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

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

Parksville, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

Short answer

Yes. The City of Parksville requires a business licence for every person carrying on or owning a business in the city, including home-based and non-resident businesses. Registered non-profit societies are exempt. Apply to the City and do not operate until approved; approval is generally three to five business days.

Key facts

Who needs one	Every person carrying on or owning any business in the City, including home-based businesses and non-resident businesses working in Parksville. Registered societies operating solely for non-profit purposes do not need one.Business Licence Bylaw, 2018, No. 1550 (consolidated to 1550.3, PDF), s. 3(1), s. 3(13); Business Licences, Business Licences page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Every person following, practicing, carrying on, maintaining, or owning within the City, any business, shall take out and maintain a licence a registered society or organization which in the opinion of the Licence Inspector is operating solely for non-profit purposes does not require a business licence to operate Should a business which is not located in Parksville wish to do business in Parksville, the business must obtain a City of Parksville business licence
Fee	Annual fee by type of business in Schedule A: $150 for general business, retail under 1,000 m², restaurant, professional, contractor, service provision or day care; $75 for home based business; $50 for bed and breakfast or secondary suite. Fee is reduced if you start late in the year.Business Licence Bylaw, 2018, No. 1550 (consolidated to 1550.3, PDF), Schedule A, s. 3(9) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Professional Occupations $150 General Business not otherwise listed $150 Home Based Business $75 Bed & Breakfast $50 For any person who becomes liable to be licensed after the 1st day of April in any year
How to apply	Submit the City's business licence application (online forms or at City Hall, 100 Jensen Avenue East) with the business details; do not operate until approved. It is sent for zoning, building inspection and fire approvals, and licences are generally approved in three to five business days. Pay by credit card, mail, dropbox or in person.Business Licences brochure; Business Licences, Business Licences page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording until your application is approved Licences are generally approved within three to five business days Once your application is submitted, it is forwarded for approvals, which may include; zoning, building inspection, and fire department Credit card (Visa or Mastercard) payments from the City In-person at City Hall (Monday to Friday, 8 am to 4 pm)
Renewal	Licences are for the calendar year and expire December 31. Renewal fees are due by January 31; $50 a month late fee from February 1; licences not renewed by May 1 are suspended; fees not paid in full by June 1 mean cancellation.Business Licence Bylaw, 2018, No. 1550 (consolidated to 1550.3, PDF), s. 3(6), 3(8), 15(1) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording all licence renewal fees are due and payable by no later than January 31st in any year shall expire on the 31st day of December next succeeding the date of issue of same Any business that fails to obtain a renewal of a licence by February 1 each year shall pay an additional fee of fifty dollars ($50) per month Any licences not renewed by May 1 each year will be suspended Failure to remit all business licence fees in full by June 1 will result in immediate cancellation of the business licence.
Inter-community licence	Yes. The inter-community business licence costs $170 a year and lets a mobile business (trades, cleaners, landscapers and similar) work in the other participating municipalities, including Nanaimo, Qualicum Beach, Duncan, Victoria and Campbell River, without separate licences. You must first hold a municipal business licence.Inter-Community Business Licence Bylaw, 2025, No. 1600, s. 4(a), s. 3(a); Inter-Community Business Licence, Inter-Community page; Business Licence Application, Application form · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording The fee for an Inter-Community Business Licence is $170 and will be retained by the Participating Jurisdiction that issues the licence may carry on Business within any Participating Jurisdiction City of Nanaimo Town of Qualicum Beach City of Campbell River You must obtain a municipal business licence before applying for an Inter-Community Business Licence
Fine	Bylaw notice: $150 ($112.50 if paid within 14 days, $187.50 late). Municipal ticket: $150 (listed under the former Business Licence Bylaw 1483, replaced by 1550).Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, Schedule A, Schedule A, Business Licence Bylaw 3(1); s. 5.1.2; Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1478, Appendix 2; s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording No Business Licence $150.00 $112.50 $187.50 If received by the Registry within 14 days of the person receiving or being presumed to have received the notice No Business Licence 3(1) $150.00 The bylaws, as amended or replaced from time to time, listed in Column 1 of Schedule A
Bylaw	Business Licence Bylaw, 2018, No. 1550 (consolidated to include 1550.1, 1550.2 and 1550.3)Business Licence Bylaw, 2018, No. 1550 (consolidated to 1550.3, PDF), s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Business Licence Bylaw, 2018, No. 1550 Consolidated to include Bylaw No. 1550.1, 1550.2 and 1550.3

How it works

Under the City of Parksville's Business Licence Bylaw 1550, every person carrying on or owning any business in the city needs a licence. That includes home-based businesses and non-resident businesses working in Parksville. Registered societies operating solely for non-profit purposes do not need one. You need a separate licence for each premises.

Steps

Complete the City's Business Licence Application (online forms or at City Hall, 100 Jensen Avenue East) with your business details. Do not operate until approved.
The application is sent for zoning, building inspection and fire approvals. The Licence Inspector grants the licence once building, zoning, health and other requirements are met.
Pay by credit card, mail, dropbox or in person.
Renew each year. Licences are for the calendar year and expire December 31. Renewal fees are due by January 31.

Good to know

Late renewal: $50 a month late fee from February 1; a licence not renewed by May 1 is suspended; if fees are not paid in full by June 1, the licence is cancelled.
Fee reductions apply if you start late in the year. There are no refunds. Larger or special businesses cost more (for example retail over 1,000 m² is $300, a bank $500, cannabis retail $1,000).
Mobile businesses (trades, cleaners, landscapers and similar) can buy an inter-community business licence for $170 a year. It lets you work in other participating municipalities, including Nanaimo, Qualicum Beach, Duncan, Victoria and Campbell River, without separate licences. You must first hold a municipal business licence, and still need a separate licence for each premises.
Operating without a licence: a bylaw notice is $150 ($112.50 if paid within 14 days, $187.50 late); a municipal ticket is $150. A court fine can be up to $10,000.
Contact: biz@parksville.ca, 250 954-4650.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Qualicum Beach · Lantzville · Nanaimo · Port Alberni · Sechelt · Ladysmith

Business licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

Business Licence Bylaw, 2018, No. 1550 (consolidated to 1550.3, PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
Business Licences, City of Parksville (read 2026-11-05)
Business Licences brochure (PDF), City of Parksville (read 2026-11-05)
Inter-Community Business Licence Bylaw, 2025, No. 1600 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
Inter-Community Business Licence, City of Parksville (read 2026-11-05)
Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, Schedule A (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1478 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
Business Licence Application, City of Parksville (read 2026-11-05)

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