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

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

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

**Short answer:** Yes. Anyone carrying on a business in the City of Merritt, including home-based businesses and couriers, needs a City business licence. Get any non-municipal approvals first, then apply to the City with a $50 application fee. Processing takes 4 to 6 weeks.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Merritt, https://www.merritt.ca)  
**Cost:** $50 one-time non-refundable application fee, then $150 for a regular annual licence, $55 for 3 months or $90 for 6 months. Non-profits $0. Inspections are $50 each. Retail cannabis stores pay $650.  
**How long:** The City says processing takes 4 to 6 weeks.  
**Where:**
- In person: City Hall, 2185 Voght Street, Merritt, BC V1K 1B8 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., closed 12:00 to 1:15 p.m.)
- Phone: Licensing (Bylaw Services), 250-378-4224
- Email: Licensing, bylaw@merritt.ca

## Key facts

- **Who needs one:** Anyone carrying on a trade, business, profession or calling in the City, including home-based businesses and transient operators like couriers. Advertising as open, or selling, bartering or displaying goods, counts. Exempt: up to four garage or yard sales a year, and occasional sales of personal or handmade goods.
  - Source: [City of Merritt Business Licence Bylaw No. 2268, 2019, with inter-community bylaws 2269 and 2271, s. 4.1, 4.2, 4.4, 4.5](http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Business-Licence-including-ICBLs.pdf)
  - Official wording: "no person shall carry on, maintain, own or" … "operate within the City, a trade, business, profession, occupation or calling without" … "advertises through any medium, whether digital, physical, or otherwise as being" … "Persons holding four (4) or less garage or yard sales per calendar year on their" … "Persons making the occasional sale of personal and/or handmade goods are exempt"
  - Source: [Renew your business licence, Renew page](https://www.merritt.ca/renew-your-businesses-licence-due-march-1/)
  - Official wording: "including home-based operations and transient operators like couriers, are required to maintain a current business licence."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fee:** Regular licence $150 a year plus a one-time, non-refundable $50 application fee. Short-term licences: $55 (3 months) or $90 (6 months). Non-profits $0. Building, fire or cross-connection inspections are $50 each. First-year fees are pro-rated (minimum $25).
  - Source: [City of Merritt Business Licence Bylaw No. 2268, 2019, with inter-community bylaws 2269 and 2271, Schedules A and B](http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Business-Licence-including-ICBLs.pdf)
  - Official wording: "The Regular Business Licence fee in the City of Merritt shall be $150." … "A six-month Short-term Business Licence fee shall be $90." … "A three-month Short-term Business Licence fee shall be $55." … "Non profit organizations $0" … "For each Inspection by the Building Inspector, Fire Prevention Officer, or Cross" … "A pro-rated Business Licence shall never cost less than $25."
  - Source: [Business Licence, Business Licence page](https://www.merritt.ca/business-development/business-licence/)
  - Official wording: "APPLICATION FEE: $50 | One-Time | Non-Refundable" … "Full 12-month Business licence fee: $150"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to apply:** Complete the City's business licence application form and pay the $50 application fee. Applicants must first get any non-municipal approvals, such as public health. The City may require building, fire or cross-connection inspections; once approved, the licence fee is paid. Processing takes 4 to 6 weeks.
  - Source: [City of Merritt Business Licence Bylaw No. 2268, 2019, with inter-community bylaws 2269 and 2271, s. 7.1-7.3](http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Business-Licence-including-ICBLs.pdf)
  - Official wording: "An Applicant shall complete the application form supplied by the City for the purpose" … "the Applicant is responsible for acquiring these" … "approvals and supplying them to the City in support of the Business Licence" … "an application may require inspection" … "and approval of the Building Inspector, the Fire Prevention Officer and/or the Cross-"
  - Source: [Business Licence, Business Licence page](https://www.merritt.ca/business-development/business-licence/)
  - Official wording: "NOTE: Business licences can take 4-6 weeks to process" … "Online Credit Card (OptionPay)" … "Cheque (mail/drop-off)" … "Debit Card/ Cash (in person)"
  - Source: [Business Information Guide, Business Licence Guide](http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/BUSINESS-LICENCE-GUIDE-FEB2024_web.pdf)
  - Official wording: "For details, see the Zoning Bylaw and Zoning Map."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Renewal:** Regular licences run January 1 to December 31 and must be renewed each year. Renew before the licence expires and pay $135 (10% off); renew by March 1 at the standard $150; after March 1 the fee is $180. Short-term licences are not renewed automatically.
  - Source: [City of Merritt Business Licence Bylaw No. 2268, 2019, with inter-community bylaws 2269 and 2271, s. 4.3, 7.6, Schedule B](http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Business-Licence-including-ICBLs.pdf)
  - Official wording: "A holder of a license shall apply for renewal of the Business Licence prior to the" … "Where the Applicant renews their Business Licence prior to expiry, the" … "Regular Business Licence Fee will be $135 (10% discount)." … "the Regular Business Licence fee will be $180 (a 20% penalty)." … "A Short-term Business Licence will not" … "be automatically renewed by the City."
  - Source: [Renew your business licence, Renew page](https://www.merritt.ca/renew-your-businesses-licence-due-march-1/)
  - Official wording: "Business licences are valid, typically from the first day of the calendar year to the last day of the year, and must be renewed every year."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Inter-community licence:** Optional add-on for mobile businesses. Okanagan-Similkameen (Bylaw 2269): +$150, partners include Kelowna, Penticton, Vernon, Princeton and Revelstoke. Thompson-Nicola (Bylaw 2271): +$75, covers Kamloops, Logan Lake, Lillooet and Chase. A primary licence must be held in a partner community.
  - Source: [City of Merritt Business Licence Bylaw No. 2268, 2019, with inter-community bylaws 2269 and 2271, Bylaw 2269 s. 10, Bylaw 2271 s. 10](http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Business-Licence-including-ICBLs.pdf)
  - Official wording: "The fee for an Inter-Community Business Licence is $150 and shall be retained by the" … "The fee for an Inter-Community Business Licence is seventy-five ($75) dollars"
  - Source: [Business Licence, Business Licence page](https://www.merritt.ca/business-development/business-licence/)
  - Official wording: "ICBL Okanagan-Similkameen: +$150" … "ICBL Thompson-Nicola: +$75" … "An ICBL is a secondary business licence." … "The Thompson-Nicola ICBL allows businesses to operate in the area north of Merritt." … "To obtain an ICBL, you must first have a primary business licence in one of the partner communities."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Bylaw notice for operating without a business licence: $100 ($75 if paid within 14 days; $150 after 28 days). Not displaying the licence: $100 ($75 early; $125 late). Court fine on conviction up to $2,000 plus costs, each day a separate offence.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2424, Schedule A](http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/BNE-Bylaw-2424-2026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Operating without a business licence 4.1 $100.00 $75.00 $150.00 Yes" … "Failure to display or have a business licence 11.1 $100.00 $75.00 $125.00 No"
  - Source: [City of Merritt Business Licence Bylaw No. 2268, 2019, with inter-community bylaws 2269 and 2271, s. 14.1](http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Business-Licence-including-ICBLs.pdf)
  - Official wording: "fine of not more than Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00) and the costs"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** City of Merritt Business Licence Bylaw No. 2268, 2019 (with Okanagan-Similkameen Inter-Community Business Licence Bylaw 2269, 2019 and Thompson-Nicola Inter-Community Business Licence Bylaw 2271, 2019)
  - Source: [City of Merritt Business Licence Bylaw No. 2268, 2019, with inter-community bylaws 2269 and 2271, title](http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Business-Licence-including-ICBLs.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Business Licence Bylaw No. 2268, 2019" … "Thompson-Nicola Inter-Community" … "Business Licence Bylaw 2271, 2019"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under [Business Licence Bylaw No. 2268, 2019](http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Business-Licence-including-ICBLs.pdf), anyone carrying on a trade, business, profession or calling in the City of Merritt needs a licence. That includes home-based businesses and transient operators such as couriers. Advertising as open, or selling, bartering or displaying goods, counts. Exempt: up to four garage or yard sales a year, and occasional sales of personal or handmade goods.

