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

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

North Saanich, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

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).

Key facts

Who needs oneEvery 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.Business Bylaw No. 1349 (PDF, consolidated to January 17, 2022), s. 4, 6; Business Licences, Overview · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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,
Every business in the District is required to have a business licence.
FeeCommercial (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.Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1471 (PDF, consolidated October 2022), Business Licence Fees (BL 1515); Business Licences, Fees · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Commercial – Small 500 m2 (5382 sq. ft.) or less $100.00
Inter-community $170.00
Daily – per day $35.00
Please see the Fees and Charges Bylaw 1471 for licensing fees.
How to applyComplete 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.Business Licences, Overview; Fees; Business Bylaw No. 1349 (PDF, consolidated to January 17, 2022), s. 13 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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
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.
RenewalLicences 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.Business Bylaw No. 1349 (PDF, consolidated to January 17, 2022), s. 21, 22; Business Bylaw No. 1349 (PDF, consolidated to January 17, 2022), s. 16, 15 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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)
an application form is not required to renew a
within 30 (thirty) days of any changes in the mailing or business address
Inter-community licenceYes. 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.Business Licences, Inter-Community Business Licence Program; Mobile Business Licence Program, Province of BC, Vancouver Island partnership list · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Vancouver Island-wide Inter-Community Business Licence
Bylaw: District of North Saanich Inter-Community Business License Bylaw No. 1592 (2025)
Fee: $170
District of North Saanich - City of Parksville - Town of Sidney
You can only apply for a mobile business licence through a participating local government.
FineTicket (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.Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1544, Schedule 6; Business Bylaw No. 1349 (PDF, consolidated to January 17, 2022), s. 33 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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
a fine of not less than two hundred dollars ($200.00) and not more than
ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00), plus costs
BylawBusiness Bylaw No. 1349 (2013); Inter-Community Business Licence Bylaw No. 1592 (2025)Business Bylaw No. 1349 (PDF, consolidated to January 17, 2022), s. 1; Business Licences, Business Licences page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
This Bylaw may be cited for all purposes as “District of North Saanich Business Bylaw
No. 1349 (2013).”
Bylaw: District of North Saanich Inter-Community Business License Bylaw No. 1592 (2025)

How it works

The District of North Saanich's Business Bylaw No. 1349 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

The same question in other places

Sidney · Central Saanich · Highlands · Saanich · Langford · View Royal

Business licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

  1. Business Licences, District of North Saanich (read 2026-11-05)
  2. Business Bylaw No. 1349 (PDF, consolidated to January 17, 2022) (read 2026-11-05)
  3. Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1471 (PDF, consolidated October 2022) (read 2026-11-05)
  4. Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1544 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
  5. Mobile Business Licence Program, Province of BC (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.