McBride business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply
Do I need a business licence in McBride, and how do I get one?
Short answer
Yes. Anyone doing business in the Village of McBride needs a business licence, including businesses based elsewhere that operate in the Village, seasonal businesses and home-based businesses. Fees are commercial $125, general contractor $125 and home business $75. A garage sale does not need one.
Key facts
| Who needs one | Anyone doing business within the Village, including businesses based outside McBride that operate there, seasonal businesses and home-based businesses. A garage sale does not need a licence.Business Licensing, Business Licensing page; Business Licence Bylaw No. 752, 2014, s. 4.1, 4.4.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingA Business Licence is required for anyone conducting business within McBride's municipal boundaries. No persons shall carry on Business within the Village unless that person has obtained and holds 4.4.1 A garage sale |
|---|---|
| Fee | Under Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 847, 2026: commercial $125, general contractor $125, home business $75. The Village web page still shows the older Bylaw 805 amounts (commercial $100, home business $50).Sources differ: Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 847, 2026 (adopted Nov. 1, 2026) repeals Bylaw 805, 2022; the Village web pages still cite Bylaw 805. Bylaw 847 also lists farmers market, mobile vendor, one-time mobile vendor, carnival and transfer fees, but the text is garbled so they are not given. Bylaw 805: commercial $100, farmer's market $100, contractor $100, mobile vendor $100, carnival $250, one-time $25, transfer $20, application fee $0.Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 847, 2026, Schedule J, 1.1; Business Licensing, Business Licensing page / Business licence categories, commercial and home business · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wording1.1 Business Licence Fees , !.i.§éiihe . . . Commercial $125.00 ~ Farmers market $75000 -- ''''' Commercial $125.00 ~ Farmers market $75000 -- ''''' General contractor $125.00 - M ~-~ Home business $75.00 n" -- ''''' General contractor $125.00 - M ~-~ Home business $75.00 n" Carnlvalmw # __-_. $300.00 Business Licence Most Common Fees are outlined in Schedule J of the Village of McBride Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 805 as follows: | Fee | Commercial | $100 | Farmer's Market | $100 | $250 | Home Business | $50 | Licence Transfer/Assignment Fee |
| How to apply | Complete the Business Licence Application Form and return it to the Village Office with any Northern Health permits. Staff check the Business Licence, Zoning and Sign bylaws, a fire inspection and, if altered, a building inspection. The web page says pay after approval; Bylaw 752 s. 5.2 says fees are due with the application.Business Licensing, Business Licensing page; Business Licence Bylaw No. 752, 2014, s. 5.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingSubmission of a completed Business Licence Application Form and all required permits. Village of McBride Zoning Bylaw No. 703 Once approved, the applicant will be contacted to attend the office to pay for the Business Licence and will leave with the licence to post in the place of business are payable to the Village at the time of application submission. Review of the application may only proceed when fees have been paid in full. |
| Renewal | A licence is valid for a calendar year (or from purchase to Dec. 31). Renew in January each year; the bylaw says renewal fees are due by February 28.Business Licensing, Business Licensing page; Business Licence Bylaw No. 752, 2014, s. 13.5 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingBusiness Licences are valid for a calendar year, from the date of purchase to December 31, of that year. Active Business Licences are to be renewed in January of each year. All fees for renewing a licence are due by February 28th of each year |
| Inter-community licence | Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read. |
| Fine | No ticket amount listed. On summary conviction the fine is $2,000 to $10,000 plus prosecution costs; each day is a separate offence.Business Licence Bylaw No. 752, 2014, s. 14.1.1, 14.2.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingNo person shall carry on a business for which a Licence is required pursuant to this bylaw to a fine not less than two thousand ( $2,000.00) and not exceeding ten thousand ($10,000.00) |
| Bylaw | Village of McBride Business Licence Bylaw No. 752, 2014 (consolidated November 2023). Fees: Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 847, 2026, Schedule J.Business Licence Bylaw No. 752, 2014, s. 1.1; Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 847, 2026, Section 4 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingThis Bylaw may be cited as the “Village of McBride Business Licence Bylaw No. 752, 2014” Schedule "I" Business Licence Bylaw |
How it works
The Village of McBride requires a licence for anyone doing business within the Village under Business Licence Bylaw No. 752, 2014 (consolidated November 2023). That includes businesses based outside McBride that operate there, seasonal businesses and home-based businesses. A garage sale does not need a licence.
Fees are in Schedule J of Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 847, 2026: commercial $125, general contractor $125, home business $75.
Steps
- Complete the Business Licence Application Form from the Village's Business Licensing page.
- Return it to the Village Office with any Northern Health permits.
- Staff check the Business Licence, Zoning and Sign bylaws, a fire inspection and, if the premises are altered, a building inspection.
- Renew each January.
Good to know
- The Village web page still shows the older Bylaw 805 amounts (commercial $100, home business $50). The new bylaw repeals it, but confirm the amount with the Village.
- The web page says to pay after approval; the bylaw (s. 5.2) says fees are due with the application. Ask staff which applies.
- No ticket amount is listed. On summary conviction the fine is $2,000 to $10,000 plus prosecution costs; each day is a separate offence.
- No inter-community business licence is mentioned in the bylaws or on the page.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Valemount · Quesnel · Williams Lake · Prince George · Clearwater · 100 Mile House
Business licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Business Licensing, Village of McBride (read 2026-11-08)
- Business Licence Bylaw No. 752, 2014 (PDF), Village of McBride (read 2026-11-08)
- Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 847, 2026 (PDF), Village of McBride (read 2026-11-08)
- Bylaw library, Village of McBride (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. How answers are checked.