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

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

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

**Short answer:** Yes. Anyone carrying on a business, trade, profession or occupation in Port Moody needs a City business licence, with a separate licence for each premises. Fill out the Business Licence Application and email it to licence@portmoody.ca, bring it to City Hall's second floor, or mail it.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Port Moody, https://www.portmoody.ca)  
**Cost:** Annual fee by type and size, from $155 (home-based and similar) to $3,039 (Level IV); see the body. One-day licence $91.  
**How long:** The City does not state a processing time. Commercial spaces need building and fire inspections accepted before approval.  
**Where:**
- Email: Licensing (applications), licence@portmoody.ca
- In person: Second floor counter, City Hall, 100 Newport Drive, Port Moody, BC V3H 5C3 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., except statutory holidays)
- By mail: Bylaws and Licensing, 100 Newport Drive, Port Moody, BC V3H 3E1 (The City's page prints the postal code as V3H 3E1 here and V3H 5C3 for City Hall.)
- Phone: Licensing, 604-469-4541
- Online: Renew and pay at myPortMoody, https://my.portmoody.ca

## Key facts

- **Who needs one:** Everyone carrying on any profession, business, trade or occupation in Port Moody, with a separate licence for each branch, office, premises or store.
  - Source: [Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw, 2015, No. 3000 (consolidated), s. 5.1-5.2](https://www.portmoody.ca/eDocs/Get?docnumber=493693)
  - Official wording: "Every person carrying on, maintaining, owning, or operating with the City any profession, business, trade, occupation, calling, or undertaking shall hold a subsisting licence" … "shall obtain a separate licence for each branch, office, place, premise, or store"
  - Source: [Business Licences and Permits, Intro](https://www.portmoody.ca/business-development-and-planning/business-licences-and-permits/)
  - Official wording: "If your business operates in the City of Port Moody, you must have a valid Port Moody business licence."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fee:** Annual fee by type and size: $155 (home-based and similar basic category); $295 (Level I, e.g. retail up to 232 m²); $458 (Level II); $603 (Level III); $3,039 (Level IV). One-day licence $91. Secondary suite: licence required, $0.
  - Source: [Fees Bylaw, 2025, No. 3524 (consolidated), Business Licence and Bylaw Enforcement](https://www.portmoody.ca/eDocs/Get?docnumber=669753)
  - Official wording: "Home Daycare of 10 children or less 155.00" … "Towing with Storage 295.00" … "Retail/Commercial/Industrial up to 232.26m2 (2,500ft2)" … "Room Rental (11 to 30 rooms) 458.00" … "Vending machines (more than 10 machines) 603.00" … "Fireworks 3,039.00 · Marinas" … "One-Day Business Licence 91.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to apply:** Fill out the Business Licence Application form (with a floor plan for commercial space) and email licence@portmoody.ca, bring it to the City Hall second-floor counter, or mail it. Building, fire and health inspections may be needed first.
  - Source: [Business Licences and Permits, Apply for a business licence](https://www.portmoody.ca/business-development-and-planning/business-licences-and-permits/)
  - Official wording: "Fill out the Business Licence Application form." … "Submit completed forms by email to licence@portmoody.ca or in person at the second floor counter at City Hall, or by mail:" … "Building, fire, and health inspections may be required before a business licence can be approved"
  - Source: [Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw, 2015, No. 3000 (consolidated), s. 5.14](https://www.portmoody.ca/eDocs/Get?docnumber=493693)
  - Official wording: "No licence shall be issued to any applicant if the use for which the licence is" … "sought would be in violation of any provisions of any of the Bylaws of the City."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Renewal:** Licences run January 1 to December 31. Renewal invoices are emailed in January; the old licence stays valid until the payment deadline. Pay online at myPortMoody.ca. A business starting after July 31 pays half the first year.
  - Source: [Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw, 2015, No. 3000 (consolidated), s. 5.15](https://www.portmoody.ca/eDocs/Get?docnumber=493693)
  - Official wording: "Business licences shall be issued annually so as to take effect on the first" … "day of January and to terminate on the 31st day of December in each year"
  - Source: [Business Licences and Permits, Renew your business licence](https://www.portmoody.ca/business-development-and-planning/business-licences-and-permits/)
  - Official wording: "Renewal invoices are sent out by email in January" … "Pay online quickly and easily at myPortMoody.ca."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Inter-community licence:** Yes, for mobile businesses only, covering Port Moody, Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam. Apply by ticking Inter-Municipal on the application. The $175 program fee is added to the Port Moody licence fee.
  - Source: [Business Licences and Permits, Inter-municipal business licence](https://www.portmoody.ca/business-development-and-planning/business-licences-and-permits/)
  - Official wording: "This licence is only available to mobile businesses." … "An additional Inter-Municipal Program fee will be added to your base fee for a Port Moody licence."
  - Source: [Fees Bylaw, 2025, No. 3524 (consolidated), Permits and Business Licences](https://www.portmoody.ca/eDocs/Get?docnumber=669753)
  - Official wording: "Businesses for Inter-municipal Program 175.00"
  - Source: [Inter-municipal business licence bylaw, s. 5.4 and 5.7](https://www.portmoody.ca/eDocs/Get?docnumber=423213)
  - Official wording: "The fee for an Intermunicipal Business Licence is separate and additional to any"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Municipal ticket: $100 for operating without a business licence. Also $100 for not posting the licence or operating contrary to its conditions.
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw No. 3218 (consolidated), Schedule 2, Business Licensing Bylaw](https://www.portmoody.ca/eDocs/Get?docnumber=514329)
  - Official wording: "No Business Licence 5.1 $100.00" … "Licence Not Posted 5.5 $100.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** City of Port Moody Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw, 2015, No. 3000
  - Source: [Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw, 2015, No. 3000 (consolidated), s. 1.1](https://www.portmoody.ca/eDocs/Get?docnumber=493693)
  - Official wording: "City of Port Moody Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw, 2015, No. 3000"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under the City's [Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw 3000](https://www.portmoody.ca/eDocs/Get?docnumber=493693), everyone carrying on any profession, business, trade or occupation in Port Moody needs a licence, with a separate licence for each branch, office, premises or store. Licences run January 1 to December 31. A business starting after July 31 pays half the first year.

