---
title: "Port Alberni business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply"
question: "Do I need a business licence in Port Alberni, and how do I get one?"
place: Port Alberni, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/port-alberni
category: Starting and running a business
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of Port Alberni
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/business-licence/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/business-licence.json"
---

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

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

**Short answer:** Yes. Every business carried on in the City of Port Alberni needs a licence for each business location, including mobile businesses. Email the application to bus_licence@portalberni.ca or take it to Development Services, Upper - 4835 Argyle St. Most businesses pay $132 a year.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Port Alberni, https://www.portalberni.ca)  
**Cost:** $132 a year for most businesses (Service); financial institutions and pawnbrokers $550; liquor outlets $220; escort services $2,200; cannabis stores $2,500 ($220 renewal). New businesses applying after July 1 may pay half.  
**How long:** Applications needing inspections usually take 15 to 30 working days.  
**Where:**
- Email: Business Licensing, bus_licence@portalberni.ca
- In person: Development Services, Upper, 4835 Argyle Street, Port Alberni, BC V9Y 1V9
- Phone: Business Licensing, 250-720-2835

## Key facts

- **Who needs one:** Every business carried on in the City needs a licence for each business location, including mobile businesses. The bylaw excludes activities of government, its agencies and government-owned corporations.
  - Source: [Business Licence Regulation Bylaw No. 4951, 2017 (PDF, consolidated to April 14, 2025), ss. 2, 3.1, 3.2](https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/4951_4951-1_4951-2_4951-3_Business%20Licence%20Regulation%20Bylaw_Consolidated_ao.pdf)
  - Official wording: "No person shall carry on a business within the City of Port Alberni unless a valid and subsisting licence has been issued for the Business." … "shall obtain a licence under this Bylaw for each business location." … "but does not include an activity carried on by the government, its agencies or government owned corporations."
  - Source: [Business Licensing FAQ](https://www.portalberni.ca/business-licensing-faq)
  - Official wording: "a business Licence is required by every business operating in the City of Port Alberni, whether mobile or stationary."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fee:** Annual fee by category (Schedule A): $132 for most businesses (Service); financial institutions and pawnbrokers $550; liquor outlets $220; escort services $2,200; cannabis stores $2,500 ($220 renewal). New businesses applying after July 1 may pay half.
  - Source: [Business Licence Regulation Bylaw No. 4951, 2017 (PDF, consolidated to April 14, 2025), Schedule A, s. 5.3](https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/4951_4951-1_4951-2_4951-3_Business%20Licence%20Regulation%20Bylaw_Consolidated_ao.pdf)
  - Official wording: "CATEGORY: 1. Service FEE: $132.00" … "CATEGORY: 3. Financial Institutions FEE: $550.00" … "CATEGORY: 7. Cannabis Outlets FEE: $2,500.00" … "the fee may be reduced to one-half the annual fee."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to apply:** Email the application to bus_licence@portalberni.ca, or deliver or mail it to Development Services, Upper - 4835 Argyle St. Applications needing inspections usually take 15 to 30 working days. Zoning, building and fire compliance is checked; some businesses also need Island Health approval.
  - Source: [Business Licensing, Applying for a Business License](https://www.portalberni.ca/content/business-licensing)
  - Official wording: "Email to: bus_licence@portalberni.ca" … "In Person at: Development Services, Upper - 4835 Argyle St."
  - Source: [Business Licensing FAQ](https://www.portalberni.ca/business-licensing-faq)
  - Official wording: "usually takes 15-30 working days to process" … "Most non-approvals are due to building, fire, or zoning non-compliance."
  - Source: [Business Licence Regulation Bylaw No. 4951, 2017 (PDF, consolidated to April 14, 2025), s. 7.1](https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/4951_4951-1_4951-2_4951-3_Business%20Licence%20Regulation%20Bylaw_Consolidated_ao.pdf)
  - Official wording: "complied with the requirements of this bylaw, and with the bylaws of the City of Port Alberni regulating building, zoning, health, sanitation and business"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Renewal:** Licences are for the calendar year and expire December 31. Renew and pay before January 31; a 25% penalty is added to unpaid licences at January 31. An invoice is usually sent 4 to 6 weeks before the new year; pay online, in person, by mail or at a financial institution.
  - Source: [Business Licence Regulation Bylaw No. 4951, 2017 (PDF, consolidated to April 14, 2025), ss. 5.2, 6.1, 9.2](https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/4951_4951-1_4951-2_4951-3_Business%20Licence%20Regulation%20Bylaw_Consolidated_ao.pdf)
  - Official wording: "shall expire on December 31 of each year." … "A penalty of 25% will be added to each unpaid business licence as at January 31st in each year" … "paying the annual fee prior to January 31"
  - Source: [Business Licensing FAQ](https://www.portalberni.ca/business-licensing-faq)
  - Official wording: "Business Licences are automatically renewed upon receipt of your annual payment." … "You would typically receive an invoice 4-6 weeks before the New Year"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Inter-community licence:** Yes. An Inter-Community Business Licence costs an additional $150 a year on top of the regular Port Alberni licence and covers 12 participating municipalities: Campbell River, Comox, Courtenay, Cumberland, Port Alberni, Qualicum Beach, Parksville, Nanaimo, Ladysmith, North Cowichan, Lake Cowichan and Duncan.
  - Source: [Business Licensing FAQ](https://www.portalberni.ca/business-licensing-faq)
  - Official wording: "The fee for an Inter-Community Business Licence is an additional $150.00 per year." … "allows businesses to conduct business in any of the 12 participating municipalities." … "City of Campbell River" … "Town of Lake Cowichan" … "City of Duncan"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Bylaw notice for carrying on business without a licence: $200 ($150 if paid early, $250 late). The City's fee page shows these amounts per day.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 5128, 2025, Schedule A-6, s. 3.1](https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/5128%2C%205128-1_Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement%20Bylaw%20No.%205128%2C%202025_Consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "3.1 Carry on a business without a licence $200.00 $150.00 $250.00"
  - Source: [Business Licence Regulation Bylaw No. 4951, 2017 (PDF, consolidated to April 14, 2025), ss. 13.3, 13.5](https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/4951_4951-1_4951-2_4951-3_Business%20Licence%20Regulation%20Bylaw_Consolidated_ao.pdf)
  - Official wording: "liable upon summary conviction of a fine of not less than $1000.00 and not more than $10,000" … "Each day a person is in contravention of this Bylaw constitutes a separate offence."
  - Source: [Business Licensing FAQ](https://www.portalberni.ca/business-licensing-faq)
  - Official wording: "You could be subject to a fine of $200 per day."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Business Licence Regulation Bylaw No. 4951, 2017
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 5128, 2025, Schedule A-6](https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/5128%2C%205128-1_Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement%20Bylaw%20No.%205128%2C%202025_Consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Business Licence Regulation Bylaw No. 4951, 2017"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under [Business Licence Regulation Bylaw No. 4951](https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/4951_4951-1_4951-2_4951-3_Business%20Licence%20Regulation%20Bylaw_Consolidated_ao.pdf), every business carried on in the City needs a licence for each location, including mobile businesses. The bylaw excludes activities of government, its agencies and government-owned corporations. Annual fees are set by category in Schedule A. Special events cost $220 per day for-profit and $75 per day non-profit.

