---
title: "Port Hardy business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply"
question: "Do I need a business licence in Port Hardy, and how do I get one?"
place: Port Hardy, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/port-hardy
category: Starting and running a business
owner: municipal
owner_body: District of Port Hardy
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-hardy/business-licence/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-hardy/business-licence.json"
---

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

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

**Short answer:** Yes. Anyone carrying on a business, trade or profession in Port Hardy needs a District business licence for each location. Complete the application and take it, with the fee, to the Municipal Hall. 2026 annual fees start at $90 for a small commercial business.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Port Hardy, https://porthardy.ca)  
**Cost:** 2026 annual: small commercial (1 to 8 employees) $90; large commercial (9 or more) $200; home business $120; mobile vending $162; marine $120; seasonal home base (4 months or less) $32; monthly temporary $21; transfer $26.  
**How long:** Not stated in the sources read.  
**Where:**
- Phone: District Office, 250-949-6665
- In person: District of Port Hardy Municipal Hall, 7360 Columbia St., Port Hardy, BC V0N 2P0 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (excluding statutory holidays))

## Key facts

- **Who needs one:** Everyone doing business in Port Hardy: any person carrying on a profession, business, trade, occupation or undertaking in the District, with a separate licence for each location. Some non-resident businesses are exempt, such as commercial travellers selling to merchants and charity-only performances; non-profits may ask for the fee to be waived.
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 16-2006, ss. 4 and 6(a)](https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/52f7ad7f-731b-48e7-94fe-1b2e8e14f05016-2006_business_license_1.pdf)
  - Official wording: "shall hold a subsisting licence therefor from the District" … "A separate licence is required for each location where a business operates" … "commercial travellers offering for sale or selling merchandise to merchants for" … "may waive the licence fee payable."
  - Source: [How to Join, How to Join page](https://porthardy.ca/business/business-license-listing/how-to-join/)
  - Official wording: "Every one doing business in Port Hardy must have a valid business license"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fee:** 2026 annual fees (Schedule F): small commercial (1 to 8 employees) $90; large commercial (9 or more) $200; home business $120; mobile vending $162; marine $120; seasonal home base (4 months or less) $32; monthly temporary $21; transfer $26.
  - Source: [User Rates and Fees Bylaw No. 1187-2026, Schedule F, Business Licence Rates 2026](https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/1187-2026-User-Rates-and-Fees-for-2026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Small Commercial (1-8 Employees) $90.00" … "Large Commercial (9 employees and over) $200.00" … "Home Business $120.00" … "Mobile Vending $162.00" … "Seasonal Home Base 4 months or less $32.00" … "Monthly temporary licence $21.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **How to apply:** Complete the District's Application for Business Licence and deliver it to the Inspector at the Municipal Hall with the fee. The Inspector may require approval of the premises by the Building Inspector, Fire Chief or health officer, and food service operators need Health Inspector approval first.
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 16-2006, ss. 5(b), 7(b)](https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/52f7ad7f-731b-48e7-94fe-1b2e8e14f05016-2006_business_license_1.pdf)
  - Official wording: "The application form shall be delivered to the Inspector and shall be accompanied by the fee prescribed in the current District of Port Hardy Rates Bylaw." … "the Inspector shall require all food service operators to provide evidence of approval from the Health Inspector before" … "the Building Inspector, the Fire Chief, the Chief Constable"
  - Source: [How to Join, How to Join page](https://porthardy.ca/business/business-license-listing/how-to-join/)
  - Official wording: "Are you thinking of opening a Bed and Breakfast or a Short-Term Vacation Rental in Port Hardy? Review the guidelines prior to submitting a business license application and operating. Have questions? Contact us! Phone: 250-949-6665 Email: general@porthardy.ca **Every effort is made to ensure that the information is accurate. If you see something amiss, don't hesitate to let us know by either clicking the question mark and sending us a message or give us at call at 250-949-6665."
  - Source: [Application for Business Licence, February 2026, Application form](https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Application-for-Business-Licence-February-6-2026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "APPLICATION FOR BUSINESS LICENCE" … "Zoning: Number of Employees:"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Renewal:** Licences are annual, for each calendar year, with the fee paid in advance. A business that becomes liable after 30 June pays half the year's fee. No reduction if a business stops trading.
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 16-2006, s. 6(a)(v)](https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/52f7ad7f-731b-48e7-94fe-1b2e8e14f05016-2006_business_license_1.pdf)
  - Official wording: "All business licences issued under this bylaw shall be granted as annual" … "licences for each calendar year." … "shall be one-half the year's fee for a person who becomes liable to be licensed after the 30th of June in"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Inter-community licence:** Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read.
- **Fine:** Municipal ticket $100 for failing to obtain a business licence. The bylaw sets a minimum fine of $100 plus costs on summary conviction.
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw No. 01-2010, consolidated August 2014, Schedule F, s. 6(a)(i)](https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/01-2010_mti_consolidated_august_2014.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Failure to obtain business licence $ 100.00"
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 16-2006, s. 12(b)](https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/52f7ad7f-731b-48e7-94fe-1b2e8e14f05016-2006_business_license_1.pdf)
  - Official wording: "conviction to a minimum fine or penalty of One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) and"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Business Licence Bylaw No. 16-2006 (adopted 24 October 2006); fees are in User Rates and Fees Bylaw No. 1187-2026, Schedule F.
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 16-2006, s. 1 and adoption](https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/52f7ad7f-731b-48e7-94fe-1b2e8e14f05016-2006_business_license_1.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Business Licence Bylaw No. 16-2006." … "ADOPTED ON THE 24th DAY OF OCTOBER, 2006"
  - Source: [User Rates and Fees Bylaw No. 1187-2026, Schedule F](https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/1187-2026-User-Rates-and-Fees-for-2026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Schedule F Business License Fees"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