## Steps

1. Get any non-municipal approvals first, such as public health.
2. Complete the City's business licence application form and pay the $50 application fee. Pay online by credit card (OptionPay), by cheque, or by debit or cash in person.
3. The City may require building, fire or cross-connection inspections ($50 each). If a building permit is required, the licence is not issued until that process is complete.
4. Once approved, pay the licence fee. Allow 4 to 6 weeks.

## Good to know

- **Fees:** regular licence $150 a year; short-term licences $55 (3 months) or $90 (6 months); non-profits $0. First-year fees are pro-rated, minimum $25. A transfer to a new person is $25.
- **Renewal:** regular licences run January 1 to December 31. Renew before expiry for $135 (10% off), by March 1 at $150, or after March 1 at $180. Short-term licences are not renewed automatically. The City's pages differ slightly on the dates, so check your invoice.
- **Inter-community licence (optional, for mobile businesses):** Okanagan-Similkameen (Bylaw 2269) adds $150 and covers partners such as Kelowna, Penticton, Vernon, Princeton and Revelstoke; Thompson-Nicola (Bylaw 2271) adds $75 and covers Kamloops, Logan Lake, Lillooet and Chase. You must hold a primary licence in a partner community.
- **Fines:** operating without a licence is a bylaw notice of $100 ($75 if paid within 14 days; $150 after 28 days). Not displaying the licence is $100 ($75 early; $125 late). A court fine on conviction can be up to $2,000 plus costs.

## What you'll need

- Completed business licence application form
- Any non-municipal approvals, such as public health

## Official forms and pages

- [Business Information Guide (PDF)](http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/BUSINESS-LICENCE-GUIDE-FEB2024_web.pdf)
- [City of Merritt Business Licence page](https://www.merritt.ca/business-development/business-licence/)
- [Business Licence Bylaw 2268 and inter-community bylaws (PDF)](http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Business-Licence-including-ICBLs.pdf)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Business licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/business-licence.md)
- [Logan Lake](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/logan-lake/business-licence.md)
- [Lytton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lytton/business-licence.md)
- [Kamloops](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kamloops/business-licence.md)
- [Princeton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/princeton/business-licence.md)
- [Ashcroft](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ashcroft/business-licence.md)
- [Peachland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/peachland/business-licence.md)

## Sources

- [Business Licence, City of Merritt](https://www.merritt.ca/business-development/business-licence/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [City of Merritt Business Licence Bylaw No. 2268, 2019 (PDF), with inter-community bylaws 2269 and 2271](http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Business-Licence-including-ICBLs.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Business Information Guide (PDF), City of Merritt](http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/BUSINESS-LICENCE-GUIDE-FEB2024_web.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Renew your business licence, City of Merritt](https://www.merritt.ca/renew-your-businesses-licence-due-march-1/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2424 (PDF), City of Merritt](http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/BNE-Bylaw-2424-2026.pdf) (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 Merritt. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/merritt/business-licence/_