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

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

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

**Short answer:** Yes. Any business in the City of Nanaimo needs a City business licence, including short-term rentals and non-profits that operate more than 12 days a year. Most pay $165 a year. Apply online or with a PDF form to Business Licensing (250-755-4482). Licences expire each December 31.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Nanaimo, https://www.nanaimo.ca)  
**Cost:** Most businesses pay $165 a year ($50 for a non-profit or child care), pro-rated by quarter in the first year. Banks and credit unions pay $1,100. Fees are not refundable once issued.  
**How long:** The City does not state a processing time. Zoning, Building Code, Fire Code, police, health, parks or provincial approvals may be needed first.  
**Where:**
- Online: General Business Licence application and Short-Term Rental application, https://www.nanaimo.ca/doing-business/business-licences/getting-a-business-licence
- In person: Service and Resource Centre, 411 Dunsmuir Street, Nanaimo, BC V9R 0E4
- Phone: Business Licensing, 250-755-4482
- Email: Business Licensing, business.licence@nanaimo.ca

## Key facts

- **Who needs one:** Businesses, including non-profits that operate more than 12 days in a calendar year, and short-term rentals, need a City business licence. Businesses based outside Nanaimo that work in the city need a non-resident City licence or a valid Inter-Community Business Licence. A separate licence is needed for each location and each different business type.
  - Source: [Business Licences](https://www.nanaimo.ca/doing-business/business-licences)
  - Official wording: "Businesses, including non-profits that operate more than 12 days in a calendar year and short-term rentals, require a business licence to operate in the City of Nanaimo."
  - Source: [Get a Business Licence](https://www.nanaimo.ca/doing-business/business-licences/getting-a-business-licence)
  - Official wording: "Businesses based outside Nanaimo that provide services or conduct work within the city must obtain either a non-resident City of Nanaimo business licence or a valid Inter-Community Business Licence issued by a participating municipality."
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw 2021 No. 7318 (PDF, consolidated 2026-MAR-02), s. 3.1, 3.3, 3.4](https://www.nanaimo.ca/docs/doing-business/business-licences/business-licence-bylaw-7318-cons.pdf)
  - Official wording: "A separate City licence is required for each location where a business operates"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fee:** Most businesses pay $165 a year; non-profits $50; child care $50; pubs and lounges $165; banks and credit unions $1,100. Mobile food vending, temporary businesses and some others have their own fees. New businesses are pro-rated by quarter for the first year (not temporary, special event or mobile food). Fees are not refundable once issued.
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw 2021 No. 7336 (PDF, consolidated 2026-JUN-01), Business Licence Fees, Tables I to IV](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7336.pdf)
  - Official wording: "All other businesses $165.00" … "Non-profit organizations with non-profit status $50.00" … "Child Care $50.00" … "Cabaret/Lounge/Pub $165.00" … "Bank/Credit Union/Trust Co. $1,100.00"
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw 2021 No. 7318 (PDF, consolidated 2026-MAR-02), s. 5.2, 6.2](https://www.nanaimo.ca/docs/doing-business/business-licences/business-licence-bylaw-7318-cons.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Business licence fees for new businesses starting after the first, second, and third" … "Business licence fees are not refundable after the licence has been issued."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to apply:** Apply online with the General Business Licence Application (or the Short-Term Rental application), or print a PDF form and submit by email, mail or in person at 411 Dunsmuir Street. Zoning, Building Code, Fire Code, police, health, parks or provincial approvals may be needed first. Check zoning with Planning before you sign a lease or buy.
  - Source: [Get a Business Licence](https://www.nanaimo.ca/doing-business/business-licences/getting-a-business-licence)
  - Official wording: "The following applications can be submitted electronically:" … "Depending on the nature of your application, additional review and/or approval pertaining to zoning, Building Code, Fire Code, police, health, parks use or provincial requirements may be necessary before your business licence can be issued." … "Before you purchase or sign a lease, please check with the Planning and Development Department first"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Renewal:** Licences expire December 31 each year (except special event and temporary licences). Invoices are usually mailed or emailed early in December, but you must renew by December 31 whether or not you get notice. A lapsed licence is terminated and needs a new application, with no pro-rated rate.
  - Source: [Business Licences, Renew your business licence](https://www.nanaimo.ca/doing-business/business-licences)
  - Official wording: "Business licences, except Special Event or Temporary licences, expire annually on December 31."
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw 2021 No. 7318 (PDF, consolidated 2026-MAR-02), s. 9.1 to 9.3](https://www.nanaimo.ca/docs/doing-business/business-licences/business-licence-bylaw-7318-cons.pdf)
  - Official wording: "must ensure that their business licence is renewed annually by December 31st, whether notice is given by the City or not" … "If a licence is not renewed as required by this Bylaw, the licence shall be terminated"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Inter-community licence:** Yes. A business with a fixed Nanaimo premises that works in other communities can add an Inter-Community Business Licence for $170 a year (no fee for non-profits). It covers the participating communities in the Province's Central Vancouver Island and Vancouver Island groups, such as Courtenay, Duncan, Parksville, Port Alberni, Victoria and Sooke; see gov.bc.ca/mobilebusinesslicence.
  - Source: [Inter-Community Business Licence Bylaw 2025 No. 7435, s. 3.2, 4.1, 4.3](https://www.nanaimo.ca/docs/doing-business/business-licences/b7435.pdf)
  - Official wording: "The fee for an Inter-Community Business Licence is $170" … "A non-profit organization may obtain an Inter-Community Businesses and will not" … "is not an Excluded Business;"
  - Source: [Get a Business Licence, Inter-community licences](https://www.nanaimo.ca/doing-business/business-licences/getting-a-business-licence)
  - Official wording: "can purchase an inter-community business licence for an additional annual fee of $170"
  - Source: [Mobile business licences, Province of British Columbia, Partnerships and participating communities](https://www.gov.bc.ca/mobilebusinesslicence)
  - Official wording: "City of Nanaimo" … "Central Vancouver Island" … "City of Port Alberni"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Carrying on a business with no licence: $250 ($187.50 if paid early, $312.50 if paid late). Failing to display the licence: $100.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2012 No. 7159, Business Licence Bylaw 2021 No. 7318 schedule](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7159.pdf)
  - Official wording: "3.1 Carry on a business with no licence $250 $187.50 $312.50" … "13.1 Fail to display business licence $100 $75 $125"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Business Licence Bylaw 2021 No. 7318
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw 2021 No. 7318 (PDF, consolidated 2026-MAR-02), s. 1](https://www.nanaimo.ca/docs/doing-business/business-licences/business-licence-bylaw-7318-cons.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Business Licence Bylaw 2021 No. 7318"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The City of Nanaimo requires a business licence for businesses, including non-profits that operate more than 12 days in a calendar year, and for short-term rentals. A separate licence is needed for each location and each different business type. A business based outside Nanaimo that works in the city needs a non-resident City licence or a valid Inter-Community Business Licence. The [Business Licence Bylaw](https://www.nanaimo.ca/docs/doing-business/business-licences/business-licence-bylaw-7318-cons.pdf) also exempts special events in City facilities or parks under an agreement with Parks, Recreation and Culture.

