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

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

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

**Short answer:** Yes. Anyone carrying on a business in the District of Mackenzie, including contractors, needs a valid District business licence. Fees are set by category in Schedule A of the Business Licence Bylaw. Licences expire each December 31.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Mackenzie, https://districtofmackenzie.ca)  
**Cost:** Set by category in Schedule A, for example personal services $80; general business services $104; construction (under 5 employees) $128; retail sales (under 5 employees) $127; professionals $144 each; real estate $197. First-year fees are pro-rated.  
**How long:** Not stated. Licences expire on December 31 each year.  
**Where:**
- In person: District Main Office, 1 Mackenzie Boulevard, Mackenzie, BC V0J 2C0 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
- By mail: Mail, District of Mackenzie, PO Bag 340, 1 Mackenzie Blvd, Mackenzie, BC V0J 2C0
- Phone: Public Works (Business Licensing and Building Inspection), 250-997-3761
- Phone: Finance (online payment set-up), 250-997-3221

## Key facts

- **Who needs one:** Anyone carrying on a business in the District must hold a valid licence. Exceptions include yard sales (no more than 4 a year), buskers, fund-raising by schools or churches, renting a house, suite or duplex under the Residential Tenancy Act, and some non-resident wholesale or delivery businesses. Contractors must also have one.
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 1355, 2016, consolidated, s. 4.1 and s. 4.2](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Bylaw.1355-Consolidated-Business-Licence-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "a Person shall not carry on a Business within the Municipality unless the Person holds a valid Licence." … "yard or garage sales provided that the sales do not occur more frequently than" … "buskers or street entertainers"
  - Source: [Building Permits](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/business-development/building-permits/)
  - Official wording: "All contractors must have or obtain a valid District of Mackenzie business license."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fee:** Set by category in Schedule A. Examples: personal services $80; general business services $104; construction (under 5 employees) $128; retail sales (under 5 employees) $127; professionals $144 each; real estate $197. First-year fees are pro-rated.
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 1355, 2016, consolidated, Schedule A](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Bylaw.1355-Consolidated-Business-Licence-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "A business must pay the following fee for $80.00" … "A business must pay the following fee for $104.00" … "A business must pay the following fee for Less than 5 employees: $128.00" … "A business must pay the following fee for Less than 5 employees: $127.00" … "$144.00 per professional" … "A business must pay the following fee for $197.00"
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 1355, 2016, consolidated, s. 10.2](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Bylaw.1355-Consolidated-Business-Licence-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "be based on a reduction of one-twelfth for each full month period in the calendar"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **How to apply:** Complete the application form and submit it with the fee in person or by mail to District of Mackenzie, PO Bag 340, 1 Mackenzie Blvd. Show the property owner's approval for the premises. The District checks bylaws, provincial qualifications and premises standards. A valid development permit is required first for a new building or structure.
  - Source: [Business Licences, Applying for your licence](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/business-development/business-licences/)
  - Official wording: "The application form and fee may submitted in person or by mail to:" … "District of Mackenzie PO Bag 340 1 Mackenzie Blvd"
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 1355, 2016, consolidated, s. 5.1(c) and s. 13.2](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Bylaw.1355-Consolidated-Business-Licence-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "provide proof to the District that the Business has the approval to operate at the" … "the Applicant is in compliance with the requirements of the District’s bylaws;"
  - Source: [Building Permits, Development Permits](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/business-development/building-permits/)
  - Official wording: "You are required to have a valid development permit before you can apply for a building permit to construct a building or structure, or to apply for a business license."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Renewal:** All licences expire on December 31 and must be renewed each year. Renewal notices are mailed in November; pay in person, online or by mail. A 10% penalty applies after March 1 and another 20% after April 1.
  - Source: [Business Licences, Renewing your licence](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/business-development/business-licences/)
  - Official wording: "All licences expire on December 31 and must be renewed annually." … "Renewal notices will be sent out by mail in November of every year."
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 1355, 2016, consolidated, s. 12.3](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Bylaw.1355-Consolidated-Business-Licence-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "a penalty of 10% added to the Licence Fee, if the Licensee does not pay the applicable" … "an additional penalty of 20% added to the Licence Fee, if the Licensee does not pay the"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Inter-community licence:** Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read.
- **Fine:** $100 for carrying on business without a licence; $50 for failing to display a licence.
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1465, with amendments, Schedule 3 (Business Licence Bylaw)](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Bylaw-No.-1465-1488-1502-Municipal-Ticket-Information.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Carry on business without a Licence. 4.1 $100" … "Failure to display a Licence. 8. $50"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Business Licence Bylaw No. 1355, 2016, as amended by Bylaws No. 1390, 1399 and 1475.
  - Source: [Bylaws and Regulations, Frequently requested bylaws](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/government-town-hall/bylaws-and-regulations/)
  - Official wording: "Bylaw No. 1355, Amended by 1390, 1399, 1475"
  - Source: [Business Licences, Applying for your licence](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/business-development/business-licences/)
  - Official wording: "Business Licence Bylaw No. 1355"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

