---
title: "Metchosin business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply"
question: "Do I need a business licence in Metchosin, and how do I get one?"
place: Metchosin, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/metchosin
category: Starting and running a business
owner: municipal
owner_body: District of Metchosin
sources_read: 2026-11-06
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/metchosin/business-licence/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/metchosin/business-licence.json"
---

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

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

**Short answer:** Yes. Anyone carrying on a business in Metchosin needs a District licence for each business and each premises. Fees run from $35 to $100 a year, and licences run November 1 to October 31.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Metchosin, https://www.metchosin.ca)  
**Cost:** $35 to $100 a year depending on business type and number of employees (maximum fee $500). Intermunicipal licence $100.  
**How long:** Not stated.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Municipal Hall, 250-474-3167
- Online: Business Licences, District of Metchosin, https://www.metchosin.ca/municipal-hall/business-licences
- In person: Municipal Hall, 4450 Happy Valley Road, Victoria, BC V9C 3Z3 (Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.)

## Key facts

- **Who needs one:** Anyone carrying on a business in the District (providing services or a commercial or industrial undertaking for gain or profit) needs a licence for each business and each premises. Not required for roadside stands, day care for no more than two unrelated children (or one family's children), and activities listed in section 655 of the Local Government Act.
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 352 (consolidated August 2018), s. 3](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/3134/)
  - Official wording: "No person shall carry on business in the District of Metchosin without a licence." … "Every person who carries on business from more than one premises in the District of Metchosin shall obtain a separate licence for each premises."
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 352 (consolidated August 2018), s. 20](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/3134/)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw does not apply to:" … "roadside stands;"
  - Source: [Business Licences](https://www.metchosin.ca/municipal-hall/business-licences)
  - Official wording: "A business licence is required to operate a business in the District of Metchosin."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fee:** Annual fee runs from $35 to $100 depending on the type of business and number of employees. Examples (Schedule B): home business $35 with 1 employee, $65 with 2 or more; commercial $35 to $85 (5 or more employees $85). Intermunicipal licence $100. Maximum fee $500.
  - Source: [Business Licences](https://www.metchosin.ca/municipal-hall/business-licences)
  - Official wording: "The annual licence fee varies from $35 to $100"
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 352 (consolidated August 2018), Schedule B](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/3134/)
  - Official wording: "G $35 $65 $65 $65 $85" … "Maximum Fee is $500"
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 352 (consolidated August 2018), Schedule B](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/3134/)
  - Official wording: "- Lawyer Home Business 1 D-F Contractor Intermunicipal Home Business, Bylaw 361 2 II Crafts - General Home Business 1 D-F" … "TABLE 2 Flat Rate I $50 Term II $100 Intermunicipal NOT THE OFFICIAL VERSION CONSOLIDATED FOR REFERENCE August 2018"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to apply:** Complete the Business Licence Application form and deliver it to the Municipal Hall with the fee. The Licence Inspector may grant the licence once satisfied that the applicant complies with the District's building, zoning, health, sanitation and business bylaws. Resident businesses describe the premises.
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 352 (consolidated August 2018), s. 11](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/3134/)
  - Official wording: "The application form shall be delivered to the District of Metchosin office and shall be" … "accompanied by the fee prescribed in Schedules"
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 352 (consolidated August 2018), s. 9(1)](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/3134/)
  - Official wording: "The Licence Inspector may grant a licence upon being satisfied that the applicant has" … "complied with the bylaws of the District of Metchosin regulating building, zoning,"
  - Source: [Business Licences](https://www.metchosin.ca/municipal-hall/business-licences)
  - Official wording: "The annual licence fee varies from $35 to $100 and the licence term is from November 1 to October 31. Use Schedule A of the Business Licence Bylaw, 2002 to determine your annual licence fee in Schedule B of the bylaw. Business Licence Application Business Licence Bylaw, 2002"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Renewal:** Licences run November 1 to October 31. To renew, pay the fee before the licence expires; the District may send a notice or invoice. A lapsed licence is terminated and a new application with an extra $25 fee is needed.
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 352 (consolidated August 2018), s. 12(a)](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/3134/)
  - Official wording: "the licence period commences each November 1st and expires each October" … "31st."
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 352 (consolidated August 2018), s. 16](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/3134/)
  - Official wording: "A Licencee who proposes to renew a licence shall submit the licence fee to the District" … "shall pay an additional licence fee of $25.00."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Inter-community licence:** Yes. For contractors, towing services and mobile sales services: $100 a year (November 1 to October 31). It lets a Metchosin business work in Colwood, Langford, Highlands, Sooke, View Royal, Saanich, Esquimalt, Victoria, Oak Bay, Central Saanich, Sidney and North Saanich without separate licences.
  - Source: [Business Licences, Intermunicipal Business Licenses](https://www.metchosin.ca/municipal-hall/business-licences)
  - Official wording: "The District of Metchosin participates in an intermunicipal business licence scheme for contractors, towing services, and mobile sales services." … "The annual licence fee is $100 and the licence term is from November 1 to October 31."
  - Source: [Business Licences, Participating Municipalities](https://www.metchosin.ca/municipal-hall/business-licences)
  - Official wording: "The District of Metchosin participates in an intermunicipal business licence scheme for contractors, towing services, and mobile sales services. This enables businesses located in Metchosin to operate in other Capital Region municipalities without having to purchase a business licence in each municipality. The annual licence fee is $100 and the licence term is from November 1 to October 31. ### Participating Municipalities - Colwood - Langford - Highlands - Sooke - View Royal" … "### Participating Municipalities - Colwood - Langford - Highlands - Sooke - View Royal - Saanich - Esquimalt - Victoria" … "- Colwood - Langford - Highlands - Sooke - View Royal - Saanich - Esquimalt - Victoria - Oak Bay" … "- Esquimalt - Victoria - Oak Bay - Central Saanich - Sidney - North Saanich Intermunicipal Business Licence Agreement" … "- Sooke - View Royal - Saanich - Esquimalt - Victoria - Oak Bay - Central Saanich" … "- View Royal - Saanich - Esquimalt - Victoria - Oak Bay - Central Saanich - Sidney" … "- Saanich - Esquimalt - Victoria - Oak Bay - Central Saanich - Sidney - North Saanich"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** $250 minimum fine for carrying on business without a licence (Municipal Ticket Information Schedule 4). On conviction, up to $10,000.
  - Source: [Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw No. 475, Schedule 4](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/912/)
  - Official wording: "1. No business licence 3.a. $ 250"
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 352 (consolidated August 2018), s. 24](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/3134/)
  - Official wording: "shall be liable to a fine of not more than $10,000.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Business Licence Bylaw No. 352
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 352 (consolidated August 2018), s. 1](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/3134/)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw may be cited for all purposes as the “Business Licence Bylaw No. 352.”"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under the District's [Business Licence Bylaw No. 352](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/3134/), anyone carrying on a business in Metchosin (providing services or a commercial or industrial undertaking for gain or profit) needs a licence for each business and each premises. Businesses based elsewhere that operate in Metchosin also need one. A licence is not required for roadside stands, day care for no more than two unrelated children (or one family's children), and activities listed in section 655 of the Local Government Act.

