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

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

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

**Short answer:** Yes. Anyone carrying on a business in Lantzville needs a District business licence, including businesses based elsewhere. Submit the application form and fee. In the 2021 fee schedule a new licence is $100 per premises ($50 for a home business). Licences run January 1 to December 31.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Lantzville, https://www.lantzville.ca)  
**Cost:** In the 2021 fee schedule: $100 per premises for a new licence ($50 for a home business). Annual renewal $0 for a Lantzville-based business if the form is in by December 31; $50 for a non- Lantzville business. Later fee amendments could not be read.  
**How long:** Staff check the application is complete and complies with District bylaws, then issue the licence. No time is stated.  
**Where:**
- Email: Planning & Community Services (business licences), planning@lantzville.ca
- Phone: Planning & Community Services (business licences), 250-933-8091
- In person: Municipal Hall, 7192 Lantzville Road, Lantzville, BC V0R 2H0 (Monday to Friday (excluding statutory holidays): by phone or email 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; in-person payments and document drop-off 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; call or email for appointments for other services)

## Key facts

- **Who needs one:** Anyone carrying on a business in the District, including non-Lantzville businesses working there (who also need a licence from their home jurisdiction). Exemptions include government, farm businesses, registered societies without regular retail, babysitting, garage sales and some rentals.
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 167, 2021, s. 4.1(a)](https://www.lantzville.ca/cms/wpattachments/wpID920atID5736.pdf)
  - Official wording: "a person must not engage in or carry on a business within the Municipality unless that person holds a valid licence issued by the Licence Inspector;"
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 167, 2021, s. 12.1](https://www.lantzville.ca/cms/wpattachments/wpID920atID5736.pdf)
  - Official wording: "for a farm business, as defined by the Farm Practices Protection Act" … "for babysitting"
  - Source: [Business Licence, Business Licence page](https://www.lantzville.ca/cms.asp?wpID=924)
  - Official wording: "A Business Licence issued by the District of Lantzville is required prior to operating a business in Lantzville."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fee:** In the 2021 fee schedule: $100 for each premises for a new licence ($50 for a home business). Annual renewal $0 for a Lantzville-based business if the form is in by December 31; $50 for a non-Lantzville business. Later fee amendments could not be read.
  - Source: [Miscellaneous Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 26, 2004, Amendment Bylaw No. 273, Schedule F s. 1-2](https://www.lantzville.ca/cms/wpattachments/wpID920atID5737.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Business (non-Lantzville-based) $100.00/each premises" … "Business (Lantzville-based) $100.00/each premises" … "Business (Lantzville-based) $0.00/each premises"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **How to apply:** Submit the Business Licence Application Form and the application fee. Staff check the application is complete and complies with District bylaws, then issue the licence. Questions: Planning & Community Services, 250.933.8091, planning@lantzville.ca.
  - Source: [Business Licence, Application Process](https://www.lantzville.ca/cms.asp?wpID=924)
  - Official wording: "District staff will review the application for completeness and for compliance with District of Lantzville bylaws." … "the only two items required are the business licence application form and the applicable application fee in the Miscellaneous Fees and Charges Bylaw"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Renewal:** Licences run January 1 to December 31. Submit the renewal form by December 31. Late renewals are accepted until January 31 with a late fee; after that the licence expires and you must reapply.
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 167, 2021, s. 4.1(e), s. 6.2-6.4](https://www.lantzville.ca/cms/wpattachments/wpID920atID5736.pdf)
  - Official wording: "a licence is effective from January 1st to December 31st in any year" … "If the licence is not renewed by January 31st each year, the licence shall be deemed expired"
  - Source: [Business Licence, Application Process, step 3](https://www.lantzville.ca/cms.asp?wpID=924)
  - Official wording: "Please note that there is no annual renewal fee for Lantzville-based businesses, provided that the renewal application is received by December 31st each year."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Inter-community licence:** No. The District is not a participant in the inter-community business licence program; a licence from another organization is not valid in Lantzville.
  - Source: [Business Licence, Business Licence page](https://www.lantzville.ca/cms.asp?wpID=924)
  - Official wording: "the District of Lantzville is not a participant in the inter-community business licensing program"
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 167, 2021, s. 3.2](https://www.lantzville.ca/cms/wpattachments/wpID920atID5736.pdf)
  - Official wording: "The Municipality is not a Participating Municipality under any Inter-Community Business Licence Bylaw"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fine:** Business Licence Bylaw: ticket of up to $1,000 under the Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw, or in court a fine of $100 to $50,000 plus costs. The ticket schedule lists no set amount for this offence.
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 167, 2021, s. 14.2](https://www.lantzville.ca/cms/wpattachments/wpID920atID5736.pdf)
  - Official wording: "a fine of not less than $100 and not more than $50,000, together with the costs of prosecution" … "a fine of up to $1,000 if a ticket is issued under the"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** District of Lantzville Business Licence Bylaw No. 167, 2021
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 167, 2021, Title](https://www.lantzville.ca/cms/wpattachments/wpID920atID5736.pdf)
  - Official wording: "District of Lantzville Business Licence Bylaw No. 167, 2021"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

