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

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

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

**Short answer:** Yes. Every business operating in the Village of Nakusp, resident or not, needs a valid licence for each business. Most pay $125 a year. Apply in writing at the Village Office, 91 1st Street NW, or from the Village website, and pay the fee.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Village of Nakusp, https://www.nakusp.com)  
**Cost:** Most businesses $125 a year. Professional office $125 plus $25 per practitioner; restaurant or pub $125; home occupation $100; short-term rental $300 per unit; non-profit and youth-owned: no charge. $25 off total fees of $100 or more if paid by December 31 of the year before.  
**How long:** A licence runs from issue to December 31. Renew and pay by the last business day in February.  
**Where:**
- In person: Village Office, 91 1st Street NW, Nakusp, BC
- Phone: Village Office, 250.265.3689
- Online: Licences and Permits, Village of Nakusp, https://www.nakusp.com/licences-permits

## Key facts

- **Who needs one:** Every business, resident or non-resident, operating in the Village needs a valid licence for each business. Not needed for a concert or exhibition whose proceeds go entirely to a local non-profit society. Youth-owned businesses must still apply but pay nothing; non-profits pay no charge.
  - Source: [Licences and Permits, Business Licences](https://www.nakusp.com/licences-permits)
  - Official wording: "The Village of Nakusp requires resident and non-resident businesses operating within our boundaries to hold a valid and current business licence."
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 734, 2024, consolidated September 2026, s. 3](https://www.nakusp.com/sites/5/files/2026-10/Business%20Licence%20Bylaw%20No.%20734%2C%202024%20-%20Consolidated%20September%202026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "A person who carries out business transactions within the Village must apply for, obtain," … "A business licence is not required for a performance, concert, exhibition or"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fee:** Most businesses: $125 a year. Examples: professional office $125 plus $25 per practitioner; restaurant or pub $125; home occupation $100; short-term rental $300 per unit; non-profit and youth: no charge. $25 off total fees of $100 or more if paid by December 31 of the year before.
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw, Schedule 8](https://nakusp.civicweb.net/document/13954/)
  - Official wording: "ALL OTHER BUSINESSES $125" … "Non-profit organizations (subject to request by the" … "Early Business License Fee" … "$25 discount off total"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **How to apply:** Apply in writing on the application from the Village Office or website, and pay the fee. For a new location, a change in business use or taking over a commercial space, RDCK Building Department occupancy approval may be required first. A fire inspection is required within the first year.
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 734, 2024, consolidated September 2026, s. 3(1); s. 4(10); s. 19(1)](https://www.nakusp.com/sites/5/files/2026-10/Business%20Licence%20Bylaw%20No.%20734%2C%202024%20-%20Consolidated%20September%202026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "A person applying for a business licence must apply in writing, using the application" … "Any change of Occupancy of a Premises requires approval from the Regional District" … "Every new business must have a Fire Inspection completed within the first year of"
  - Source: [Change of Occupancy Business Licence, Notice](https://www.nakusp.com/changeofoccupancybusinesslicence)
  - Official wording: "Where RDCK approval is necessary, it must be obtained before a business licence can be issued."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Renewal:** A licence runs from issue to December 31. The Village mails renewal notices; renew and pay by the last business day in February. Renewals paid in full by December 31 get the early-payment discount if the fee is $100 or more.
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 734, 2024, consolidated September 2026, s. 4(7); s. 6](https://www.nakusp.com/sites/5/files/2026-10/Business%20Licence%20Bylaw%20No.%20734%2C%202024%20-%20Consolidated%20September%202026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "A license is valid from the day issued until December 31st of that year." … "The Village sends out business licence renewal notices to all existing" … "on or before the last business day in February."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Inter-community licence:** None set. No inter-community licence is offered.
- **Fine:** Bylaw notice: failing to obtain a business licence $200 ($150 within 14 days; $250 after 28 days); failing to display it $100 ($50; $150). Operating while suspended $300.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, Schedule A, Business Licence 3.2, 4.5, 8.4](https://nakusp.civicweb.net/document/7413/)
  - Official wording: "Failure to obtain a business" … "Failure to display business" … "Carrying on business while"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Business Licence Bylaw No. 734, 2024 (consolidated to include Bylaw 767, 2026)
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 734, 2024, consolidated September 2026, Title](https://www.nakusp.com/sites/5/files/2026-10/Business%20Licence%20Bylaw%20No.%20734%2C%202024%20-%20Consolidated%20September%202026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Business License Bylaw No. 734, 2024" … "CONSOLIDATED TO INCLUDE BYLAW 734 & 767, 2026."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

Under the Village's [Business Licence Bylaw No. 734](https://www.nakusp.com/sites/5/files/2026-10/Business%20Licence%20Bylaw%20No.%20734%2C%202024%20-%20Consolidated%20September%202026.pdf), every business, resident or non-resident, operating in the Village needs a valid licence for each business. "Business" excludes sales delivered entirely from outside the Village by courier, mail or virtually. A concert or exhibition whose proceeds go entirely to a local non-profit society needs none. Youth-owned businesses must still apply but pay nothing; non-profits pay no charge. Fees are in [Schedule 8 of the Fees and Charges Bylaw](https://nakusp.civicweb.net/document/13954/).

## Steps

1. For a new location, a change in business use or taking over a commercial space, RDCK Building Department occupancy approval may be required first.
2. Apply in writing on the application from the Village Office or website, and pay the fee. The licence is valid only when issued and paid.
3. Arrange a fire inspection, required within the first year.
4. Each year the Village mails renewal notices. Renew and pay by the last business day in February.

## Good to know

- Renewals paid in full by December 31 get the early-payment discount if the fee is $100 or more.
- No inter-community licence is offered.
- Bylaw notice for failing to obtain a licence: $200 ($150 within 14 days; $250 after 28 days). Failing to display it: $100 ($50; $150). Operating while suspended: $300.
- The fee and fine schedules still cite Business Licence Bylaw 715, which Bylaw 734 repealed. Confirm current amounts with the Village Office, 250.265.3689.

## Official forms and pages

- [Business Licence Bylaw No. 734, 2024 (PDF)](https://www.nakusp.com/sites/5/files/2026-10/Business%20Licence%20Bylaw%20No.%20734%2C%202024%20-%20Consolidated%20September%202026.pdf)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw, Schedule 8](https://nakusp.civicweb.net/document/13954/)
- [Licences and Permits, Village of Nakusp](https://www.nakusp.com/licences-permits)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Business licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/business-licence.md)
- [New Denver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-denver/business-licence.md)
- [Silverton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/silverton/business-licence.md)
- [Slocan](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/slocan/business-licence.md)
- [Kaslo](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kaslo/business-licence.md)
- [Revelstoke](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/revelstoke/business-licence.md)
- [Lumby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lumby/business-licence.md)

## Sources

- [Business Licence Bylaw No. 734, 2024, consolidated September 2026 (PDF), Village of Nakusp](https://www.nakusp.com/sites/5/files/2026-10/Business%20Licence%20Bylaw%20No.%20734%2C%202024%20-%20Consolidated%20September%202026.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw, Schedule 8, Village of Nakusp](https://nakusp.civicweb.net/document/13954/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, Village of Nakusp](https://nakusp.civicweb.net/document/7413/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Licences and Permits, Village of Nakusp](https://www.nakusp.com/licences-permits) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Change of Occupancy Business Licence, Village of Nakusp](https://www.nakusp.com/changeofoccupancybusinesslicence) (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 is recorded as not set. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with Village of Nakusp. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nakusp/business-licence/_