Annual fees are set in the [Fees Bylaw 3524](https://www.portmoody.ca/eDocs/Get?docnumber=669753): $155 (home-based and similar basic category); $295 (Level I, for example retail up to 232 m²); $458 (Level II); $603 (Level III); $3,039 (Level IV). A one-day licence is $91. A secondary suite needs a licence at $0. Fees are subject to rounding and applicable taxes.

## Steps

1. Fill out the Business Licence Application, with a floor plan for commercial space.
2. Email it to licence@portmoody.ca, bring it to the City Hall second-floor counter at 100 Newport Drive, or mail it.
3. Building, fire and health inspections may be needed first.
4. Pay the fee. Renewal invoices are emailed in January; the old licence stays valid until the payment deadline. Pay online at myPortMoody.ca.

## Good to know

- Inter-municipal licence: for mobile businesses only, covering Port Moody, Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam. Tick Inter-Municipal on the application; a $175 program fee is added to the Port Moody fee.
- A municipal ticket is $100 for operating without a business licence, not posting the licence or operating contrary to its conditions. The bylaw also allows a court fine of up to $2,000.
- Licensing: 604-469-4541.

## What you'll need

- Completed Business Licence Application
- Floor plan, if the business will operate from a commercial space
- Payment

## Official forms and pages

- [Business Licence Application (PDF)](https://www.portmoody.ca/media/j5qpvejk/business-licence-application.pdf)
- [Business Licences and Permits, City of Port Moody](https://www.portmoody.ca/business-development-and-planning/business-licences-and-permits/)
- [Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw BL3000 (PDF)](https://www.portmoody.ca/eDocs/Get?docnumber=493693)

## Related questions

- [Port Moody home-based business rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-moody/home-based-business.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Business licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/business-licence.md)
- [Belcarra](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/business-licence.md)
- [Anmore](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/anmore/business-licence.md)
- [Coquitlam](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coquitlam/business-licence.md)
- [New Westminster](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/business-licence.md)
- [Port Coquitlam](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-coquitlam/business-licence.md)
- [Burnaby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burnaby/business-licence.md)

## Sources

- [Business Licences and Permits, City of Port Moody](https://www.portmoody.ca/business-development-and-planning/business-licences-and-permits/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw, 2015, No. 3000 (consolidated) (PDF)](https://www.portmoody.ca/eDocs/Get?docnumber=493693) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Fees Bylaw, 2025, No. 3524 (consolidated) (PDF)](https://www.portmoody.ca/eDocs/Get?docnumber=669753) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw No. 3218 (consolidated) (PDF)](https://www.portmoody.ca/eDocs/Get?docnumber=514329) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Inter-municipal business licence bylaw (PDF), City of Port Moody](https://www.portmoody.ca/eDocs/Get?docnumber=423213) (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 Moody. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-moody/business-licence/_