, to commence on the first day of January and to terminate on the thirty-first day of December Businesses that do not renew their business licence shall be deemed to be inactive.
Inter-community licence	Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read.
Fine	Operating a business without the required business licence. Bylaw notice: $250 ($200 if paid within 14 days of receiving the notice; $350 if not paid within 30 days after it becomes due). Municipal ticket: $1,000. Operating contrary to the terms of a business licence: the Bylaw 2086 schedules have no row for it; the general penalty, where no specific penalty is set, is $500 by bylaw notice or $3,000 by municipal ticket (s. 6.1).Municipal Enforcement Bylaw No. 2086, 2026, council agenda of May 19, 2026, Schedule A and Schedule B; s. 6 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Operating a business without the required business licence 4.1.4.1 $ 250.00 $ 200.00 $ 350.00 Operating a business without the required business licence 4.1.4.1 $1,000.00 $500.00 Unless a specific penalty is established in a Schedule to this Bylaw or expressly provided in another bylaw or the Code, the following penalties apply $500 for a bylaw contravention enforced by Bylaw Notice; b) $3 000 for a bylaw contravention enforced by Municipal Ticket;
Bylaw	Kitimat Municipal Code, Part 4 - Licences and Permits, Division 1 - Business Licencing and Commercial Vehicle Licencing (s. 4.1.4 and Schedules A, B, C)Kitimat Municipal Code, consolidated 2026-02, Part 4 Div 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording No person shall carry on business within the District without first Division 1 - Business Licencing and Commercial Vehicle

How it works

No person may carry on business in the District without first obtaining a valid District of Kitimat business licence (Part 4, Division 1 of the Kitimat Municipal Code). Exceptions include businesses exempted by provincial or federal law and a few listed cases, such as charitable performances and certain non-resident travellers, carriers and wholesalers. You need a separate licence for each premises and for each separate business classification at one premises.

Businesses are classed as Resident (Commercial, Home Business Address, Home Occupation, Bed and Breakfast) or Non-Resident. A non-resident business may be required to give $1,000 security.

Fees come from three schedules. Schedule A is by number of people regularly engaged: 1 to 3 people $75; 4 to 10 $150; 11 to 20 $300; 21 to 35 $600; over 35 $1,400. Schedule B (retail, restaurants and similar) is by floor area: up to 139.35 m² $100; 139.36 to 464.50 m² $200; 464.51 to 929.00 m² $300; over 929.00 m² $500. Schedule C has flat fees, for example Bed and Breakfast $75 plus $5 per guest room over 3.

Steps

Check zoning for your location with Community Planning and Development (planning@kitimat.ca).
Complete the District's business licence application form and pay the fee with it. For start-up help, contact edo@kitimat.ca.
The form has approval boxes for the Fire Department, Building Inspector, building permit, Planning and Council. The Licence Inspector grants the licence when satisfied you comply with the bylaws.
Do not occupy premises for business until they are inspected and the licence is issued.

Good to know

Licences run for one year, January 1 to December 31. Businesses that do not renew are deemed inactive. How renewal notices are sent was not stated.
A licence is personal and not transferable. A new operator must apply for a new licence.
The fee is not reduced for starting after January 1, except that it is halved for a person who becomes liable for a yearly licence after July 31.
Operating without the required business licence: bylaw notice $250 ($200 if paid within 14 days; $350 if not paid within 30 days after it becomes due), or municipal ticket $1,000 (Municipal Enforcement Bylaw No. 2086, 2026). The bylaw has no specific row for operating against the terms of a licence.
No online application was found in the documents we read. We found no inter-community business licence.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Terrace · Port Edward · Prince Rupert · Telkwa · Smithers · Houston

Business licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

Kitimat Municipal Code, consolidated 2026-02 (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
Business Licence Application 2023, District of Kitimat (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
Municipal Enforcement Bylaw No. 2086, 2026, council agenda of May 19, 2026 (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)

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. How answers are checked.