Under the [Business Licence Bylaw No. 16-2006](https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/52f7ad7f-731b-48e7-94fe-1b2e8e14f05016-2006_business_license_1.pdf), anyone carrying on a profession, business, trade, occupation or undertaking in the District of Port Hardy needs a business licence, with a separate licence for each location. Some non-resident businesses are exempt, such as commercial travellers selling to merchants and charity-only performances, and non-profits may ask for the fee to be waived. Food service needs Health Inspector approval, and marine businesses need $2,000,000 liability insurance. A temporary licence of up to one year may be granted for a business that does not conform to zoning or other bylaws.

Annual fees for 2026 (Schedule F of the [User Rates and Fees Bylaw No. 1187-2026](https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/1187-2026-User-Rates-and-Fees-for-2026.pdf)):

- Small commercial (1 to 8 employees): $90. Large commercial (9 or more): $200.
- Home business: $120. Marine: $120. Mobile vending: $162.
- Seasonal home base (4 months or less): $32. Monthly temporary: $21. Transfer: $26.
- Apartment rental units: $90 (1 to 50 units), $200 (51 or more). Short-term vacation rentals: $120 (living on site) or $325.

## Steps

1. Complete the [Application for Business Licence](https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Application-for-Business-Licence-February-6-2026.pdf). It asks for the zoning and number of employees, and extra details for short-term rentals and home occupations.
2. Deliver it with the fee to the Inspector at the Municipal Hall, 7360 Columbia Street. The Inspector may require approval of the premises by the Building Inspector, Fire Chief or health officer. Fees are paid in advance.
3. Renew each calendar year. See the [How to Join page](https://porthardy.ca/business/business-license-listing/how-to-join/) for the District's business licence listing.

## Good to know

- A business that becomes liable after June 30 pays half the year's fee. There is no reduction if a business stops trading.
- The pages read do not describe online submission or how renewal notices are sent. Ask the District office.
- A municipal ticket is $100 for operating without a licence; on conviction the bylaw sets a minimum fine of $100 plus costs.
- No inter-community business licence was found in the District's pages or bylaws.

## Official forms and pages

- [Application for Business Licence, February 2026 (PDF), District of Port Hardy](https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Application-for-Business-Licence-February-6-2026.pdf)
- [Business Licence Bylaw No. 16-2006 (PDF), District of Port Hardy](https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/52f7ad7f-731b-48e7-94fe-1b2e8e14f05016-2006_business_license_1.pdf)
- [User Rates and Fees Bylaw No. 1187-2026 (PDF), District of Port Hardy](https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/1187-2026-User-Rates-and-Fees-for-2026.pdf)
- [How to Join, District of Port Hardy business licence listing](https://porthardy.ca/business/business-license-listing/how-to-join/)

## Related questions

- [Port Hardy home-based business rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-hardy/home-based-business.md)
- [Port Hardy short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-hardy/short-term-rental.md)
- [Port Hardy zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-hardy/zoning-lookup.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Business licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/business-licence.md)
- [Port McNeill](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-mcneill/business-licence.md)
- [Port Alice](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alice/business-licence.md)
- [Alert Bay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/alert-bay/business-licence.md)
- [Sayward](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sayward/business-licence.md)
- [Gold River](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gold-river/business-licence.md)
- [Campbell River](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/campbell-river/business-licence.md)

## Sources

- [Business Licence Bylaw No. 16-2006 (PDF), District of Port Hardy](https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/52f7ad7f-731b-48e7-94fe-1b2e8e14f05016-2006_business_license_1.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [User Rates and Fees Bylaw No. 1187-2026 (PDF), District of Port Hardy](https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/1187-2026-User-Rates-and-Fees-for-2026.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Application for Business Licence, February 2026 (PDF), District of Port Hardy](https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Application-for-Business-Licence-February-6-2026.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [How to Join, District of Port Hardy business licence listing](https://porthardy.ca/business/business-license-listing/how-to-join/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw No. 01-2010, consolidated August 2014 (PDF), District of Port Hardy](https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/01-2010_mti_consolidated_august_2014.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 7 facts was matched to the official text; 1 could not be confirmed. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with District of Port Hardy. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-hardy/business-licence/_