Nanaimo business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply
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.
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.Business Licences; Get a Business Licence; Business Licence Bylaw 2021 No. 7318 (PDF, consolidated 2026-MAR-02), s. 3.1, 3.3, 3.4 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingBusinesses, 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. 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. A separate City licence is required for each location where a business operates |
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| 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.Fees and Charges Bylaw 2021 No. 7336 (PDF, consolidated 2026-JUN-01), Business Licence Fees, Tables I to IV; Business Licence Bylaw 2021 No. 7318 (PDF, consolidated 2026-MAR-02), s. 5.2, 6.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingAll 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 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. |
| 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.Get a Business Licence · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThe 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 |
| 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.Business Licences, Renew your business licence; Business Licence Bylaw 2021 No. 7318 (PDF, consolidated 2026-MAR-02), s. 9.1 to 9.3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingBusiness licences, except Special Event or Temporary licences, expire annually on December 31. 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 |
| 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.Inter-Community Business Licence Bylaw 2025 No. 7435, s. 3.2, 4.1, 4.3; Get a Business Licence, Inter-community licences; Mobile business licences, Province of British Columbia, Partnerships and participating communities · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThe 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; can purchase an inter-community business licence for an additional annual fee of $170 City of Nanaimo Central Vancouver Island City of Port Alberni |
| 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.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2012 No. 7159, Business Licence Bylaw 2021 No. 7318 schedule · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wording3.1 Carry on a business with no licence $250 $187.50 $312.50 13.1 Fail to display business licence $100 $75 $125 |
| Bylaw | Business Licence Bylaw 2021 No. 7318Business Licence Bylaw 2021 No. 7318 (PDF, consolidated 2026-MAR-02), s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingBusiness Licence Bylaw 2021 No. 7318 |
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 also exempts special events in City facilities or parks under an agreement with Parks, Recreation and Culture.
Steps
- Check zoning with Planning before you sign a lease or buy.
- Get any approvals your business needs first: zoning, Building Code, Fire Code, police, health, parks or provincial.
- 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.
- Pay before the licence is issued.
- 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
The same question in other places
Lantzville · Ladysmith · Parksville · Sechelt · Qualicum Beach · Lake Cowichan
Business licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Business Licences, City of Nanaimo (read 2026-11-05)
- Get a Business Licence, City of Nanaimo (read 2026-11-05)
- Business Licence Bylaw 2021 No. 7318 (PDF, consolidated 2026-MAR-02) (read 2026-11-05)
- Fees and Charges Bylaw 2021 No. 7336 (PDF, consolidated 2026-JUN-01) (read 2026-11-05)
- Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2012 No. 7159 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Inter-Community Business Licence Bylaw 2025 No. 7435 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Mobile business licences, Province of British Columbia (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. How answers are checked.