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

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

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

**Short answer:** In Osoyoos anyone carrying on a business in the Town needs a Town business licence, with a separate licence for each business. The annual fee is $150 for most businesses and $75 for a home occupation. Apply online or email plan@osoyoos.ca.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Town of Osoyoos, https://www.osoyoos.ca)  
**Cost:** $150 a year for most businesses; $75 home occupation; $500 retail cannabis; $750 short-term rental or bed and breakfast. Non-refundable. $100 late fee if unpaid on March 1.  
**How long:** The Town states no processing time. Incomplete applications are closed if information is not provided within two weeks. Licences run January 1 to December 31.  
**Where:**
- In person: Planning and Development Services, 8711 Main Street, Osoyoos, BC (Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.)
- Phone: Planning and Development Services, 250-495-6191
- Email: Planning and Development Services (applications), plan@osoyoos.ca

## Key facts

- **Who needs one:** Anyone carrying on a business in the Town, with a separate licence for each business. Not covered: holders of an inter-community licence, registered societies and charities without regular commercial activity, occasional non-profit fundraising, government activities, and rentals under the Residential Tenancy Act.
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 1400, 2025, s. 3.1, 3.2, 5.1](https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/155039/)
  - Official wording: "No person shall carry on any business within the Town without a valid and subsisting" … "A person operating more than one business must have a licence for each business," … "a society registered in British Columbia or Canada or a registered charitable" … "rental of a single-family dwelling or multi-family where the rental agreement is" … "an activity carried on by or on behalf of the Provincial or Federal government or"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fee:** Annual fee: $150 for most businesses; $75 home occupation; $500 retail cannabis; $750 short-term rental or bed and breakfast. Non-refundable. $100 late fee if unpaid on March 1.
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 1400, 2025, s. 8.1, 8.2, 8.4](https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/155039/)
  - Official wording: "a) bed and breakfast operation: $750.00" … "b) home occupation: $75.00" … "c) retail sales of cannabis $500.00" … "e) all other uses: $150.00" … "A licence application fee is non-refundable." … "will be subject to a late fee in the amount of $100.00."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to apply:** Apply online, or download the form and email it to plan@osoyoos.ca (or fax 250.495.2400). The location is reviewed for zoning and OCP compliance, inspections are scheduled if needed, and the Business Licence Inspector gives final approval once the fee is paid. A fire inspection may be required within the first year.
  - Source: [Business Licences and Permits, Applying for a Business Licence](https://www.osoyoos.ca/business-licences-permits)
  - Official wording: "A Business Licence application can be completed online or the application form can be downloaded and emailed to plan@osoyoos.ca or faxed to 250.495.2400." … "The proposed business location will be reviewed to ensure compliance with the Zoning Bylaw and Official Community Plan requirements." … "Final approval will be granted by the Business Licence Inspector."
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 1400, 2025, s. 13.1(b)](https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/155039/)
  - Official wording: "a fire inspection is to be completed within the first year of operation unless an"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Renewal:** Licences run January 1 to December 31. The annual fee is due on or before the last business day in February; unpaid on March 1 adds a $100 late fee; unpaid on April 1 the licence is terminated.
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 1400, 2025, s. 19.1, 20.1, 8.2, 8.3](https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/155039/)
  - Official wording: "valid for the period commencing January 1 and expiring December 31 of each year." … "on or before the last business day in February in" … "will be subject to a late fee in the amount of" … "remains unpaid as of April 1st in the year subsequent to the year in which the fee was payable"
  - Source: [Business Licences and Permits](https://www.osoyoos.ca/business-licences-permits)
  - Official wording: "Licences that remain unpaid as of April 1st will be cancelled;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Inter-community licence:** Yes, for businesses that go from client to client with no premises in the participating municipalities, which include Penticton, Kelowna, Vernon, Oliver, Summerland, Princeton, Keremeos and Osoyoos. Fee $150 (minimum $25; reduced pro rata after July 1 for new businesses). Apply to plan@osoyoos.ca.
  - Source: [Inter-Community Business Licence](https://www.osoyoos.ca/inter-community-business-licence)
  - Official wording: "An "Inter-Community Business Licence" means a Business that performs a service or activity within more than one Participating Municipality" … "To apply, please fill out the application form and return to plan@osoyoos.ca" … "Penticton"
  - Source: [Inter-Community Business Licence Bylaw No. 1232, 2007, s. 10](https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/146235/)
  - Official wording: "The fee for an Inter-Community Business Licence is $150 and shall be retained by the" … "The minimum Inter-Community Business Licence fee is $25."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Municipal ticket $150 ($120 if paid within 30 days) for operating without a valid licence; $150 ($100) for not displaying the licence. Bylaw notice: $150 ($120 early, $160 late).
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1279, 2011, Schedule 3 (Business Licence Bylaw No. 1400)](https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/82635/)
  - Official wording: "Operating a business without a 3.1 $150 $120" … "Failure to display a valid 15.1 $150 $100"
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1392, 2025, Business Licence Bylaw schedule](https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/150460/)
  - Official wording: "No Business Licence $150 $120 $160 Yes"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Business Licence Bylaw No. 1400, 2025 (replaced Business Licence Bylaw No. 1045, 1997); Inter-Community Business Licence Bylaw No. 1232, 2007
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 1400, 2025, s. 1.0, 24.1](https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/155039/)
  - Official wording: "This bylaw shall be cited for all purposes as the “Town of Osoyoos Business Licence" … "The Town of Osoyoos Business Licence Bylaw No. 1045, 1997, and all amendments"
  - Source: [Inter-Community Business Licence Bylaw No. 1232, 2007, cover](https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/146235/)
  - Official wording: "BYLAW NO. 1232, 2007"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under the [Business Licence Bylaw No. 1400](https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/155039/), anyone carrying on a business in the Town needs a licence, with a separate licence for each business. Not covered: holders of an inter-community licence, registered societies and charities without regular commercial activity, occasional non-profit fundraising, government activities, and rentals under the Residential Tenancy Act. Other agencies may need to issue permits first, such as Interior Health, the Passenger Transportation Board or the BC Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch.

