---
title: "Oak Bay business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply"
question: "Do I need a business licence in Oak Bay, and how do I get one?"
place: Oak Bay, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/oak-bay
category: Starting and running a business
owner: municipal
owner_body: District of Oak Bay
sources_read: 2026-11-06
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oak-bay/business-licence/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oak-bay/business-licence.json"
---

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

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

**Short answer:** Yes. In Oak Bay every person who owns or operates a business, including trades and professions, needs a District business licence. Apply by email, in person or by mail to Municipal Hall. Home-based licences are $50; most offices and commercial licences start at $100.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Oak Bay, https://www.oakbay.ca)  
**Cost:** Depends on the class. Home-based $50; non-resident $100; offices, consultants and most commercial $100 for up to 1,000 sq. ft., plus a per-area charge above that; daily licences $50 a day. Fees are not refundable.  
**How long:** Not stated. Approval speed depends on whether regulators such as Island Health must review.  
**Where:**
- Email: Business licences, biz@oakbay.ca
- In person: Municipal Hall, 2167 Oak Bay Avenue, Victoria, BC V8R 1G2 (Weekdays, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Pay by cash, cheque or debit.)
- Online: Business Licences, District of Oak Bay, https://www.oakbay.ca/services/permits-licenses/oak-bay-business-licences/ (Online payment by credit card.)

## Key facts

- **Who needs one:** Every person who owns or operates any business in Oak Bay, including trades and professions. The licence must be displayed.
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 3603 (PDF, consolidated March 9, 2026), s. 2](https://www.oakbay.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/3603-Business-Licence-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Every person owning or operating any business carried on within the Municipality shall hold a valid"
  - Source: [Business Licences, intro](https://www.oakbay.ca/services/permits-licenses/oak-bay-business-licences/)
  - Official wording: "you must hold a valid Oak Bay business licence"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fee:** Depends on the class. Home-based: $50. Non-resident: $100. Offices, consultants and most commercial: $100 for up to 1,000 sq. ft., plus a per-area charge above that. Daily licences: $50 a day. Fees are not refundable.
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 3603 (PDF, consolidated March 9, 2026), Schedule B](https://www.oakbay.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/3603-Business-Licence-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Home Based Business $50.00 - $100.00" … "0 – 1,000 Sq. Ft. $100.00 $100.00 $200.00" … "Per Day $50.00" … "No licence fee or part thereof shall be"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to apply:** Fill out the Retail/Commercial or Home-Based application and email it, drop it off or mail it to Municipal Hall (2167 Oak Bay Ave). Approval speed depends on whether regulators such as Island Health must review. No licence is issued if the business is not a permitted use under zoning.
  - Source: [Business Licences, Applying for a Licence](https://www.oakbay.ca/services/permits-licenses/oak-bay-business-licences/)
  - Official wording: "you can email your application, drop it off or mail it to Oak Bay Municipal Hall (2167 Oak Bay Ave)." … "The speed of approval depends on the application and the need for regulator authorities, like Island Health, to review."
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 3603 (PDF, consolidated March 9, 2026), s. 4(4)](https://www.oakbay.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/3603-Business-Licence-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "no business" … "licence shall be issued where the proposed business would not constitute a permitted use of the"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Renewal:** Licences run January 1 to December 31. Renew in person or through the online portal. No new application form is needed if nothing has changed. Applications after June 30 are pro-rated to half.
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 3603 (PDF, consolidated March 9, 2026), s. 4(2), s. 3(5)](https://www.oakbay.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/3603-Business-Licence-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "commencing on the first day of January" … "an application form is not required to renew an existing business licence." … "to be licensed after the thirtieth day of June in any year."
  - Source: [Business Licences, Paying for your Licence](https://www.oakbay.ca/services/permits-licenses/oak-bay-business-licences/)
  - Official wording: "You can pay for your business licence and renewal:"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Inter-community licence:** Yes. An Intermunicipal Business Licence for listed trades (contractors and similar) costs an additional $100. It covers Oak Bay, Central Saanich, Colwood, Esquimalt, Langford, Metchosin, North Saanich, Saanich, Sidney, Victoria and View Royal.
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 3603 (PDF, consolidated March 9, 2026), s. 1(2)(n), s. 3(4), Schedule B Table 6](https://www.oakbay.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/3603-Business-Licence-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "the District of Oak Bay, the District of" … "Central Saanich, the City of Colwood, the Township of Esquimalt, the District of" … "Inter-Municipal Licence (For operation in CRD) $100.00" … "the owner or operator must obtain a business licence for the premises and an inter-municipal business licence."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Municipal ticket: $500 for carrying on business without a licence ($350 if paid within 30 days). Court conviction: $200 to $10,000 plus costs.
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 4846, Schedule 6](https://www.oakbay.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Bylaw-4846-Municipal-Ticket-Info-Consolidate.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Carry On Business Without Licence 2 $500.00 $350.00"
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 3603 (PDF, consolidated March 9, 2026), s. 11](https://www.oakbay.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/3603-Business-Licence-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "to a fine of not less than Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00) and not more than Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00),"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Business Licence Bylaw, 1988 (No. 3603), consolidated to March 9, 2026
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 3603 (PDF, consolidated March 9, 2026), title](https://www.oakbay.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/3603-Business-Licence-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "BUSINESS LICENCE BYLAW, 1988 (No. 3603)" … "Consolidated up to March 9, 2026 to include Bylaws:"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under the [Business Licence Bylaw No. 3603](https://www.oakbay.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/3603-Business-Licence-Bylaw.pdf), anyone who owns or operates a business in Oak Bay needs a licence, and must display it. Government activity and charitable or religious activity where all proceeds go to those purposes are excluded. No licence is issued if the business is not a permitted use under the Zoning Bylaw.