## Steps

1. Confirm the zoning of your location with Development Services.
2. Email the application to bus_licence@portalberni.ca, or deliver or mail it to Development Services, Upper - 4835 Argyle St.
3. The City checks zoning, building and fire compliance; some businesses also need Island Health approval. Applications needing inspections usually take 15 to 30 working days.
4. Pay the fee. Licences are for the calendar year and expire December 31.

## Good to know

- Renew and pay before January 31; a 25% penalty is added to unpaid licences at January 31. An invoice usually arrives 4 to 6 weeks before the new year. Pay online, in person, by mail or at a financial institution. The City's FAQ says payment is due January 1.
- An Inter-Community Business Licence costs an additional $150 a year on top of the regular licence and covers 12 participating municipalities: Campbell River, Comox, Courtenay, Cumberland, Port Alberni, Qualicum Beach, Parksville, Nanaimo, Ladysmith, North Cowichan, Lake Cowichan and Duncan. This is from the City's FAQ.
- Carrying on business without a licence: a bylaw notice is $200 ($150 if paid early, $250 late). The bylaw also sets a court fine of $1,000 to $10,000.
- The City's fee page still shows an older special-event fee ($220 per day, maximum $2,200 per event); the bylaw is followed here.

## What you'll need

- Completed Business Licence Application (City form)
- Island Health approval, if your business needs it

## Official forms and pages

- [Business Licensing page](https://www.portalberni.ca/content/business-licensing)
- [Business Licensing FAQ](https://www.portalberni.ca/business-licensing-faq)
- [Business Licence Regulation Bylaw 4951, 2017 (PDF, consolidated)](https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/4951_4951-1_4951-2_4951-3_Business%20Licence%20Regulation%20Bylaw_Consolidated_ao.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Port Alberni home-based business rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/home-based-business.md)
- [Port Alberni zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/zoning-lookup.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Business licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/business-licence.md)
- [Qualicum Beach](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/qualicum-beach/business-licence.md)
- [Parksville](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/parksville/business-licence.md)
- [Cumberland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/business-licence.md)
- [Comox](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/business-licence.md)
- [Courtenay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/business-licence.md)
- [Lantzville](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lantzville/business-licence.md)

## Sources

- [Business Licensing, City of Port Alberni](https://www.portalberni.ca/content/business-licensing) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Business Licensing FAQ, City of Port Alberni](https://www.portalberni.ca/business-licensing-faq) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Business Licence Regulation Bylaw No. 4951, 2017 (PDF, consolidated to April 14, 2025)](https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/4951_4951-1_4951-2_4951-3_Business%20Licence%20Regulation%20Bylaw_Consolidated_ao.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 5128, 2025 (PDF)](https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/5128%2C%205128-1_Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement%20Bylaw%20No.%205128%2C%202025_Consolidated.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)

_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 City of Port Alberni. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/business-licence/_