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

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

Oak Bay, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-06

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.

Key facts

Who needs oneEvery person who owns or operates any business in Oak Bay, including trades and professions. The licence must be displayed.Business Licence Bylaw No. 3603 (PDF, consolidated March 9, 2026), s. 2; Business Licences, intro · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Every person owning or operating any business carried on within the Municipality shall hold a valid
you must hold a valid Oak Bay business licence
FeeDepends 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.Business Licence Bylaw No. 3603 (PDF, consolidated March 9, 2026), Schedule B · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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
How to applyFill 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.Business Licences, Applying for a Licence; Business Licence Bylaw No. 3603 (PDF, consolidated March 9, 2026), s. 4(4) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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.
no business
licence shall be issued where the proposed business would not constitute a permitted use of the
RenewalLicences 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.Business Licence Bylaw No. 3603 (PDF, consolidated March 9, 2026), s. 4(2), s. 3(5); Business Licences, Paying for your Licence · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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.
You can pay for your business licence and renewal:
Inter-community licenceYes. 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.Business Licence Bylaw No. 3603 (PDF, consolidated March 9, 2026), s. 1(2)(n), s. 3(4), Schedule B Table 6 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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.
FineMunicipal ticket: $500 for carrying on business without a licence ($350 if paid within 30 days). Court conviction: $200 to $10,000 plus costs.Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 4846, Schedule 6; Business Licence Bylaw No. 3603 (PDF, consolidated March 9, 2026), s. 11 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Carry On Business Without Licence 2 $500.00 $350.00
to a fine of not less than Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00) and not more than Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00),
BylawBusiness Licence Bylaw, 1988 (No. 3603), consolidated to March 9, 2026Business Licence Bylaw No. 3603 (PDF, consolidated March 9, 2026), title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
BUSINESS LICENCE BYLAW, 1988 (No. 3603)
Consolidated up to March 9, 2026 to include Bylaws:

How it works

Under the Business Licence Bylaw No. 3603, 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

The same question in other places

Victoria · Saanich · Esquimalt · View Royal · Colwood · Langford

Business licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

  1. Business Licences, District of Oak Bay (read 2026-11-06)
  2. Business Licence Bylaw No. 3603 (PDF, consolidated March 9, 2026), District of Oak Bay (read 2026-11-06)
  3. Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 4846 (PDF), District of Oak Bay (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. How answers are checked.