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

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

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

**Short answer:** Yes. Anyone who owns or operates a business in the District of North Saanich, including a home-based business, needs a District business licence, and the business must first be registered with BC Registry Services. Fees start at $50 a year (Home Based) and $100 (Commercial).

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of North Saanich, https://www.northsaanich.ca)  
**Cost:** Commercial $100; Home Based Business including Bed and Breakfast $50; Intermunicipal $100; Non-Resident $100; Daily $35 per day; Winery or distillery $300; Inter-community $170; transfer $25; ALR cannabis $500. Fees exclude taxes and are not refundable.  
**How long:** Not stated. The licence runs January 1 to December 31.  
**Where:**
- Online: Business Licences page, https://www.northsaanich.ca/local-government/applications-permits-licences/business-licences
- In person: Municipal Hall, 1620 Mills Road, North Saanich, BC V8L 5S9
- Phone: Municipal Hall, 250-656-0781
- Email: Community Planning, planning@northsaanich.ca

## Key facts

- **Who needs one:** Every person who owns or operates a business in the District, including home-based businesses. Not required for government, garage sales on one's own property (up to 2 consecutive days and 6 days a year), or charitable or religious groups using all proceeds for that purpose.
  - Source: [Business Bylaw No. 1349 (PDF, consolidated to January 17, 2022), s. 4, 6](https://www.northsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/1349-Business-License-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Every person owning or operating any business carried on within the Municipality" … "A business license is not required:" … "for a garage sale which is conducted on a person’s own residential property,"
  - Source: [Business Licences, Overview](https://www.northsaanich.ca/local-government/applications-permits-licences/business-licences)
  - Official wording: "Every business in the District is required to have a business licence."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fee:** Commercial (small or large): $100; Home Based Business including Bed and Breakfast: $50; Intermunicipal: $100; Non-Resident: $100; Daily: $35 per day; Winery or distillery: $300; Inter-community: $170; transfer: $25; ALR cannabis: $500.
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1471 (PDF, consolidated October 2022), Business Licence Fees (BL 1515)](https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1471-Fees-and-Charges-Bylaw-2018.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Commercial – Small 500 m2 (5382 sq. ft.) or less $100.00" … "Inter-community $170.00" … "Daily – per day $35.00"
  - Source: [Business Licences, Fees](https://www.northsaanich.ca/local-government/applications-permits-licences/business-licences)
  - Official wording: "Please see the Fees and Charges Bylaw 1471 for licensing fees."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to apply:** Complete the business licence application form (BC Registry registration first). Bylaw, planning, fire, building inspection and sometimes Island Health approve it. The fee is paid when the licence is issued. The District takes cash, cheque or Interac, not credit cards.
  - Source: [Business Licences, Overview; Fees](https://www.northsaanich.ca/local-government/applications-permits-licences/business-licences)
  - Official wording: "Before applying, the business must be registered with BC Registry Services." … "approvals from other departments including bylaw, planning, fire, building inspection and, in some cases, Island Health are required." … "does not accept credit cards"
  - Source: [Business Bylaw No. 1349 (PDF, consolidated to January 17, 2022), s. 13](https://www.northsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/1349-Business-License-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED.pdf)
  - Official wording: "shall be delivered to the License Inspector and the fee, in respect" … "of which the application is made, shall be paid upon the issuance of the license."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Renewal:** Licences run January 1 to December 31. Renew within the first two calendar months (January and February) of the next year. No new form is needed if nothing has changed. Report changes of address or business details within 30 days.
  - Source: [Business Bylaw No. 1349 (PDF, consolidated to January 17, 2022), s. 21, 22](https://www.northsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/1349-Business-License-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Business licenses shall be issued for a one-year period commencing on the first day of" … "must renew that license within the first two (2) calendar" … "months (January, February)"
  - Source: [Business Bylaw No. 1349 (PDF, consolidated to January 17, 2022), s. 16, 15](https://www.northsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/1349-Business-License-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED.pdf)
  - Official wording: "an application form is not required to renew a" … "within 30 (thirty) days of any changes in the mailing or business address"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Inter-community licence:** Yes. The Inter-Community (mobile) Business Licence is $170 and covers participating Vancouver Island communities: Central Saanich, Colwood, Duncan, Esquimalt, Ladysmith, Lake Cowichan, Nanaimo, North Cowichan, Parksville, Sidney, Sooke, Victoria and View Royal. It suits mobile businesses such as contractors and caterers. Apply through a participating local government.
  - Source: [Business Licences, Inter-Community Business Licence Program](https://www.northsaanich.ca/local-government/applications-permits-licences/business-licences)
  - Official wording: "Vancouver Island-wide Inter-Community Business Licence" … "Bylaw: District of North Saanich Inter-Community Business License Bylaw No. 1592 (2025)" … "Fee: $170"
  - Source: [Mobile Business Licence Program, Province of BC, Vancouver Island partnership list](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/employment-business/business/managing-a-business/starting-a-business/permits-licences/mobile-business-licence-program)
  - Official wording: "District of North Saanich - City of Parksville - Town of Sidney" … "You can only apply for a mobile business licence through a participating local government."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Ticket (October 2022 schedule; 2026 amendments could not be read): no business licence $500 ($350 if paid within 30 days); failing to display or produce a licence $130 ($100). Court conviction: $200 to $10,000 plus the unpaid licence fee.
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1544, Schedule 6](https://www.northsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/Municipal-Ticket-Information-Bylaw-No.-1544.pdf)
  - Official wording: "No business license" … "$500.00" … "$350.00" … "Fail to display license" … "No business license 4 $500.00 $350.00" … "Fail to display license 28 $130.00 $100.00" … "Fail to produce license 31 $130.00 $100.00"
  - Source: [Business Bylaw No. 1349 (PDF, consolidated to January 17, 2022), s. 33](https://www.northsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/1349-Business-License-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED.pdf)
  - Official wording: "a fine of not less than two hundred dollars ($200.00) and not more than" … "ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00), plus costs"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Business Bylaw No. 1349 (2013); Inter-Community Business Licence Bylaw No. 1592 (2025)
  - Source: [Business Bylaw No. 1349 (PDF, consolidated to January 17, 2022), s. 1](https://www.northsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/1349-Business-License-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED.pdf)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw may be cited for all purposes as “District of North Saanich Business Bylaw" … "No. 1349 (2013).”"
  - Source: [Business Licences, Business Licences page](https://www.northsaanich.ca/local-government/applications-permits-licences/business-licences)
  - Official wording: "Bylaw: District of North Saanich Inter-Community Business License Bylaw No. 1592 (2025)"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The District of North Saanich's [Business Bylaw No. 1349](https://www.northsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/1349-Business-License-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED.pdf) requires every person who owns or operates a business in the District, including home-based businesses, to hold a licence. Each premises counts as a separate business. Not required: government, garage sales on your own property (up to 2 consecutive days and 6 days a year), and charitable or religious groups using all proceeds for that purpose.

