New Westminster business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply
Do I need a business licence in New Westminster, and how do I get one?
Short answer
Yes. Every business in the City of New Westminster, including home-based businesses, rental property owners and contractors from outside the city, needs a City business licence. The 2026 application fee is $59 (non-refundable), plus an annual fee by business type. Apply in person or by email.
Key facts
| Who needs one | Every business in New Westminster, including home-based businesses, commercial and industrial operations, apartment rental owners, and contractors from outside the city who work here. Exempt: fundraising, school and community courses, garage sales, some farmers' markets and licensed mobile food vendors.Business Licence Bylaw No. 8473, 2024 (PDF, consolidated November 3, 2025), s. 2.1; Business Licences and Permits; Business Licence Bylaw No. 8473, 2024 (PDF, consolidated November 3, 2025), s. 2.6 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingNo person shall carry on any business within the City without a valid and subsisting licence for that type of business. Business licences are also required for companies that are not located in the city, but do work within New Westminster (e.g., contractors). the following activities do fundraising activities; a garage sale; |
|---|---|
| Fee | Non-refundable application fee $59, plus an annual fee by business type (2026). Examples: employee-based business $214 (1-3 persons), $312 (4-10), $591 (11-25); contractor $182 (1-2 employees). Full schedule in Bylaw 8529, Schedule B.Business Licence Fees 2026, Schedule B to Bylaw 8529, 2025, Schedule B, Business Licence Fees 2026 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingBusiness Licence Application (excluding Liquor Primary and Cannabis Retail) $59.00 1–3 Persons Engaged in the Business $214.00 4 - 10 Persons Engaged in the Business $312.00 Contractor $182.00 (1-2 employees) |
| How to apply | Submit the application form for your business type in person or by email to businesslicences@newwestcity.ca. A licence is granted only if zoning permits the business, it complies with other enactments, and fees and fines owed are paid. Check with Planning and Building that the use is permitted on the site.Business Licences and Permits, Business Licence Application Forms; Business Licence Bylaw No. 8473, 2024 (PDF, consolidated November 3, 2025), s. 2.20; Business Licences and Permits, Important Information · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingPlease submit your application in person, or by email at businesslicences@newwestcity.ca the zoning of the business premises permits the business activity; all licence fees, and any outstanding fees or fines owed to the City in Check with the Planning and Building Department to make sure your business is a permitted use on the site. |
| Renewal | Licences expire December 31 each year. Renewal invoices go out in late November and are due January 31. A 10% penalty applies after January 31 and 20% after March 31. Renew online with your account number and access code, by phone at 604-527-4565, or at City Hall.Renewing a Business Licence; Business Licence Bylaw No. 8473, 2024 (PDF, consolidated November 3, 2025), s. 2.34; Business Licences and Permits, 2026 business License Renewal Fees Reminder · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingAll business licences expire on December 31 each year and most renew automatically. are due and payable by January 31 each year. If paid after January 31, shall have a late penalty of 10% applied. If paid after March 31, shall have a late penalty of 20% applied. By Phone: Call the Business Licensing Department at 604-527-4565 to request your invoice and make a payment. |
| Inter-community licence | Yes, the MetroWest Inter-municipal Business Licence for construction trades, maintenance, repair and inspection contractors, and health care providers who visit clients' homes. It covers Burnaby, Delta, New Westminster, Richmond, Surrey and Vancouver (Township of Langley joins January 1, 2027). The fee is $300, on top of the licence for your home municipality.Sources differ: The City page names six municipalities; Bylaw 8591, 2026 also names the Township of Langley (seven). The bylaw list was followed. The fee is from the City page; the fee schedule row for the IMBL refers to Bylaw 8475, 2024 and its layout does not clearly show an amount.Inter-municipal Business Licence, FAQ; Inter-municipal Business Licence Scheme Bylaw No. 8591, 2026, preamble; Inter-Municipal Business Licence Scheme Bylaw No. 8475, 2024, Bylaw 8475, 2024, preamble and s. 8 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThe City of New Westminster participates in the MetroWest IMBL Program and works in partnership with Burnaby, Delta, Richmond, Surrey, and Vancouver. For an eligible business with one location (including a home-based operation) the cost is $300.00. You must have a valid business licence to operate in the community in which your business has a fixed and permanent location prior to applying for an IMBL. the City of Burnaby, the City of Delta, the City of New Westminster, the City of Richmond, the City of Surrey, the City of Vancouver, and the Township of Langley the City of Burnaby, the City of Delta, the City of New Westminster, the City of Richmond, the City of Surrey, and the City of Vancouver The Inter-municipal Business Licence fee is $300 and is payable to the Principal |
| Fine | Bylaw notice: $500 for carrying on business without a licence ($450 if paid early, $525 if paid late). The Municipal Ticket Information schedule sets $1,000 for the same offence.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 7318, 2009 (PDF, consolidated 2026), Schedule A, Part 4; Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 8077, 2019 (PDF, consolidated 2026), Schedule B, Part 4 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wording2.1 No business licence 500.00 450.00 525.00 8473, 2024 2.1 No business licence 1,000.00 |
| Bylaw | Business Licence Bylaw No. 8473, 2024; fees in Community Services Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 8529, 2025 (Schedule B)Business Licence Bylaw No. 8473, 2024 (PDF, consolidated November 3, 2025), title page; Business Licence Fees 2026, Schedule B to Bylaw 8529, 2025 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingBUSINESS LICENCE BYLAW NO. 8473, 2024 Schedule B to Bylaw No. 8529, 2025 Business Licence Fees 2026 |
How it works
Business Licence Bylaw 8473, 2024 requires every business in New Westminster to hold a licence. That includes home-based, commercial and industrial businesses, apartment rental owners, and contractors from outside the city who work here. Exempt: fundraising, school and community courses, garage sales, some farmers' markets and licensed mobile food vendors. A licence is granted only if zoning permits the business, it complies with other enactments, and fees and fines owed are paid.
Steps
- Check with Planning and Building that your use is permitted on the site.
- Choose the application form for your business type on the Business Licences and Permits page.
- Submit it in person or by email to businesslicences@newwestcity.ca, with the $59 application fee.
- Renew each year: licences expire December 31. Invoices go out in late November and are due January 31. Renew online with your account number and access code, by phone at 604-527-4565, or at City Hall.
Good to know
- Late renewal: a 10% penalty applies after January 31 and 20% after March 31. The bylaw (s. 2.33) says to pay the annual fee on or before December 31, so confirm the date with Business Licensing.
- Inter-municipal licence: construction trades, maintenance, repair and inspection contractors, and health care providers who visit clients' homes can buy a MetroWest Inter-municipal Business Licence for $300, on top of the licence for their home municipality. It covers Burnaby, Delta, New Westminster, Richmond, Surrey and Vancouver, and the Township of Langley from January 1, 2027. The City's page names six municipalities; the 2026 bylaw also names Langley.
- Fines for operating without a licence: a bylaw notice is $500 ($450 if paid early, $525 if paid late); a municipal ticket is $1,000.
What you'll need
- Application form for your type of business
- Identification
- Owner permission for the use of the premises
- Site and floor plan
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Burnaby · Coquitlam · Port Coquitlam · Port Moody · Belcarra · Surrey
Business licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Business Licences and Permits, City of New Westminster (read 2026-11-05)
- Renewing a Business Licence, City of New Westminster (read 2026-11-05)
- Inter-municipal Business Licence, City of New Westminster (read 2026-11-05)
- Business Licence Bylaw No. 8473, 2024 (PDF, consolidated November 3, 2025) (read 2026-11-05)
- Business Licence Fees 2026 (PDF), Schedule B to Bylaw 8529, 2025 (read 2026-11-05)
- Inter-municipal Business Licence Scheme Bylaw No. 8591, 2026 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Inter-Municipal Business Licence Scheme Bylaw No. 8475, 2024 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 7318, 2009 (PDF, consolidated 2026) (read 2026-11-05)
- Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 8077, 2019 (PDF, consolidated 2026) (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.