## Steps

1. Fill out the Retail/Commercial or Home-Based application from the District's business licence page.
2. Email it to biz@oakbay.ca, drop it off or mail it to Municipal Hall, 2167 Oak Bay Avenue.
3. Pay in person (cash, cheque or debit) or online by credit card.
4. Renew each year. Licences run January 1 to December 31. Renew in person or through the online portal, and no new form is needed if nothing has changed. Applications after June 30 are half-price.

## Good to know

- Fee classes are in Schedules A and B of the bylaw. Retail, restaurants and hotels use column B; apartments, offices, contractors and consultants use column A; banks use column C ($200 base). The Table 1 maximum is $2,000.
- An Intermunicipal Business Licence for listed trades such as contractors costs an additional $100. It covers Oak Bay, Central Saanich, Colwood, Esquimalt, Langford, Metchosin, North Saanich, Saanich, Sidney, Victoria and View Royal. An Oak Bay business that also works elsewhere must hold both licences.
- Fine: a municipal ticket for operating without a licence is $500 ($350 if paid within 30 days). A court conviction can mean $200 to $10,000 plus costs.

## Official forms and pages

- [Business Licences, District of Oak Bay](https://www.oakbay.ca/services/permits-licenses/oak-bay-business-licences/)
- [Business Licence Bylaw No. 3603 (PDF)](https://www.oakbay.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/3603-Business-Licence-Bylaw.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Oak Bay home-based business rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oak-bay/home-based-business.md)
- [Oak Bay short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oak-bay/short-term-rental.md)
- [Oak Bay zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oak-bay/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Oak Bay bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oak-bay/bylaw-fines.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Business licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/business-licence.md)
- [Victoria](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/victoria/business-licence.md)
- [Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/business-licence.md)
- [Esquimalt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/business-licence.md)
- [View Royal](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/business-licence.md)
- [Colwood](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/business-licence.md)
- [Langford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/business-licence.md)

## Sources

- [Business Licences, District of Oak Bay](https://www.oakbay.ca/services/permits-licenses/oak-bay-business-licences/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Business Licence Bylaw No. 3603 (PDF, consolidated March 9, 2026), District of Oak Bay](https://www.oakbay.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/3603-Business-Licence-Bylaw.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 4846 (PDF), District of Oak Bay](https://www.oakbay.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Bylaw-4846-Municipal-Ticket-Info-Consolidate.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)

_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 Oak Bay. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oak-bay/business-licence/_