The District of Lantzville requires a licence for anyone carrying on a business in the District, under the [Business Licence Bylaw No. 167, 2021](https://www.lantzville.ca/cms/wpattachments/wpID920atID5736.pdf). This includes non-Lantzville businesses working there, who also need a licence from their home jurisdiction. The District is not a participant in the inter-community business licence program, so a licence from another organization is not valid in Lantzville. Builders and tradespeople on a building permit must hold a valid District business licence.

Exempt: government, farm businesses, registered societies without regular retail, babysitting, garage sales, renting a single-family dwelling or duplex under the Residential Tenancy Act, letting up to two rooms in a primary residence for 30 consecutive days or more, delivery-only operators, and market gardening on residential premises.

## Steps

1. Fill out the Business Licence Application Form from the District's [Business Licence page](https://www.lantzville.ca/cms.asp?wpID=924).
2. Submit it with the application fee from the [Miscellaneous Fees and Charges Bylaw](https://www.lantzville.ca/cms/wpattachments/wpID920atID5737.pdf). In the 2021 schedule the fee is $100 per premises ($50 for a home business).
3. Staff review the application and may ask for more information. The licence is issued once it is complete and complies with bylaws.
4. Renew by December 31 each year. A late renewal is accepted until January 31 with a late fee; after that, reapply.

## Good to know

- Late renewal fees in the 2021 schedule: $100 non-Lantzville, $50 Lantzville-based, $25 home business.
- Penalty: a ticket up to $1,000 under the Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw, or $100 to $50,000 plus costs in court. The ticket schedule lists no set amount.
- Planning & Community Services: planning@lantzville.ca, 250-933-8091.

## Official forms and pages

- [Business Licence, District of Lantzville](https://www.lantzville.ca/cms.asp?wpID=924)
- [Business Licence Bylaw No. 167, 2021 (PDF), District of Lantzville](https://www.lantzville.ca/cms/wpattachments/wpID920atID5736.pdf)
- [Miscellaneous Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 26, 2004, Amendment Bylaw No. 273 (PDF), District of Lantzville](https://www.lantzville.ca/cms/wpattachments/wpID920atID5737.pdf)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Business licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/business-licence.md)
- [Nanaimo](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/business-licence.md)
- [Parksville](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/parksville/business-licence.md)
- [Qualicum Beach](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/qualicum-beach/business-licence.md)
- [Sechelt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sechelt/business-licence.md)
- [Ladysmith](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/business-licence.md)
- [Gibsons](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gibsons/business-licence.md)

## Sources

- [Business Licence, District of Lantzville](https://www.lantzville.ca/cms.asp?wpID=924) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Business Licence Bylaw No. 167, 2021 (PDF), District of Lantzville](https://www.lantzville.ca/cms/wpattachments/wpID920atID5736.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Miscellaneous Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 26, 2004, Amendment Bylaw No. 273 (PDF), District of Lantzville](https://www.lantzville.ca/cms/wpattachments/wpID920atID5737.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 100, as amended by Bylaw No. 378, 2024 (PDF), District of Lantzville](https://www.lantzville.ca/cms/wpattachments/wpID483atID6898.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Building Permit, District of Lantzville](https://www.lantzville.ca/cms.asp?wpID=888) (read 2026-11-08)

_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 Lantzville. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lantzville/business-licence/_