## Steps

1. Register the business with BC Registry Services.
2. Complete the business licence application form (linked from the District's Business Licences page).
3. The District's bylaw, planning, fire and building inspection staff, and sometimes Island Health, review it.
4. Pay the fee when the licence is issued. The District takes cash, cheque or Interac, not credit cards.
5. Renew in January or February each year. No new form is needed if nothing has changed. Report changes of address or business details within 30 days.

## Good to know

- The fee is halved for a business first liable after July 31.
- An Inter-Community (mobile) Business Licence is $170 and covers participating Vancouver Island communities: Central Saanich, Colwood, Duncan, Esquimalt, Ladysmith, Lake Cowichan, Nanaimo, North Cowichan, Parksville, Sidney, Sooke, Victoria and View Royal. It suits mobile businesses such as contractors and caterers. Apply through a participating local government.
- A separate Greater Victoria Inter-Municipal licence ($100) also exists for mobile trades; it must also be bought from your home municipality.
- Fines (2022 schedule; amounts may have changed): a municipal ticket is $500 ($350 if paid within 30 days) for no licence and $130 ($100) for failing to display or produce one. A court conviction can mean $200 to $10,000 plus the unpaid fee.
- The renewal method (online or in person) is not stated; ask the District.

## What you'll need

- Proof the business is registered with BC Registry Services
- Completed business licence application form

## Official forms and pages

- [Business Licences page](https://www.northsaanich.ca/local-government/applications-permits-licences/business-licences)
- [Business Bylaw No. 1349 (consolidated, PDF)](https://www.northsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/1349-Business-License-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED.pdf)

## Related questions

- [North Saanich home-based business rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/home-based-business.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Business licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/business-licence.md)
- [Sidney](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sidney/business-licence.md)
- [Central Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/business-licence.md)
- [Highlands](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/business-licence.md)
- [Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/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)

## Sources

- [Business Licences, District of North Saanich](https://www.northsaanich.ca/local-government/applications-permits-licences/business-licences) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Business Bylaw No. 1349 (PDF, consolidated to January 17, 2022)](https://www.northsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/1349-Business-License-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1471 (PDF, consolidated October 2022)](https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1471-Fees-and-Charges-Bylaw-2018.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1544 (PDF)](https://www.northsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/Municipal-Ticket-Information-Bylaw-No.-1544.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Mobile Business Licence Program, Province of BC](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/employment-business/business/managing-a-business/starting-a-business/permits-licences/mobile-business-licence-program) (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 District of North Saanich. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/business-licence/_