The annual fee is $150 for most businesses, $75 for a home occupation, $500 for retail cannabis and $750 for a short-term rental or bed and breakfast. The fee is non-refundable.

Licences run January 1 to December 31 and cannot be transferred; a new owner needs a new licence. The fee is due on or before the last business day in February. Unpaid on March 1, a $100 late fee applies; unpaid on April 1, the licence is terminated.

## Steps

1. Apply online, or download the form and email it to plan@osoyoos.ca (or fax 250-495-2400). Include a site plan showing required parking.
2. The Town reviews the location for zoning and OCP compliance and schedules inspections if needed. A fire inspection may be required within the first year.
3. Pay the fee. The Business Licence Inspector gives final approval.
4. Display the licence. Mobile businesses carry a copy.

## Good to know

- **Inter-community licence:** for businesses that go from client to client with no premises in the participating municipalities (including Penticton, Kelowna, Vernon, Oliver, Summerland, Princeton, Keremeos and Osoyoos). The fee is $150 (minimum $25; reduced pro rata after July 1 for new businesses). Apply to plan@osoyoos.ca. A business with premises must apply where its premises are. See the [bylaw](https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/146235/) and the Town's page for the full list.
- The Town's page says to check with licensing staff (250-495-6191) for current rates.
- Operating without a valid licence is a municipal ticket of $150 ($120 if paid within 30 days). Not displaying the licence is $150 ($100). A bylaw notice is $150 ($120 early, $160 late).

## Official forms and pages

- [Business Licences and Permits, Town of Osoyoos](https://www.osoyoos.ca/business-licences-permits)
- [Business Licence Bylaw No. 1400, 2025 (PDF)](https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/155039/)
- [Inter-Community Business Licence, Town of Osoyoos](https://www.osoyoos.ca/inter-community-business-licence)
- [Inter-Community Business Licence Bylaw No. 1232, 2007 (PDF)](https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/146235/)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Business licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/business-licence.md)
- [Oliver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oliver/business-licence.md)
- [Keremeos](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/keremeos/business-licence.md)
- [Midway](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/midway/business-licence.md)
- [Penticton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/penticton/business-licence.md)
- [Greenwood](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/greenwood/business-licence.md)
- [Summerland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/summerland/business-licence.md)

## Sources

- [Business Licences and Permits, Town of Osoyoos](https://www.osoyoos.ca/business-licences-permits) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Business Licence Bylaw No. 1400, 2025 (PDF)](https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/155039/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Inter-Community Business Licence, Town of Osoyoos](https://www.osoyoos.ca/inter-community-business-licence) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Inter-Community Business Licence Bylaw No. 1232, 2007 (PDF)](https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/146235/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1392, 2025 (PDF)](https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/150460/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1279, 2011 (PDF)](https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/82635/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Contact Directory, Town of Osoyoos](https://www.osoyoos.ca/contact-us/contact-directory) (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 Town of Osoyoos. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/osoyoos/business-licence/_