Under the District of Mackenzie's [Business Licence Bylaw No. 1355](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Bylaw.1355-Consolidated-Business-Licence-Bylaw.pdf), anyone carrying on a business in the District must hold a valid licence. Exceptions include yard sales (no more than 4 a year), buskers, fund-raising by schools or churches, renting a house, suite or duplex under the Residential Tenancy Act, and some non-resident wholesale or delivery businesses. A separate licence is needed for each premises and for each business at a premises. Retail cannabis sales cannot be licensed.

## Steps

1. Complete the application form.
2. Submit it with the fee, in person or by mail, and show the property owner's approval for the premises.
3. The District checks bylaws, provincial qualifications and premises standards.
4. For a new building or structure, the District says a valid development permit is needed first.

## Good to know

- Renewal: all licences expire on December 31. Renewal notices are mailed in November; pay in person, online or by mail. A 10% penalty applies after March 1 and another 20% after April 1. The bylaw (s. 12.2) says the fee must be submitted before February 28, so pay early. For online payment, call Finance at 250-997-3221.
- Fees by employee count rise to $620 for 50 or more employees in some categories.
- Fines: $100 for carrying on business without a licence; $50 for failing to display a licence (Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw).
- No inter-community licence is mentioned in the District's bylaw or pages.

## What you'll need

- Completed business licence application form
- The fee
- The property owner's approval for the premises

## Official forms and pages

- [Business Licences, District of Mackenzie](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/business-development/business-licences/)
- [Business Licence Bylaw No. 1355, 2016, consolidated (PDF)](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Bylaw.1355-Consolidated-Business-Licence-Bylaw.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Mackenzie home-based business rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/home-based-business.md)
- [Mackenzie short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/short-term-rental.md)
- [Mackenzie zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Mackenzie building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/building-permit.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Business licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/business-licence.md)
- [Chetwynd](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chetwynd/business-licence.md)
- [Hudson's Hope](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hudsons-hope/business-licence.md)
- [Tumbler Ridge](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tumbler-ridge/business-licence.md)
- [Fort St James](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-james/business-licence.md)
- [Vanderhoof](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vanderhoof/business-licence.md)
- [Prince George](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/business-licence.md)

## Sources

- [Business Licences, District of Mackenzie](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/business-development/business-licences/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Business Licence Bylaw No. 1355, 2016, consolidated (PDF), District of Mackenzie](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Bylaw.1355-Consolidated-Business-Licence-Bylaw.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1465, with amendments (PDF), District of Mackenzie](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Bylaw-No.-1465-1488-1502-Municipal-Ticket-Information.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Building Permits, District of Mackenzie](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/business-development/building-permits/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Bylaws and Regulations, District of Mackenzie](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/government-town-hall/bylaws-and-regulations/) (read 2026-11-08)

_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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with District of Mackenzie. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/business-licence/_