## Steps

1. Check zoning with Planning before you sign a lease or buy.
2. Get any approvals your business needs first: zoning, Building Code, Fire Code, police, health, parks or provincial.
3. Apply online with the General Business Licence Application (or the Short-Term Rental application), or print a PDF form and submit it by email, mail or in person at 411 Dunsmuir Street.
4. Pay before the licence is issued.
5. Renew by December 31 each year, whether or not you get notice. Invoices are usually mailed or emailed early in December. A lapsed licence is terminated and needs a new application, with no pro-rated rate.

## Good to know

- Other fees: pubs and lounges $165; food cart on private property $165, in public $165 (cart) or $365 (trailer or truck); temporary businesses range from $6 a day to $165.
- Inter-Community Business Licence: a business with a fixed Nanaimo premises that works in other communities can add one for $170 a year (no fee for non-profits), on top of the Nanaimo fee. It covers participating communities in the Province's Central Vancouver Island and Vancouver Island groups; see gov.bc.ca/mobilebusinesslicence.
- Carrying on a business without a licence is a $250 ticket ($187.50 if paid early, $312.50 if paid late). Failing to display the licence is $100. A court conviction can bring a fine up to $50,000.

## Official forms and pages

- [Get a Business Licence (applications and payment options)](https://www.nanaimo.ca/doing-business/business-licences/getting-a-business-licence)
- [Business Licences](https://www.nanaimo.ca/doing-business/business-licences)
- [Business Licence Bylaw 7318 (PDF)](https://www.nanaimo.ca/docs/doing-business/business-licences/business-licence-bylaw-7318-cons.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Nanaimo home-based business rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/home-based-business.md)
- [Nanaimo short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/short-term-rental.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Business licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/business-licence.md)
- [Lantzville](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lantzville/business-licence.md)
- [Ladysmith](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/business-licence.md)
- [Parksville](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/parksville/business-licence.md)
- [Sechelt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sechelt/business-licence.md)
- [Qualicum Beach](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/qualicum-beach/business-licence.md)
- [Lake Cowichan](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-cowichan/business-licence.md)

## Sources

- [Business Licences, City of Nanaimo](https://www.nanaimo.ca/doing-business/business-licences) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Get a Business Licence, City of Nanaimo](https://www.nanaimo.ca/doing-business/business-licences/getting-a-business-licence) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Business Licence Bylaw 2021 No. 7318 (PDF, consolidated 2026-MAR-02)](https://www.nanaimo.ca/docs/doing-business/business-licences/business-licence-bylaw-7318-cons.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw 2021 No. 7336 (PDF, consolidated 2026-JUN-01)](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7336.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2012 No. 7159 (PDF)](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7159.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Inter-Community Business Licence Bylaw 2025 No. 7435 (PDF)](https://www.nanaimo.ca/docs/doing-business/business-licences/b7435.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Mobile business licences, Province of British Columbia](https://www.gov.bc.ca/mobilebusinesslicence) (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 Nanaimo. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/business-licence/_