The annual fee runs from $35 to $100 depending on the type of business and number of employees. For example, a home business is $35 with 1 employee and $65 with 2 or more, and a commercial business is $35 to $85 ($85 for 5 or more employees). The maximum fee is $500. There is no refund when a business stops.

## Steps

1. Complete the Business Licence Application form from the District's Business Licences page.
2. Deliver it to Municipal Hall (4450 Happy Valley Road, 250-474-3167) with the fee. Resident businesses describe the premises.
3. The Licence Inspector may grant the licence once satisfied that you comply with the District's building, zoning, health, sanitation and business bylaws.
4. Renew before November 1 each year by paying the fee before the licence expires; the District may send a notice or invoice.

## Good to know

- Licences run November 1 to October 31. A lapsed licence is terminated, and a new application with an extra $25 fee is needed.
- Intermunicipal licence: $100 a year for contractors, towing services and mobile sales services. It lets a Metchosin business work in Colwood, Langford, Highlands, Sooke, View Royal, Saanich, Esquimalt, Victoria, Oak Bay, Central Saanich, Sidney and North Saanich without separate licences.
- Operating without a licence: a municipal ticket has a $250 minimum fine, and a court can fine up to $10,000.
- No online application is mentioned on the pages we read. This bylaw is the 2018 consolidation, so confirm current fees with staff.

## Official forms and pages

- [Business Licence Bylaw No. 352](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/3134/)
- [Business Licences page (application form)](https://www.metchosin.ca/municipal-hall/business-licences)

## Related questions

- [Metchosin home-based business rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/metchosin/home-based-business.md)
- [Metchosin short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/metchosin/short-term-rental.md)
- [Metchosin zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/metchosin/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Metchosin bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/metchosin/bylaw-fines.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Business licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/business-licence.md)
- [Colwood](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/business-licence.md)
- [Langford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/business-licence.md)
- [View Royal](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/business-licence.md)
- [Sooke](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sooke/business-licence.md)
- [Esquimalt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/business-licence.md)
- [Victoria](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/victoria/business-licence.md)

## Sources

- [Building Permits | District of Metchosin](https://www.metchosin.ca/municipal-hall/building-development/building-permits) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Business Licence Bylaw No. 352 (consolidated August 2018)](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/3134/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Business Licences, District of Metchosin](https://www.metchosin.ca/municipal-hall/business-licences) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw No. 475, Schedule 4](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/912/) (read 2026-11-06)

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