Osoyoos business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply
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.
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.Business Licence Bylaw No. 1400, 2025, s. 3.1, 3.2, 5.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingNo 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 |
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| 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.Business Licence Bylaw No. 1400, 2025, s. 8.1, 8.2, 8.4 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordinga) 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. |
| 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.Business Licences and Permits, Applying for a Business Licence; Business Licence Bylaw No. 1400, 2025, s. 13.1(b) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingA 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. a fire inspection is to be completed within the first year of operation unless an |
| 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.Business Licence Bylaw No. 1400, 2025, s. 19.1, 20.1, 8.2, 8.3; Business Licences and Permits · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingvalid 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 Licences that remain unpaid as of April 1st will be cancelled; |
| 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.Inter-Community Business Licence; Inter-Community Business Licence Bylaw No. 1232, 2007, s. 10 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingAn "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 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. |
| 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).Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1279, 2011, Schedule 3 (Business Licence Bylaw No. 1400); Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1392, 2025, Business Licence Bylaw schedule · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingOperating a business without a 3.1 $150 $120 Failure to display a valid 15.1 $150 $100 No Business Licence $150 $120 $160 Yes |
| Bylaw | Business Licence Bylaw No. 1400, 2025 (replaced Business Licence Bylaw No. 1045, 1997); Inter-Community Business Licence Bylaw No. 1232, 2007Business Licence Bylaw No. 1400, 2025, s. 1.0, 24.1; Inter-Community Business Licence Bylaw No. 1232, 2007, cover · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThis 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 BYLAW NO. 1232, 2007 |
How it works
Under the Business Licence Bylaw No. 1400, 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
- 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.
- 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.
- Pay the fee. The Business Licence Inspector gives final approval.
- 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 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
The same question in other places
Oliver · Keremeos · Midway · Penticton · Greenwood · Summerland
Business licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Business Licences and Permits, Town of Osoyoos (read 2026-11-06)
- Business Licence Bylaw No. 1400, 2025 (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
- Inter-Community Business Licence, Town of Osoyoos (read 2026-11-06)
- Inter-Community Business Licence Bylaw No. 1232, 2007 (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
- Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1392, 2025 (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
- Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1279, 2011 (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
- Contact Directory, Town of Osoyoos (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.